Lin-Manuel Miranda really is the man of
the moment. His hugely hyped new musical Hamilton is
currently making waves on Broadway, while over here in London his Tony Award
winning musical In The Heights (music and lyrics by Lin Manual-Miranda, book by Quiara AlegrÃa Hudes), last
seen at the Southwalk playhouse in 2014 has just been revived at
the Kings Cross Theatre.
Having missed out on the show during its initial run, and
subsequently hearing it praised nonstop I was desperate to experience it for
myself, and so as soon as tickets went on sale in September I grabbed one, and I've been looking forward to it ever since.
Incredibly, In The
Heights not only lived up to, but in my opinion exceed the hype surrounding
it. Reminiscent of Rent in several ways but at the same time markedly
different, the show is largely an ensemble piece, following the lives of the
inhabitants of Washington Heights during a summer heatwave. There are enough
ups and downs, loves and losses to keep you engaged throughout the show,
and although there are quite a few characters, each one is fleshed out and
likable enough that you’ll have no trouble following every story line. Especially thanks to Luke Sheppard's tight direction.
From the moment the first actor entered the stage I was
captivated. The connection between actors and audience was unlike any I’ve
experienced before. I felt as if I was a part of the action onstage, and by the
end of the show it was as if I knew each of the characters personally. This
was, in no small way, due to the mesmerising and endearing performance of Sam
Mackay as the show’s main protagonist Usnavi. He had the audience in the palm
of his hand from the moment he opened his mouth, and he sang and rapped with a
charismatic flair which was a joy to watch. Similarly, Lily Frazer as Stanford student
Nina was sensational, with enviable costumes (by Gabriella Slade) and an even
more enviable voice! As her parents Kevin and Camilla, David Badella and Josie
Benson were a vocal team to be reckoned with, while Victoria Hamilton-Barritt
stole almost every scene she was in as gossipy salon owner Daniela! The energy
and talent displayed by every single cast member was just entrancing!
I was also wowed by the set design, and way the space in
general was transformed. Having seen The
Railway Children which is still running in rep with In The Heights at the moment, the two shows set ups couldn’t be
more different. Before I even entered the theatre I was met with the sounds of
atmospheric music playing, evoking thoughts of NYC, while graffiti murals and
posters helped to set the scene brilliantly. Upon entering the theatre (a
significantly smaller seating area than that used on The railway Children) I
was impressed with how detailed and vibrant the set design was, and
particularly enjoyed the use of two large movable ladders which were used to
create height or signify a change in location, and were even incorporated into
the shows choreography at several points.
On the subject of choreography, Drew McOnie’s movement and
dance pieces were a joy to watch, adding flair to the show's already buzzing atmosphere. But it was the music that I found
particularly stunning. Prior to seeing the show I was cautious about how much
I’d enjoy the hiphop and rap influences of the music, as normally this kind of
music would not appeal to me. However, in the case of the music of In The Heights, I was stunned. It was brilliantly catchy and so clever, the cast’s enthusiasm was infectious, and
I was frequently left grinning. In fact, the title song has been stuck in my head ever since! But there were also genuinely haunting, gut wrenching
moments will leave you breathless, and perhaps a little teary!
If you missed this show at the Southwalk Playhouse like I
did, do not hesitate to get yourself a ticket now. The intelligent lyrics,
hummable tunes, heart stopping choreography and energetic cast were faultless,
and to miss out on such an exciting production is a definitely no-no! Do
yourself a favour and get yourself down to the Kings Cross Theatre as soon as possible, because I have a feeling the
infectious buzz surrounding the show will make In The Heights one of THE must-see productions of this autumn!
