The thrilling musical In the Heights finds a fabulous new space for its energetic dance and melodic song . . .

“Yo!

With 96,000, I’d finally fix housing

Give the barrio computers and wireless web browsing

Your kids are living without a good edumacation change the station,

Teach them about gentrification, the rent is escalating.”


Sonny

Cast in In the Heights

Luke Sheppard and Southwark Playhouse’s exciting production of the Tony award winning musical In the Heights has found a new home at the King’s Cross Theatre, a new space, at present being used to share performances with The Railway Children.   In the Heights is set in New York’s Washington Heights, an area north of Harlem and west of the Bronx. Workshopped from 2005.  In the Heights was set in a neighbourhood dominated by Dominican-Americans which has since been subject to the woes of gentrification like many inner city areas.

Drew McOnie’s energetically choreographed ensemble dance is outstanding with the cast dancing with coffee cups that later light up as if full of radio active coffee or cell phones which become torches.  The music uses many of the Latin American rhythms as well as street music like hip hop.

You will fall in love with the romantic leads, Nina (Lily Frazer) the beautiful, bright girl who won a place at Stanford University in California and Benny (New Yorker Joe Aaron Reid) who works as the radio controller at Nina’s father’s taxi firm.  Nina’s father, Kevin, is played by the great David Bedella whose West End musical credentials speak for themselves. Nina and Benny’s duets are out of this world.

Sam Mackay is Usnavi the bodega owner who is love with the beautiful Vanessa (Jade Ewen).   A heavily pregnant Victoria Hamilton-Barritt is Daniela the sassy beauty salon owner whose likeable performance provides much of the show’s comedy.  Eve Polycarpou is Abuela Claudia, the grandmother from Havana, Cuba who personifies “Paciencia Y Fe”, Patience and Faith, the show’s anthem.

The difficulties and realities are there: Nina’s struggle to pay her fees and living costs, holding down three jobs and not finding enough time for study and Kevin’s choice between supporting his daughter, selling out or keeping the employment going for his drivers and staff. These are real issues we can identify with.

With the audience staged either side of the set, every seat has a good view and the sound balance has been well refined.  The costumes are bright and fun and the set has the shops and cab firm at either end.

The cast are immensely vocally and dance talented and a wonderful advertisement for the excellence performers available on London’s Off West End. With the same composer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton currently wowing New Yorkers, I wonder if an Off West End theatre will be allowed to stage that show?

Be aware that at the moment In the Heights doesn’t play Wednesday and Saturdays when The Railway Children takes over. I have visions of the graffiti artist Pete (Antoine Murray-Straughan) from In the Heights decorating the ancient steam train from the play of E Nesbit’s book in a futuristic fantasy!

So that makes two American born musicals you have to see in London this year, In the Heights and Kinky Boots!

Musical Numbers

Act One

In the Heights

Breathe

Benny’s Dispatch

It Won’t Be Long Now

Inutil (useless)

No Me Diga

96,000

Paciencia Y Fe

When You’re Home

Piragua

Siempre (Always)

The Club/Fireworks/ Fireworks Company

Act Two

Sunrise

Hundreds of Stories

Enough

Carnaval del Barrio

Atencion

Alabanza

Everything I Know

No Mi Diga (Reprise)

Champagne

When the Sun Goes Down

Finale

Production Notes

In the Heights
Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Conceived by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Book by Quiara Alegria Hudes
Directed by Luke Sheppard


Cast

Starring:

Joe Aaron Reid

David Bedella
 
 
Josie Benson
 
 
Vas Constanti
 
 
Jade Ewen
 
 
Lily Frazer
 
 
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt
 
 
Sam Mackay
 
 
Antoine Murray Straughan
 
 
Sarah Naudi
 
 
Eve Polycarpou
 
 
Cleve September
 
 
 

With:

Jocasta Almgill

Courtney-Mae Briggs

Michael Cortez

Gabriela Garcia

Reiss Hinds

Alexzandra Sarmiento

Spin

Philippa Stefani

Creatives

Director: Luke Sheppard

Choreographer: Drew McOnie

Musical Director: Phil Cornwell

Orchestrations: Alex Lachamore and Bill Sherman

Set Designer: Takis

Costume Designer:  Gabriella Slade

Lighting Designer: Howard Hudson

Sound Designer: Gareth Owen

Costume Designer: Andreane Neofitou and Christine Rowland

Musical Supervisor: Tom Deering

Information

Running Time: Two hours and 40 minutes with an interval

Closed on 8th January 2017

Address:

Kings Cross Theatre

Goods Way
 
 
London N1C  4UR
 

 

Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge at the

Kings Cross Theatre

on 13th October 2016