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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2016 22:06:43 GMT
Am I the only one who thinks it's weird that Vanessa and Abuela share an understudy? "So, Usnavi, what attracted you to your girlfriend Vanessa?" "She reminds me of my dead abuela, but it's not weird 'cos she's not really my abuela, she just practically raised me." Haha good one  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2016 22:06:58 GMT
Yes it's weird but I don't think there's much that's normal about the casting of this production. Very true |
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Post by hitmewithurbethshot on Sept 18, 2016 22:18:28 GMT
Plus with Stephanie (& previously Sarah) covering Nina and Vanessa and Michael covering Usnavi and Kevin they could play father/daughter or love interests in different performances
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 8:57:49 GMT
What does all that say about the casting agent?
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Post by Stasia on Sept 19, 2016 11:57:57 GMT
I think, the fact that second cover for the part is not so very age-appropriate is ok. the cast is much smaller than in a typical West End show. I am pretty sure, Once's (the most close show in terms of people in the cast) second covers Barushka and Da were also youngish (can't have a check right now).
And as far as I remember, I never heard of a situation with the need of second cover Kevin, for example.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 12:01:35 GMT
When I saw her, I found Josie too young for the role of Abuela, even though I understand she is one of the older company members!
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Post by d'James on Sept 19, 2016 12:31:08 GMT
When I first saw Josie as Abuela I found her a bit too young too as well, as she had the same hair as when I'd previously seen her as Camila (except there was a white stripe in the hair). The second time I saw her they'd given her a new wig and it was up in a scarf sort of thing which made her look a bit older and more like an abuela.
Having said that, both times I saw Jocasta as Camila I thought her singing voice was way too young for Enough. She sang it very well but it just didn't sound right. I mean I hate the cast recording of Enough but at least you can tell that the person singing it is older. Her acting as Camila was spot on though, so I imagine it'd be the same if she'd ever gone on for Abuela, she would've acted it well but I think it would've been very plain she was not old enough.
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Post by d'James on Sept 21, 2016 3:12:39 GMT
Has anyone ever just turned up on the day before? What price do they let any spare seats go for?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2016 10:33:19 GMT
Just read the interview with Gabreila Garcia on Broadway.com who said that she initially got turned down for this show for being 'not latina enough' even though she IS latina. Now correct me if I'm wrong but Sam Mackay isn't latino at all, is he? Once more the casting of this show confuses me.
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Post by d'James on Sept 24, 2016 13:33:51 GMT
Just read the interview with Gabreila Garcia on Broadway.com who said that she initially got turned down for this show for being 'not latina enough' even though she IS latina. Now correct me if I'm wrong but Sam Mackay isn't latino at all, is he? Once more the casting of this show confuses me. Very odd. I'm glad they saw the error of their ways in her case. I am guessing but maybe there's a lot fewer latin@ people to choose from in the West End, but if that's the case then going by looks doesn't seem to be the answer. The people they have cast have all been very good, whatever the reason for casting them. |
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Post by ctas on Sept 24, 2016 13:58:52 GMT
Just read the interview with Gabreila Garcia on Broadway.com who said that she initially got turned down for this show for being 'not latina enough' even though she IS latina. Now correct me if I'm wrong but Sam Mackay isn't latino at all, is he? Once more the casting of this show confuses me. You're correct, he isn't. He performs the role very well but his casting baffles me, especially when there was uproar at a white performer being cast as Usnavi in a regional US production and not a whisper about London. |
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Post by d'James on Sept 24, 2016 14:04:31 GMT
Just read the interview with Gabreila Garcia on Broadway.com who said that she initially got turned down for this show for being 'not latina enough' even though she IS latina. Now correct me if I'm wrong but Sam Mackay isn't latino at all, is he? Once more the casting of this show confuses me. You're correct, he isn't. He performs the role very well but his casting baffles me, especially when there was uproar at a white performer being cast as Usnavi in a regional US production and not a whisper about London. Do you think they tried to compensate by having people who 'look' latin@ in the ensemble which is maybe why they turned down Gabriela Garcia originally?! |
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Post by ctas on Sept 24, 2016 14:37:38 GMT
Either way, it feels wrong.
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Post by Nicholas on Sept 25, 2016 20:17:56 GMT
Saw this THE DAY BEFORE LIN MANUEL TURNED UP, GRR, bit annoyed I’m late to the game with this one. I want to rave and tell you all how Lin-Manuel Miranda’s a rising genius who’s going to do amazing things – but he already has, and you already know that anyway, don’t you? I suppose this is a bit like a modern day Meet Me In St Louis – about a small, tight-knit, local community expressing their very domestic concerns through song (where Fosse believes song is heightened emotion, here song is not just everyday language but a glorious lingua franca) – and it’s such a wonderful, caring, full-blooded and fully-realised community that it’s equally up there with Minelli’s view of 1940s life, just a pleasure immersing yourself in this world. I imagine in fifty years this will still feel young, still sound new, still have a twenty-year old’s energy. Simply put, it’s absolutely the best, most humane, most joyous, most life-affirming musical I’ve ever seen about a power cut.
