In The Heights Play Review

In the Heights is a musical written by rising star and Tony-winning Lin-Manuel Miranda. Many talented students of American were able to showcase their dancing and singing skills in this play, contributing to an entertaining play. While the volume of the dialogues was overpowered by the band, the detail in the scenery and the choreography made for an enjoyable musical. Because nearly all of the dialogues in the play were delivered through songs which were accompanied by the band, it was difficult to hear the dialogues. As a result, it was challenging trying to understanding what the play was actually about and following along the parallel storylines. The only time the dialogues were comprehendible was when they were either not in song format or
The dance during “Blackout” demonstrated the tension between the characters that came with the heat wave while the dance in “Carnaval del Barrio” showed the unity of the people living in Washington Heights. The amazing detail in the shops, such as making sure Usnavi’s grocery/deli store was stocked with realistic props, and the graffiti done on the salon’s shutters enhanced the setting of the musical as well. The mural of Abuela Claudia done on the shutter was a great tribute, and it was many of the nonverbal gestures that helped to set the mood of the play. The artwork and minor details also revealed the amount of effort the crew also put in. Overall, the dancing and background created a show that was aesthetically pleasing and entertaining. In the Heights was a musical which reflected the hard work of many people. The musical was amusing, but because the dialogues were not louder than the band’s music, the overall experience was detracted. After last year’s musical and past plays, I had high expectations for this play; however, unfortunately, it did not meet my expectations. The efforts and time spent was evident and the choreography and set still allowed me to enjoy the parts