Reviews: In the Heights at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
Written by Julian Hassi of McLean High School
Check one, two, three, atención! How do the residents of Washington Heights spend their Fourth of July? Our Lady of Good Counsel's production of In the Heights answers that question with great enthusiasm!
With a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes and music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, In the Heights follows the residents of Washington Heights, a predominantly Latino neighborhood in Manhattan. This Tony Award-winning musical explores themes of identity, community, and the constant change that accompanies growing up and finding oneself.
Holding the barrio together was Usnavi (Georgio Sardelis), working hard at running the bodega and dreaming of sandy beaches. Sardelis perfectly portrayed Usnavi's awkward and boyish yet endearing humor in his moments of trying to woo Vanessa (Courtney Harris). Harris commanded the stage with a confident strut and divine vocals. In numbers such as "It Won't Be Long Now", she transitioned seamlessly from head voice to a passionate belt.
Hanging out on the fire escape was Nina (Elsa Harlor), the prodigal daughter returning after her first year at Stanford, where she dropped out. Her song "Breathe" beautifully communicated Nina's guilt and frustration as her dynamics shifted from delicate to powerful. Harlor was eventually joined by the ambitious and quick-witted Benny (Kamdi Aghazu). Aghazu balanced impish, brother-like interactions with Usnavi and tender, affectionate interactions with Nina, highlighting his ability to differentiate his characters' contrasting relationships.
Resting on the steps of her front stoop, Abuela Claudia (Grace Mueller) carried the heart of the barrio. Mueller's voice in "Paciencia y Fe" was lush, blooming with the colors of both past and present. Mueller had a stage presence unlike any other, lacing each of her words with conviction, patience, and faith.
Keeping the barrio cool while in an overwhelming heat, Piragua Guy (Adrian Patiag) broke up moments of tension with his songs "Piragua" and "Piragua (Reprise)". Patiag's numbers were comical and mighty, acting as an oasis of bliss in the devastating heatwave.
The soul of Washington Heights could be found in the ensemble. The ensemble was completely immersed in the world around them, playing jump rope or rollerblading across the stage. In songs such as "96,000" or "Carnaval del Barrio", they magnificently moved together, impeccably timed with the music. Not one body was out of sync, yet they all delivered distinct individual performances, embellished with unique character choices. Overall, the ensemble stayed consistent and committed throughout the entire show, bringing the stage to life.
Responsible for managing the blackout, balancing indoors and outdoors, and conducting the sunrise, the lighting was done by Jude Buber, Matthew Tercero, and the GCTC Lighting Team. The lighting was essential to the story as it represented different points across the three-day period in which the show occurs. By designating different colors for different parts of the set, like the pink lights in the salon, the lighting team added an extra element of personality to each part of the set. Acting as the backbone, stage managers Mimi Wise and Veronica Zadecky flawlessly organized and cued the show.
Our Lady of Good Counsel's production of In the Heights was outstanding and meaningful, reminding the audience that home isn't just a place, but a collection of shared memories, relationships, and community.
Written by Max Gerstenberg of West Springfield High School
High energy dance numbers, stunning vocals, and where one lottery ticket could completely change your life? This is Our Lady of Good Counsel High School's In the Heights!
In the Heights, with music by Lin-Manuel Miranda and a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes, is a romance and celebration of Latino culture, set in Washington Heights, New York. It has a focus on the vibrant changing neighborhood and the community living there. In the Heights debuted on Broadway in 2008 and took home four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, against their 13 nominations. The story revolves around Usnavi de la Vega, a hard working bodega owner with dreams of returning to the Dominican Republic. He's surrounded by love, a community on the brink of change, and gentrification as the cost to live formidably increases. The show smoothly mixes genres like hip-hop, salsa, and soul to pay homage to the diverse Washington Heights community.
Georgio Sardelis as the grounded dreamer Usnavi de la Vega stood out in every scene with unmatched charisma and affability. His vocals greatly reflected the characters feelings and contributed to his impressive emotional depth, ranging from losing someone to literally winning the lottery. Sardelis' portrayal welcomed the audience, letting them believe anyone could be friends with him. Elsa Harlor, playing the ambitious Nina Rosario, was overall stunning. Her vocal dynamics were incredible to say the least, especially paired with her adept use of facial expression. The audience was right there with Harlor, feeling the pressure of success from the Rosarios and the community, but also smiling and grooving along to her playful moments.
Aspen Johnson as the loud and sassy hair salon owner brought a spectacular performance. Johnson portrayed the same extreme level of boldness and sass through dialogue as well as song, and to top it off, her comedic timing and delivery was impeccable, always leaving the audience wanting more. Liam Clark played the witty Sonny with a very clear understanding. Every line and bit of information was delivered with intention and thought, and through deliberate choices, it was evident how much of role model Usnavi was to his character.
Jude Buber, Matthew Tercero and the GCTC Lighting Team did much more than illuminate the stage, they breathed life into it. The use of lighting was breathtaking and extremely dynamic; it was clear every single color, look, even transition was motivated and thought out. The GCTC Lighting Team showed they could use lighting to not only direct attention and light up the actors, but also add realism and support the vibrant, lively environment while seamlessly hiding symbolism in their work to connect to the show's main themes. In addition, despite the static outdoor set, a transition indoors was unnoticeable due to the effective indoor and outdoor lighting contrast. The set, built by Luis Buenaflor, Dina Abudayeh, Liz Hatziyannis, London Gorman, and the GC Scenic Crew was no less immersive than the lighting. The team did an incredible job making the world feel lived in and realistic through the use of levels and balconies, multiple buildings, and small details that went a long way, like boxes and sticky notes, or even the bodega's side door entry.
As the lights go down on Our Lady of Good Counsel High School's In the Heights, the audience is left realizing they weren't looking at a real street at all. The cast really stepped up to the task and set the bar high early in the show. You could say they put in the height in In the Heights.