Musical plays roll into Buffalo monthly, but unfortunately we’ve seen most of them. How many times can you see CATS or The Phantom of the Opera? But this month, a musical we hadn’t seen arrived: In the Heights. It’s the story of a Latino neighborhood in New York City. Various characters are introduced, the cast breaks into song every five minutes or so, and there’s enough energy in the songs and the dancing to hold the audience’s attention. Many of the songs are a blend of Latino music (heavy on the brass) and rap. Some people won’t like that. The fairly simple plot complications are resolved by [SPOILER!] “deus ex lottery ticket.” This musical won some Tony Awards when it was on Broadway. If it comes to your town, check it out. GRADE: B
West Side Story, updated, with rap and the lottery. Great. Okay, you didn’t say “West Side Story” I just thought it, and the plot – if there is one – probably is much different, still the comparison, based on your description, begs to be made.
If you take away the Sharks and the Jets, IN THE HEIGHTS pretty much conforms to your description, Rick. It was a pleasant way to pass a frigid afternoon in Buffalo. But I don’t need to see it ever again.
We saw Boeing, Boeing this weekend. It was fun–off an on. Next week The Seagull. Bet that won’t be fun.
I’ve seen THE SEAGULL, Patti. It’s no walk in the park.
Rick, from what I understand you’re not that far off.
We liked BOEING BOEING a lot when we saw it on Broadway – how can you go wrong with a cast of Bradley Whitford, Mark Rylance, Mary McCormack, Gina Gershon, Christine Baranski?
I’ll keep my eyes open for BOEING BOEING, Jeff. Some touring companies just show up without much fanfare.
We saw a revival of Noel Coward’s PRESENT LAUGHTER on Saturday, starring an excellent Victor Garber. We’d seen it previously in London in 1981 with Donald Sinden.
I’ve enjoyed every Noel Coward play I’ve ever seen, Jeff. Occasionally, the Shaw Festival at Niagara-On-The-Lake features one.
Me too, George. We’ve seen PRIVATE LIVES and HAY FEVER and PRESENT LAUGHTER twice each, and several others once, including NOEL COWARD IN TWO KEYS with Hume Cronyn & Jessica Tandy and Anne Baxter.
I have a volume of Noel Coward’s plays that I need to find and read, Jeff.
My cast of Boeing, Boeing wasn’t quite up to Jeff’s and it was a local, albeit, professional production. But still fun. I am going to turn up at the Shaw Festival soon. I love Niagara on the Lake. Maybe we can all meet up there because SF seems pretty remote for us.
Diane and I are going to pass on BOUCHERCON in San Francisco, Patti. So meeting at Niagara-on-the-Lake would be great! The Shaw Festival should be announcing their 2010 plays in a few weeks.
Yeah, yeah, skip Bouchercon all you people. I’ll be there, the first one I’ve made in years, so you just stay away and spoil the fun. THAT’S OK. Art and I and Janet and Napier will just par-tay our lil’ selves up and you’ll all be jealous.
See you in St. Louis, Rick!