In The Heights
My thoughts on Theatre Arlington’s In the Heights or…un regalo para todos!
I waiver between Rent and In the Heights being my favorite musical. But after seeing Theatre Arlington’s production, I am in the In the Heights camp.
Director Alejandro Saucedo and his team have crafted an In the Heights that hits the stage with a gritty authenticity. Saucedo’s passion for the musical is palpable and this celebration of community, family, the immigrant experience, and finding home thrills as it touches the heart.
Cherish Love serves as Music Director and has the many solos, duets, and ensemble numbers soaring as high as the GWB with excellent accompaniment by the band that features Antone Amalbert on trombone, Hector Garcia, Jr. on guitar, Mason Hicks on trombone, Anthony Holmes on guitar, John (Jeriah) Mitchell on drums, Mildred Perez on bass, and Russ Ruggia on keyboards.
The spirited, high energy, and innovative choreography by Hannah Arguelles is so breathtaking to watch that it is practically another character and looks amazing performed in the costumes from Hannah Bell that often bring as much heat as the hot New York summer of the setting. Bryan Stevenson provides the excellent scenic design and lighting with equally excellent sound design from Ryan Simón.
Saucedo populates Washington Heights with some of the finest talent DFW has to offer. The casting is uncannily good, with many performances surpassing those in past incarnations of the show I have attended.
Jeremy Coca is a smooth, charming Usnavi, the central character and narrator of In the Heights. Coca embodies both Usnavi’s caretaker/protector and dreamer sides. Coca masters all the staccato rapping with precision and makes Usnavi’s attraction to the luminous Sophia Rodriguez as Vanessa endearingly awkward. Rodriguez’s Vanessa exudes confidence and sensuality, and Rodriguez also has a lovely, lilting soprano voice that blends beautifully with Coca. One of the pleasures of In the Heights is watching the relationship between Usnavi and Vanessa grow, and these two fine actors make it a pleasure indeed. Una pareja encantadora, sin duda.
Jacqueline Castillo as the recent Stanford dropout Nina brings a “little girl lost” feel to the role. She isn’t literally lost but feeling confused about her future, dreading to tell her parents, and disheartened. In her first song Nina tells herself to “Breathe,” and Castillo’s sweet, plaintive voice conveys much about the loving, intelligent young woman. Castillo gives Nina an appealing demeanor and a strength of character that wins the audience’s heart. Ella es maravillosa.
Nina’s heart is won by Benny, Usnavi’s best friend and an employee of her parents’ cab company. It is great to have the awesome Jamall Houston returning to the DFW stage as Benny. Houston, a skilled actor/singer/dancer, inhabits the role, rapping out “Benny’s Dispatch” and bringing all that Houston honey voiced allure to “When You’re Home” and “Sunrise,” his duets with Castillo. Este hombre es un tesoro.
Gigi Cervantes as Abuela Claudia is the kind, generous matriarch of this corner of Washington Heights. She has a special bond with Usnavi and raised him after his parents passed. Cervantes brings her all to this strong, unselfish, hard-working woman in a dynamic performance. Her “Paciencia y Fe,” in which she reveals all the struggles she faced immigrating from Cuba as a young woman with her mother, is a showstopper. Todos necesitamos una Abuela Claudia en nuestras vidas. Bravo, Señora Cervantes.
As Kevin and Camila Rosario, parents of Nina and owners of the cab company, John Sanchez and Ariceli Radillo are sensational. Sanchez makes the stubborn, quick-tempered Kevin tough, but the loving father is never far from the surface. He has sacrificed everything for his wife and daughter and relates his background story in the powerful “Inutil (Useless).” Radillo is a loving, caring, and usually calm Camila, but when she feels things are getting out of hand, Radillo’s Camila puts her foot down with “Enough” and Camila’s strength puts the family back on track. Son dos actores dinámicos.
Daniela owns the local beauty shop and seems to know the low down on everyone. Samantha Padilla is the brassy, sassy Daniela. She may have a gossipy mouth but also a heart of gold. Padilla owns the part and is endlessly entertaining strutting around the stage chatting with her employee Carla, played with adorable ditziness by the talented Savannah Elayyach. Padilla also has quite a belt and delivers a rafter shakingly glorious “Carnaval Del Barrio.” Me encantó esta actuación.
Sonny is Usnavi’s cousin who works with him at the bodega. He is quite a joker but is also socially aware. Nicolas Lama-Riva brings youthful exuberance and an abundance of talent to the part, and he makes Sonny intensely likable with his comical antics and terrific singing and dancing. Lama-Riva’s Sonny is a winner. Este joven va a ser una estrella.
Alfredo Tamayo is the Piraguero, pushing his cart of icy delights across the stage, selling coolness in the hot summer. Tamayo, with his gorgeous voice and brilliant smile, is an actor who literally makes the stage lights get brighter. Tamayo takes this small part and makes it a highlight of the show. Es usted bastante impresionante, señor.
Alvaro Carranza’s Graffiti Pete is the first resident of the heights we meet as he dances on to the stage wielding the spray cans with which he creates his art. Carranza has all the right moves here and is a fine singer who also shines in the ensemble. Tu baile es increíble.
And what an amazingly talented and versatile ensemble it is. They make all that exciting, intricate choreography look easy and are splendid singers. The ensemble includes Desiree “Bo” Chinchilla, who also appears as Yolanda, Mikkin Hankins, Efren Paredes, Namhan Ruiz, Nathan Talamantez, MattJohn West, and Gabriela Yarbrough. El espectáculo no sería genial sin todos ustedes.
In the Heights is spectacularly entertaining. It is vibrant, colorful, heart tugging, and joyous. Director Saucedo exceeded all my expectations for the show and made it a fresh visual feast that left me in very happy tears. I can’t wait to get back again. If I haven’t given you enough reasons to go see Theatre Arlington’s In the Heights, I can think of “96,000” more.
