INthe
heights r owpe LIly C
“In the Heights” is a story of a Puerto Rican girl, Nina, who returns home from Stanford to her family in New York City. It is her story of deciding what to do after she has dropped out, and can’t afford to pay her tuition: a story of reconnection, love, obligations, and misfortunes. The characters began weak. I was discouraged at first, thinking the portrayal would b be less ethnic and authentic than it could’ve and should’ve been. H However, as the storyline developed, the characters developed too. I felt a growing chemistry between the leads throughout the play, which is almost better than if I had felt connections conne ections like that rright off the bat. The audience grows right alongside alongside the story. This Thiis play is meant tto have people of color playing the lead roles. I thinkk Mountain View did the best that they could with diversifying the cast. who were cast were also not simply cast because their race fit the role; they caast. The people w were bursting with talent, which tied the whole play together. Most of the acting is modern and well done, especially among the leads, although some parts felt unenthusiastic. Also, members of the ensemble are important. They should be as good as the leads, but they were simply not enough. The ensemble is not just a part of the ambiance, but aalso plays a key role in the leads’ interactions and keeps the viewer believing i in the atmosphere. Maybe it is because there are not enough talented actors to choose from, but Mountain View could strive to do a better job a of o this when looking in retrospect at their past productions. Almost all the actors who were playing Puerto Rican roles played them very ve well, in a way that celebrated their culture instead of making it the butt b of a joke. One of the most notable characters for me was Benny, played by Jared Wood, who the central love interest for the main characpl ter, te Nina, played by Laura Watson. He was a natural on stage, fitting the generally relaxed vibe of the play, and had a great voice and flow of words ge when wh rapping. There was obvious chemistry between Wood and Watson throughout the duration of the play. thr The T character of Daniela, played by Zoe Woodaman was the most professional and believable performance in the show. She has a great voice and sion colorful acting, which is showcased in the second act with the song “Carnicolo val.” Woodaman was a genius at making the smaller role stand out. Nina’s mother Camila, played by junior Emily Dalton, was a surprising talN ent tto me in the show, because her role started out small, but later in the play, we have the opportunity to see just how strong her emotion gets. It is one of h the most m touching performances of the night. Overall, the acting was incredible among the leads. The flow of Benny, Ov Usnavi, Usna and Sonny’s voices in their many rap performances was incredible. The rap, h honestly, is the most exciting part of the show, and I was glad it was so well done. Vanessa, played by Synit Zecarius, had a fun character with a great d voice, voice which was another highlight of the play. The most powerful scene of the musical happens at the end of Act I in a dancing/fi dancin ghting scene at a club. It was very “West Side Story.” The music in the show was phenomenal—it makes the show. The band represented it very well. Highlighted songs include “96,000” and “Enough!”. This repres play is a great event to attend. I recommend seeing “In the Heights” at Mountain View, if i not for the music or the play itself, then the talent hiding right under our noses in i the halls at school. r owpe LIly C
Mountain View’s spring musical “In the Heights” is a stunning and authentic portrayal, playing May 5, 6, and 7 at 7:00 p.m. by Lily Cowper