Theater Review: ‘In The Heights’ spectacular at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival
BY PAUL WILLISTEIN
pwillistein@tnonline.com
The view of “In The Heights” is clear at the conclusion of the musical drama, through July 2, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival (PSF), DeSales University.
It’s spectacular.
The PSF production of the Tony Award-winning show, with music and lyrics and conceived by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and book by Quiara Alegria Hudes, is top-notch in every department. Nine of the 12 lead actors are Actors Equity Association members and key production personnel are also professionals. It’s Broadway in Center Valley.
Director Valeria Cossu pays attention to detail. When actors are in a main scene, other actors make busy on the side in the salon, bodega or fire escape.
Cossu carefully modulates the story of Washington Heights, New York City, Latino-Americans dealing with the day-to-day, dreams sparkling like champagne in their eyes, hope harbored in their hearts.
Choreographer Michael Anthony Sylvester, with Latin Assistant Choreographer and Dance Captain Hector Flores Jr., has the 11-actor Ensemble flow in waves, a few at first, then filling the stage, bodies in motion, locking, leaping, spinning, running, and, in tango and salsa, dancing up a storm that echoes lead characters’ emotions. Everything is brisk, precise and on point. You don’t know where to look. And there’s a lot to look at.
The production reverberates with propulsive Latin rhythm, with Musical Director Walter “Bobby” McCoy conducting a 10-piece Orchestra while one of two keyboard players. There are bristling blasts of trumpets gold, irresistible beats of drums and percussion, as well as gentle acoustic guitar. Sound Designer is Hayat Dominguez. (I would pay to hear a concert by the Orchestra before the production departs PSF).
The set and props by The Music And Theatre Company, with original set design by Anna Louizos, is a marvel. The George Washington Bridge symbolizes a way out. Lighting Designer Max Doolittle creates intimate spaces and, in one scene, turns the stage into a discotheque. Costume Designer Jeannette Christensen gives each character a distinctive look that shouts personality.
“In The Heights,” essentially an operetta, has dialogue scenes can be counted on the fingers of one hand (including the thumb). The story is told in song.
And what a story it is. The PSF production wows from the opening number, “In The Heights,” with Ryan Reyes (Usnavi, bodega owner), in scintillating rap, along with the Company, setting a vibe of excitement. Reyes is The Bard of the Bodega.
Reyes is solid as narrator and, as bodega owner, has humorous moments. Reyes portrays a sentimental side in scenes with Chelsea Zeno (Vanessa, aspiring fashion designer) for “It Won’t Be Long Now,” with Luis-Pablo Garcia (Sony, bodega employee, providing comic relief). Reyes and Zeno, in grand voice throughout, get Page Six romantic in “Champagne.”
Zeno, Ariana Valdes (Daniela, salon owner); Gabrielle Villarreal (Carla, salon employee), and Daisy Marie Lopez (Nina, back from Stanford University) are bodacious and charming in The Salon scene, “No Me Diga.” Valdes has an astounding voice, especially in “Carnaval Del Barrio,” with the Company.
Lopez reveals vulnerability in lovely voice for “Breathe,” with the Company. Lopez segues into “Benny’s Dispatch,” with Solomon Parker III (Benny, taxi company employee).
Lopez and Parker are superb in duet, including “When You’re Home,” with the Company, and “Sunrise,” with the Ensemble, and “When The Sun Goes Down.”
Lopez’s solo spotlight, “Everything I Know,” is rendered with an aching yearning.
Danny Bolero (Kevin, taxi company owner) is a standout in his solo, “Inutil (Useless).”
Tauren Hagans (Camila, Kevin’s wife) is remarkable in her solo, “Enough,” a showstopper.
Jacquelin Lorraine Schofield (Abuela Claudia, neighborhood matriarch) is the story’s spiritual core, exemplified in “Paciencia Y Fe (Patience and Faith),” as her voice soars, with the Company, another showstopper.
Kevin Matthew Solis (Piraguero, selling piragua, shaved ice dessert), is in strong voice and humorous in “Piragua.”
Ralphie Rivera de Jesus (Graffiti Pete) is hilarious.
Reyes, Parker, de Jesus, Garcia, Zeno, Valdes, Villarreal, and Company bring it full-force for “96,000” and the “Finale.”
The Ensemble of incredible dancers and singers includes Hugo Brument, Matthew Carter, Alessandra Casanova, Hector Flores Jr., Miguel Flores, Anjali Kanter, Yoaldri Messina, Alex Osorio, Oscar Antonio Rodriguez, Fran Tapia and Marina Vidal.
In the show, The Heights is jokingly called “Gilligan’s Ghetto Island.” Some are trying to get off the island. Others realize it’s not such a bad a place to be. All you need is patience and faith.
“In The Heights” is aspirational. It’s as American as mom, tacos, the lottery and low-rider Chevrolets. It’s a paean to merchants, higher education and small “c” capitalism. And why not? Ain’t that America. Even, and especially, “In The Heights.”
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s “In The Heights” not only raises the bar for productions of musicals; it raises The Bard. Don’t miss it.
“In the Heights,” 7:30 p.m. June 14-17, 21-23, 28-30; 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m. June 18, 24, July 1; 6:30 p.m. June 20, 27; 2 p.m. June 25, July 2, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Main Stage, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley. Tickets: 610-282-9455, http://pashakespeare.org