Review: In the Heights at the Comedy Theatre

Review by Susanne Dahn 

If you’re looking for a night out that’s charming, witty, sexy, soulful, full of energy and full of heart, head to In the Heights for its fire-cracker Melbourne city stage debut masterfully directed by Luke Joslin on stage and musically by Zara Stanton.

This is hip-hop Hamilton creator’s Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first major work, which he started aged just 19 while a student at Wesleyan University and where it was also originally staged as a student production in 2005. The production, enhanced by book writer Quiara Alegria Hudes, eventually made its way to Broadway where it won four Tony awards including Best Musical in 2008.

In the Heights might not have the grand and historic themes of Hamilton but it has an energy and spirit and universality that lift and return its audiences to the things that really matter.

The simple but highly effective set of Mason Browne is a street in New York’s Cuban, Dominican and Puerto Rican dominated neighbourhood of Washington Heights. It centres on Usnavi’s bodega store, the counter of Rosario’s cab business, a section of Daniela’s beauty salon and the front door of bario matriarch, kindly grandmother Claudia. Keerthi Subramanyam’s costumes and frequent towel wiping brilliantly reflect the heat. The lighting design by Jasmine Rizk is also used to great effect particularly the glowing red dawn. 

The story of the neighbourhood is the immigrants story of struggle - there’s graffiti on the store, there are power blackouts, the salon is closing down, the cab business has financial difficulties. The characters dream of leaving for the opportunities in downtown Manhattan or returning to their homes in the Caribbean, but simply don’t have the means to realise these dreams.

But is also the story of hope and pride and fear. Whether the hope is buying a weekly lottery ticket, or that love might be found, or that the next generation will rise above their struggles, graduate from university and be something bigger which is so often both the pride and fear of the family (“she will fly away”) and of the whole neighbourhood.

The sustained punch of this work is the weave of story, song and dance, but the knockout without a doubt is the dance. Amy Campbell as choreographer has done an astounding job on a limited floor plate bringing the spirit of this show to life and bringing out the exhilarating best of both the ensemble and cast. Three breathtaking cast and ensemble numbers stand out - 96,000, The Club and Carnaval - wow are they hot !Olivia Vasquez and Ryan Gonzalez are both hugely enjoyable to watch as is Richard Valdez as Piragua Guy. And it is hard though to take your eyes off the effervescent star in the making Steve Costi; what a stunning performance as Sunny he gives us. 

Miranda’s lusciously infecting score is demanding, as is the sharp and clever text which, particularly for Ryan Gonzalez as Usnavi, can require tongue-twisting rapid-fire rhyme and twist rapping. Ryan delivers in spades ably assisted by the sound design of David Tonion who ensures his audience great audio clarity. 

Ryan Gonzales also brings enormous warmth to Usnavi in his transformation from worn out powerlessness to joyful agency and choice. The way he manifests this maturing of spirit through voice and movement is truly memorable.

Olivia Vasquez is a mighty Vanessa. A strong and beautiful vocal performance matched by such an equally strong and beautiful physical performance is a rare treat.

Mariah Gonzales as Nina and Ngali Shaw as Benny are fabulous alone and together. Her tender but powerful voice and his honey gorgeous tenor explode the stage in heavenly harmony in numbers like Benny’s Dispatch, When You’re Home and When the Sun Goes Down. This is an inspired pairing of very exciting talent.

The cast sing about being powerless, that everything they know they’ve left behind, but they know much than they think and by the end of the performance you will know too. A heart and spirit affirming night await.

Comedy Theatre Melbourne until 6 September. 

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