2,018
edits
In the Heights: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
Line 7:
''In the Heights'' is especially notable for being the first Broadway musical of its kind, a combination of rap, hip-hop and Latin. Needless to say, it's [[Needs More Love|some kind of awesome]].
In 2020, HBOMax released a film adaptation of the musical.
'''Warning:''' Soundtrack is guaranteed to lead to side effects of toe-tapping, humming and spontaneous dancing.
Line 12 ⟶ 14:
----
{{tropelist}}
* [[Adult Fear]]
* [[Annoying Younger Sibling|Annoying Younger Cousin]]: Sonny▼
**The blackout. There's suddenly no light all over Washington Heights, and people panic both in the nightclub and on the streets. Usnavi, once he manages to get out the barred doors, runs to Abuela Claudia's apartment. Kevin runs out in the streets to find Nina, fearing she's been hurt in the rioting. Sonny and Graffiti Pete use fireworks to protect the bodega from looters, but aren't able to save the cash register.
**Usnavi dotes on Abuela, expressing worry that she's not taking her heart medicine. Abuela tells him not to worry, and the medicine costs more than what she has in retirement. {{spoiler|Usnavi was right to worry; Abuela's heart fails, not helped by the heartstroke just as she showed Usnavi their lottery winnings}}.
** Subverted in that Sonny is fairly intelligent with a [[Non Sequitur|comically]] strong vocabulary (he seems to take after Usnavi a bit) and interest in politics and social activism. He also has shades of being the [[Only Sane Man]] as his introspections on what {{spoiler|Usnavi's departure}} and the closing of the surrounding shops means for the community causes him to despair when others are partying.
* [[Arc Words]]: "Paciencia y Fe" (Patience and Faith). Also might count as a [[Catch Phrase]], for Abuela.
Line 41 ⟶ 46:
* [[Dawson Casting]]: Several of the characters, most notably Nina and Sonny
** Averted in the Philippine production. [[Younger Than They Look|K-La Rivera]] was 19 when they started rehearsals.
* [[The Ditz]]: Carla is a sweet lady, but she's very ditzy. She says that if she won the lottery, she'd spend it on a brand new weave.
* [[Ear Worm]]
* [[Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep"]]: Piragua Guy, Graffiti Pete.
* [[Evolving Music]]: In 96,000, Sonny sings "What about immigration/Politicians be hating/Racism in this nation's gone from latent to blatant". After some high-profile political racefail hit the news, the line was changed to "''Arizona'' be hating".
* [[Final Love Duet]]: Two. "Champagne" for Usnavi and Vanessa and "When the Sun Goes Down" for Nina and Benny.
*[[Graceful Loser]]: Even though everyone in Washington Heights wants to win the lottery, they cheer when Usnavi reveals who the winner is: {{spoiler:Abuela Claudia}}. That makes it all the sadder when Kevin has to report that {{spoiler|Abuela passed away, and they lead a candlelight vigil for her}}.
* [[Gratuitous Spanish]]: Well, [[Justified Trope|of course.]] Everyone but Benny is Hispanic.
** Usually for comical reasons, or at times when the heritage of the cast is highlighted, such as:
Line 55 ⟶ 61:
* [[Hello, Nurse!]]: Vanessa is a tame version of this trope. Usnavi and most of the guys drool over her but no one actually gets ridiculous about it (as in it never gets to [[Informed Attractiveness]] levels). Vanessa herself doesn't think it's that big of a deal.
* [[Heterosexual Life Partners]]: Daniela and Carla. Sonny and Graffiti Pete of all people come across as this. Benny and Usnavi also have some shade of this.
* [[If I Were a Rich Man]]: "$96,000" has the cast talking about what they would do with the money. Benny says he would go to business school, Graffiti Pete would spent it on spray cans. Daniela would get a better lease for her shop as well as a Malibu, while Carla would get a weave. Sonny says that he would use the money to add a reliable 5G network. Usnavi would give some of the money to Abuela, treating her to a vacation, take Vanessa out on a nice date, and move back to the Dominican Republic.
