Beautifully put, and, needless to say, I agree. As much as I respect each individual's opinion, I find it so odd when people say the score is not memorable. I found myself humming to the tunes as I walked away from the theater. And as I've said elsewhere in this forum, I was very disappointed by the way reviewers failed to mention the ways in which the music in this show is so deliciously complex and structured. Just the way music serves to identify the characters' nationality is impressive enough, but the way every Afro-Caribbean musical influence so seamlessly blends together with traditional showtunes, or pop music, hip hop, etc, is just...mindblowing. These are the sounds I grew up with, but they're also *current*. The way so much attention went into authenticity for those of us who know these musical styles, and yet is able to connect with people who aren't familiar with the latino cultures, is, simply put, an impressive feat.
I love the theatre. My family and I would always catch one or two Broadway shows when we came to visit NYC, and love for the musical theatre genre has grown stronger since then. I love Sondheim, and Rodgers and Hammerstein, and all the greats, and I truly feel that "In The Heights" perfectly fits into these traditions, while providing new ground for future artists in the field. Because, while its contribution to the prescient issue of latino identity and pride is undeniable, it's also, simply put, a very solid piece of musical theatre. The book's "problems" aren't nearly as bad as some claim, and the score is the best I've heard in years. I honestly believe that if this show weren't about latinos, complaints about its so-called "saccharine" nature would probably never have been addressed. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Anyone who leaves the theater thinking that this show has an unrealistically happy Disney-esque ending was clearly not paying attention.
Oh, one more thing: The only problem I have with the show is that it's too hard to have to just stay in my seat during some of these songs. I want to just get up and dance. When I saw the show with my folks, my dad started to enthusiastically clap along, and stopped when he realized no one else chimed in. I can't wait for the cd to come out, so that I can just play the songs, and dance, and holler without the constraints of having to behave on a Broadway theater
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