P.S. Just listening to the CD now. Still love it. There are just lyrics that are just so entertainingly clever in the way a good Cole Porter rhyme is entertainingly clever (I wonder how broad Lin Manuel Miranda’s music collection must be). See, Aladdin made me smile then ended, because it’s about a joke being funny at the time. This made me happy, because it’s about the joy of being in such a close-knit, caring community, and that happiness has stuck since.
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Post by djdan14 on Oct 3, 2016 17:10:42 GMT
Can anyone tell me which numbered seats are nearest the entrance to the theatre? Booked numbe 36 and hoping that's the entrance end.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2016 17:26:34 GMT
High numbers are nearest the entrance, yes. Do they still make everyone enter through the station on stage, though? No they don't. At least last time I went (Sept 1st). |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Oct 3, 2016 18:03:09 GMT
I'm going to see it again with a friend in 26 days... haven't seen it since December, how's the current cast?
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Post by talkstageytome on Oct 4, 2016 10:56:16 GMT
I'm going to see it again with a friend in 26 days... haven't seen it since December, how's the current cast? Saw the show on Friday and the new cast are excellent. The show is as good as ever. Arun Blair-Mangat as Beny is sensational, such a lovely tone to his voice, and a great swagger too! A different take on the character to Joe Aaron Reid, who I also loved. LOVED Jocasta Almgill as Daniella, sometimes I could hardly believe her voice could actually be coming out of her mouth, it was SO gorgeous, faultless. A shame she's just left the show as of yesterday. And I know she's not new, but Gabriela Garcia is sensational as Nina too! Rest of the cast is brilliant. Saw Vas as Kevin again, he's fantastic. Can't really remember David Bedella's take as I saw him in October of Last year, but Vas is great. Noticed that he's listen as Alternate Kevin in the programme now, which I wasn't aware of before. I keep forgetting how much I love this show, but it really is one of the best musicals in london right now in my opinion! |
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Post by mmmbop on Oct 4, 2016 13:15:37 GMT
I'm seeing this again this weekend for the first time since last December, very excited to see that David Bedella is still in it as he was out when I saw it so hoping to catch him this time. Glad to hear it's still going strong!
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Post by couldileaveyou on Oct 4, 2016 15:08:03 GMT
I'm going to see it again with a friend in 26 days... haven't seen it since December, how's the current cast? Saw the show on Friday and the new cast are excellent. The show is as good as ever. Arun Blair-Mangat as Beny is sensational, such a lovely tone to his voice, and a great swagger too! A different take on the character to Joe Aaron Reid, who I also loved. LOVED Jocasta Almgill as Daniella, sometimes I could hardly believe her voice could actually be coming out of her mouth, it was SO gorgeous, faultless. A shame she's just left the show as of yesterday. And I know she's not new, but Gabriela Garcia is sensational as Nina too! Rest of the cast is brilliant. Saw Vas as Kevin again, he's fantastic. Can't really remember David Bedella's take as I saw him in October of Last year, but Vas is great. Noticed that he's listen as Alternate Kevin in the programme now, which I wasn't aware of before. I keep forgetting how much I love this show, but it really is one of the best musicals in london right now in my opinion! Thank you very much, I can't wait to see it again for my birthday now! |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Oct 4, 2016 15:10:11 GMT
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Post by talkstageytome on Oct 4, 2016 17:55:42 GMT
Yes, me too. I think he's very talented and seems lovely, and I get that this is a role he'd love to play, but it can't happen surely? The casting of the lead role is going to be SUCH a big deal, if they cast a white actor then there'll be a riot? There have got to be loads of actors and / or singers/ rappers who could play the role and fit the casting brief too, right? Also, I'm not really about self promotion of my blog on here, but if anyone's interested I was also at that birthday event and got to chat to Sarah Naudi and Arun Blair-Mangat, and those interviews are both on there (link in my signature, and I hyperlinked the names too, because I just realised you can't see sigs on mobile view  ). Friday was my third time seeing the show, and I honestly couldn't pick a favourite visit. Despite such dramatic differences in cast, every visit is just as wonderful! Don't know whether to see it once more before it closes in Jan, but if this was my last visit it was certainly a fantastic one  |
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Post by BGLowe on Oct 9, 2016 18:40:42 GMT
Love theatre have this as their musical of the month! I've just booked some tickets. Tried to see it before but unfortunately I would have missed my train. Now booked for the matinee in half term - can't wait!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2016 19:00:56 GMT
Me and daniel. have just booked our tickets for the final performance, I'm sure it will be amazing! |
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Post by geertm on Oct 10, 2016 10:53:32 GMT
Yesterday I discovered this recently uploaded full professional recording of "In the heights" on Youtube:
This is a legal upload. Uploaded by the cast member playing Usnavi.
This is an amateur production and the stage is a bit small. But the overall quality is very good. It is great to be able to see the full show.
I am really looking forward to seeing the last London performance January 8!
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