* [[Like Brother and Sister]]: Nina and Usnavi have this dynamic
* [[Line-of-Sight Name]]: Usnavi. Overlaps with [[Who Names Their Kid "Dude"?]].
Line 61 ⟶ 67:
* [[Kissing in a Tree]]: In the song "Carnaval Del Barrio" in Act 2, Daniela asks Benny if he's "seen any horses, today", having heard that {{spoiler|he and Nina "went for a roll in the hay". The whole cast then proceeds to sing said song.}}
* [[Massive Multiplayer Ensemble Number]]: The opening (aptly titled "In the Heights"), "96,000", and "Blackout".
* [[Mood Whiplash]]: A few examples, the biggest being "Alabanza" following the peppy "Carnaval del Barrio". Especially when you hear Kevin making an announcement between the songs, and Nina comes to Usnavi silently, crying, and he runs with her in the direction of Abuela's apartment.
* [[Motor Mouth]]: Usnavi can sometimes be like this, especially in the "one dollar, two dollars..." part of the opening number.
** Overlaps with [[Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness]] to a minor extent. Usnavi has a noticeably greater vocabulary and can fire off complex metaphors off the top of his head, as seen when he tries to chat up a hot girl at the club.
Line 73 ⟶ 79:
* [[Shout-Out]]: Plenty, ranging from [[Kiss Me Kate]] to [[Sesame Street]].
* [[Single Woman Seeks Good Man]]: Vanessa and Usnavi
*[[Sincerity Mode]]: Usnavi says that he wants to leave the bodega to Sunny. He says that the kid will be the "youngest tycoon" in business.
* [[Spiritual Sequel]]: Fans of [[Rent]] will probably become easily attached to this musical.
* [[Stepford Smiler]]: Nina attempts to pull this off in the beginning of the show. She fails.
{{quote|'''Nina''': Straighten the spine, smile for the neighbors/ Everything's fine, everything's cool...}}
* [[Team Mom]]: Abuela Claudia. Usnavi says that she's not actually anyone's abuela, but she treats everyone who lives in the Heights like her grandchildren, and dotes on them. She took him in after he was orphaned, which is why they are close.
** {{spoiler|Usnavi seems to take over the role after the finale, acting as the "street-light" for the community--providing illumination, learning and passing on their shared stories and heritages, and binding them together. And, of course, providing sweet, sweet coffee.}}
* [[The Musical]]: Book kind
*[[Throw the Dog a Bone]]: Sonny wants two things in the musical: for Usnavi to stay in Washington Heights rather than go to the Dominican Republic, and to win the lottery so as to improve the neighborhood. {{spoiler|When the musical ends, he gets both of these wishes, with Usnavi cancelling his flight to the Dominican Republic. telling him that he's right that Washington Heights needs people who care about their block}}.
* [[Token White|Token Non-Latino]]: Benny, who is almost always played by a black man, though theoretically could be played any other ethnicity.
** Graffiti Pete can be any ethnicity as well, the most common being Latino and white.
Line 85 ⟶ 93:
* [[True Companions]]: With Abuela acting as grandmother to the entire street, it made everyone feel a little more like family.
* [[Victorious Childhood Friend]]: Inferred about Usnavi/Vanessa and Nina/Benny.
*[[Wham! Line]]: One that sets the tone for the third act. {{spoiler|"Abuela Claudia passed away today"}}. More than likely, the audience will be crying for the subsequent song.
*[[Yank the Dog's Chain]]: Usnavi is thrilled when Abuela Claudia shows him that {{spoiler|she won the lottery, and she wants to give him and Sonny most of the money, keeping enough for herself so as to pay her bills and go on a nice vacation. They start planning a trip to the Dominican Republic, while Usnavi celebrates that their dreams are coming true. He announces to the neighborhood that Abuela won, which leads to everyone cheering}}. Then "Atencion" happens, and {{spoiler|Usnavi finds out that during the Carnaval, Abuela passed away from heatstroke and not taking her medicine. He starts crying as he asks why she didn't take care of herself, and you know he would give up all the money if it means she was alive}}.
* [[Yiddish as a Second Language]]: Well, they ''are'' in New York...
| |||