My thoughts on IN THE HEIGHTS (long and brimming with spoilers)- Page 3

[Anakela]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 1:55am

Yeah, no clue when between the Sunday matinee and today's Saturday matinee the change happened, but it was a little strange... I mean, it works, I guess- Nina does some singing to Usnavi, ie it became "there you are, just a baby, '87 Halloween" when looking thru the album, and they sang some parts together ("bueno, let's review" I know for sure, maybe one other line), and then Usnavi leaves before "In this folder, there's a picture, of my high school graduation..." so Nina does have a little bit of the number to herself, but...I just thought it was more powerful as *Nina's* number.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 7:05am

Putting Usnavi in that number doesn't solve the problem with the number.

That number follows the same exact number, but sung by Usnavi. It's the same song back-to-back. Nobody's realized that yet?

[dancinfan]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 8:32am

I saw the show last night (Feb 23rd) and had a great time. It's a great ensemble piece, with everyone having their own moment to shine. I wasn't crazy about the book - "pedestrian" is a good way to describe it.

I think there are a bunch of good performances, but especially Lin-Manuel Miranda, Robin DeJesus, Elisio Roman, Andrea Burns...
I can't say that I thought much of Priscilla Lopez or Carlos Gomez; their performances lacked any of the powerhouse vocals shown by the rest of the cast, and their acting was unconvincing. (The bad blocking in their scenes didn't help them much.)

Besides the all Latino storyline and casting, the choreography is the real breakthrough here. Andy Blankenbuehler and his dancers really nailed the use of hip-hop and Latin dance as theatre dance, and I don't say that lightly. I didn't think it would work, but it was carefully crafted to tell and support the story beautifully. Bravo.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 9:02am

Eliseo Roman has a really terrific voice ! Would love to hear him sing a big number !

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 9:24am

Saw it again last night--don't judge me.

Someone did that whistling cat-calling thing at Chris Jackson when he comes out at the top of the second act and the audience cracked up. Did anyone else's audience laugh when Nina says her first line in that song?

Still love the show. The finale nearly brought me to tears--its amazing, IMO.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 9:42am

<< Saw it again last night--don't judge me.

Someone did that whistling cat-calling thing at Chris Jackson when he comes out at the top of the second act and the audience cracked up. Did anyone else's audience laugh when Nina says her first line in that song?

Still love the show. The finale nearly brought me to tears--its amazing, IMO.
>>

You KNOW I wont judge you !!! (or anyone else for that matter that gets obsessive with certain shows-- just a guilty pleasure !!)

Oh yeah--- heard that whistling thing every time so far !!!

My favorite line is "the 9 train doesnt run anymore" !!!

When ya going back again, Obsessed? Will be there Friday :))

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 9:50am

Obssesedjb- How come there's no facebook group yet of IN THE HEIGHTS? we have Xanadu on Facebook... someone has to do this !!! C'mon guys!!!

J*

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 10:17am

Not that I imagine I'll be going back to this all that often, but I'll be pretty bummed if/when the lotto becomes super busy and impossible to win.

[MotorTink]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 11:19am

Caught the show last night. I went in knowing pretty much nothing about it so I was like an open canvas. I thought it was fun and good, but didn't blow me away. I don't know how to my finger on it, but it seems like it has so much potential that was missed. The dancing and performances were top notch, but the overall storyline/progression left a bit to be desired. But, I still had a good time. I definitely can't see it being for the average tourist.

Usnavi and Sonny were my favorites. Absolutely loved them. Someone (Sonny) finally is giving Chris Fitzgerald some competition in my mind, although I think Chris may still win it. Really didn't care for the Benny/Nina story line. They were both good, but ehh. It's exactly like others pointed out, you never really understand WHY they can't be together, so it makes it a bit hard to care about them, at least for me. As small of a story line as it was I felt more for Daniela helping Vanessa out. Great ensemble numbers that were really enjoyable, esp. loved the black out scene. Full house last night and everyone seemed to be really into it.

Warning - if you are anywhere hard of hearing don't sit in rear mezz. View was fine, loved my seat but had a hard time hearing dialog/some of the rapping.

[Anakela]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 12:31pm

Oh so speaking of audience applause/laughter/etc., I loved how there were different reactions between the two crowds that I saw it with (both matinee auds): at one show Lin-Man got entrance applause, but at the other he didn't; yesterday Abuela got this applause when she pulled out the lotto ticket in Paciencia y Fe that didn't happen the first time I saw it, etc.

Oh and the first time I heard it I didn't really 'get' Kevin's number Inutil (what I was calling the Useless song)- I mean, I understood it, but I didn't 'get' it. Yesterday I was sitting in the house left lotto seats, *right* in front of him during that number, and when he started with "I'm proud to be your father..." I might have cried. Seriously.

I don't think Alabanza and Everything I Know are the same number, yes they are both re: Abuela, but I have no issues with the one following the other because they're two completely different songs for me, it's like Alabanza is the goodbye, and then Everything I Know is the looking towards the future, and then...yeah, there you go.

