Venue: Sydney Opera House (Sydney NSW), 20 Jul – 25 Aug, 2024
Music & Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Book: Quiara Alegria Hudes
Director: Luke Joslin
Cast: Barry Conrad, Steve Costi, Lena Cruz, Janet Dacal, Olivia Dacal, Tamara Foglia Castañeda, Ryan Gonzalez, Jervis Livelo, Alexander Palacio, Angela Rosero, Olivia Vásquez, Richard Valdez
Images by Daniel Boud
Theatre review
Washington Heights in Upper Manhattan, is home to a Latin American community full of stories that speak specifically to the migrant experience of diasporas everywhere. In The Heights by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegria Hudes is approaching twenty years old, but the musical remains resonant with potent accuracy, in its depictions of our struggles and aspirations, as people trying to thrive in places that may not be completely accepting or hospitable.
Miranda’s music is an unequivocal pleasure, laden with Latinx rhythms that have us engrossed and uplifted. With exuberant musical direction by Victoria Falconer, each number grabs us with its scintillating percussion and sensual bassline, to deliver sensations that are celebratory and life-affirming.
Singing is of an excellent standard across the board, but characters are not always charismatic or indeed convincing. Memorable performers who save the show include Ryan Gonzalez, Janet Dacal and Richard Valdez who impress with their vocals as well as their acting, in addition to the magnetism they seem to wield so naturally.
Direction by Luke Joslin keeps proceedings at a stirring pace, and along with dazzling choreography by Amy Campbell, the audience is kept attentive and fascinated, but this iteration of In The Heights unfortunately lacks an emotional intensity, that can leave us feeling empty in moments where we expect poignancy.
The production is however visually appealing, with a colourful set design by Mason Browne creating dimensionality and depth that help us effortlessly imagine the different locations at which action takes place. Costumes by Keerthi Subramanyam convey authenticity, along with being flattering, to draw us into these personal tales of resilience and triumph. Lights by Jasmine Rizk are not always sufficiently energetic, but are remarkable for bringing surprising variety to the imagery being presented.
In The Heights can be thought of as a work about the American Dream, or simply about survival, of those who have had to overcome unusual hardship. The circumstances around people having to leave their homelands, are almost always difficult, and what they encounter at their various destinations, is certain to never be an easy ride. The intentional fostering of community then becomes a necessary part of life as migrants, if only for the benefit of those who come later.
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