Diego Klock-Pérez is perfection as Usnavi, who owns a small convenience store and hopes to someday return to his homeland, the Dominican Republic. Having had the opportunity to play the role a number of times in the past, his rapping, comic timing, emotional beats, and physicality have all been refined. His likeability as an actor informs the likability of the character, which makes it absolutely believable that the neighborhood would rally around him. He is a doppelganger for Lin Manuel Miranda, who originated the part, as well as the leading role in his smash hit HAMILTON. Casting directors take note, Klock-Pérez is primed to move on to play Alexander Hamilton at any moment.
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¨Diego Klock-Perez as Usnavi exuded swagger, sweetness and just a hint of goofiness in the role that Miranda played on Broadway. His raps were as strong as his singing, and Klock-Perez managed to hit his character’s tricky intersection of insecurity and confidence, moving between a young man who believes in his abilities to a young man who can’t muster up the courage to ask out the girl of his dreams. ¨
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¨Klock-Perez persuasively inhabits the role of Usnavi. He deftly balances Usnavi’s contradictory blend of assurance (when it comes to running his business) and awkwardness (when pitching woo at the girl of his dreams). As it happens, Klock-Perez, who attended the Boston Conservatory, possesses a singing voice uncannily similar to that of Miranda, who played the part on Broadway in addition to writing the music and lyrics. […] What is also made clear by the Wheelock production is that any Boston actor who wants to take a crack at playing Usnavi, a bodega proprietor who is the chief protagonist of “In the Heights,’’ is going to have to somehow get past Diego Klock-Perez first, because he is claiming virtual ownership of the role, at least locally.¨
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¨Diego Klock-Pérez as Usnavi truly commands the stage. The character of Usnavi serves as the audience’s guide through Washington Heights, and in the opening number Pérez brings the audience into Usnavi’s world with true showmanship.The role of Usnavi was originated by Lin Manuel Miranda himself, and Pérez does a spectacular job of honoring the role that Miranda created while still making the part of Usnavi his own.¨
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While the company is uniformly strong, a few performances stand out. Diego Klock-Perez’s Usnavi is a vibrant charmer.
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¨Diego Klock-Perez owns the stage as Usnavi, the role originated by composer-lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda, and is equally comfortable as the narrator and linchpin of the community. His ease among his castmates feels organic”.
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The talent of this cast is tremendous, and the corps de spirit strong. Klock-Perez makes a compelling Usnavi, giving him weight and responsibility.
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In particular, Diego Klock-Perez shines brightly as the hero Usnavi. His performance looks and sounds as natural as breathing.¨
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¨As terrific as they all are, though, the musical is dominated by Klock-Perez, who also played Usnavi.
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Usnavi is the prince of the barrio, played by Diego Klock-Perez in a performance as smooth as the café con leche Usnavi dispenses at his bodega.
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Diego Klock-Perez is terrific as Usnavi, struggling bodega owner who longs to return to his roots in Cuba. He shines in the opening production number as well as in “Alabanza.”
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Klock-Perez, who gives Usnavi just the right mix of street pride and tenderness.
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¨Diego Klock-Perez, who played Usnavi, disproved my assumption that no one could ever embody Usnavi like Lin-Manuel Miranda. He delivered every lyric and every moment like I imagined Usnavi would.¨
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¨There were several standout performances from an outstanding cast. Starting with Diego Klock-Peres’s Usnavi, each actor had his own voice. You could feel his personal frustration being chained to his family’s bodega. His singing and dancing were great as well.¨
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When Diego Klock-Pérez begins the opening number as Usnavi, muted gasps can be heard scattered throughout the audience, as though Lin-Manuel himself is somehow onstage. All of the main actresses are similarly gifted, though Klock-Pérez is most obviously trying to channel another actor’s interpretation. Since Klock-Pérez is both as charming as Miranda and arguably a better singer, the strategy pays off.
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At first, Diego Klock-Perez is a credible but subdued Usnavi. But he lets his character change in the course of the play. […] as Usnavi finds his voice and recognizes what he’s meant to do, Klock-Perez delivers the news with power in the sing-song poetry of rap.
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