In the Heights on Facebook exists:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6448164747

Oh, and, um, how to bring this up nicely...ok, so I've been sitting in the front row lotto seats both times I've seen the show. Yesterday I was sitting in front of this couple who were bitching and complaining anytime anything was said in Spanish. Kid you not. Ie: during Sunrise "I don't know what she's saying," "I don't understand when they talk like that," etc when if you would shut up you would be able to tell that Nina is singing a word in Spanish and Benny is saying it in English. And then when the Abuela gate is pulled down at the end, "What does that mean, in the corner, what does that say?" Ok, if by the time we get to the end of In the Heights you don't know that "Paciencia y Fe" means "Patience and Faith" then you have obviously NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION!! But seriously almost anytime anything was said in Spanish they had something to say about it. And I am just wondering if this has been an issue in anyone else's audience?

Updated On: 2/24/08 at 12:31 PM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 3:58pm

My initial impression of this musical was that I did not want to see it.

After seeing clips and reading reviews, it is definitely on my list of "I have to see this!" musicals. Hope to catch it sometime early this summer. Great review!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 5:29pm

I saw the show yesterday afternoon and absolutely loved it!! At the stagedoor, Lin-Manuel mentioned to people that he's still making changes to the show. I'm not one to do the stagedoor thing, but yesterday I just wanted to congratulate the cast in person for some reason.

I really didn't have a problem with anything. I truly enjoyed the score, the story, the choreography and most definitely the performances and joy that radiated from the stage. I was in tears a lot of the time, because I was moved by what I was seeing. I was excited that I got a ticket, but really didn't know what to expect. It totally exceeded my expectations. This is one show that I anxiously await the cast recording.

I wish there had been some connection between Abuela and Sonny because that would have helped justify what happens in the story (not going to give anything away).

Although people think that Priscilla Lopez is underused, she's there in a supporting role. It's just one of those things. The show isn't about her character per se.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 6:59pm

So glad you liked it, Dottie ! Cant wait to go back !

The other night, while leaving, we exited past a few of the tech people, and they said some changes are coming as well.

Its just such a great time !

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 7:03pm

Testing1232, LOVED is more like it!!

[Testing1232]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 7:06pm

I dont blame ya !!! LOVE it as well !

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 7:07pm

96,000 was pretty great! I can't get it out of my head.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 7:13pm

Motortink, I started out in the rear mezzanine but didn't have a problem hearing them. I moved to the front mezzanine during intermission as most of the last row was empty.

[MotorTink]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 7:40pm

the only empty seats I spotted were directly next to me in the next section. Good for ITH, bad for my ears, lol. It wasn't terrible, but I only have slight difficulty in hearing, so I wouldn't want to know what it is like for people worse than me. But then again, I sometimes have a hard time deciphering what is being said even if I am closer and they are singing fast, really loud or high.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 9:08pm

Dottie, did I see you? I was at the matinee yesterday as well. I was in the last row of the mezz but didn't have too much trouble hearing (aside from the two ladies sitting next to me who would not SHUT UP).

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 9:26pm

Dancing, maybe you did. I was in row C on the aisle. I then moved to the front mezzanine. Did you go to the stagedoor afterwards? I ran to TKTS to get my ticket for the evening show and then returned to the stagedoor when Lin-Manuel came out.

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 9:31pm

^^did you stage door the evening show?

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 9:45pm

Did you go to the stagedoor afterwards? I ran to TKTS to get my ticket for the evening show and then returned to the stagedoor when Lin-Manuel came out.

I might have seen you. If you saw Lin-Manuel reassuring someone that he was NOT going to run off with her pen, that was me.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 10:25pm

Saw it tonight. It blew me away, all over again. I saw it off-broadway and loved it then, but it's just grown so much as a show. Strong performances, across the board. I would be surprised if Lin, Robin, and Mandy don't earn Tony nominations for their work. Absolutely my favorite show of the season so far. It's just so fresh, so new, and so completely original, it deserves to be rewarded. 96,000 brought the house down. The audience was one of the most enthusiastic and responsive crowds I've ever been a part of at a Broadway show, half the crowd was on their feet before the last note was even over. Amazing show, amazing score.

This one's definitely a hit, I think.

And I speak highly of Lin based on his performance off-broadway. Tonight Javier Munoz played Usnavi, and he was really great. He actually looks and plays the part a lot like Lin does. He was great. :) I've also seen Shaun Taylor-Corbett play Usnavi off-broadway, and thought he was great too. It's just a phenomenal cast all around.

[alfgiotir]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 10:44pm

kelly, you weren't sad that Lin wasn't on?

[Kelly2]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 10:59pm

"kelly, you weren't sad that Lin wasn't on?"

I was disappointed because I really loved him off-broadway, but Javier gave a great performance. I was glad I got to see him go on, and I'm glad they have such a capable understudy, since nobody can be there all the time. (Well, okay, nobody except Orfeh.) :) I'm sure I'll see it again and catch Lin.