Today is Sunday, and this week’s Report contains my abbreviated notes on The Heart at the Laura Pels Theatre and In the Heights at New York City Center. Plus, a quote of the week; select press announcements from the past week; and the upcoming week’s previews and openings. Note: I am in the midst of writing a new book, so my notes on this fall’s productions are likely to be uncharacteristically brief.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

The lyric, by Charles Gaynor, for “Calypso Pete,” written for Carol Channing and featured in the 1961 revue Show Girl. The slinky number contains three brassy, four-bar band breaks, and the individual performing the piece is meant to use claves to voice the parenthetical clicks.

I had a man name Calypso Pete.
He was big and he was strong and he was very sweet,
You should have heard him when he played in band.
He was the greatest man in all the land.
He didn’t play the bongo – no, no, no.
He didn’t play maracas – no, no, no.
But all the girls would gather round to hear him go
(Click-click, click-click, click-click-click)

I made a very happy home for him,
And after work we’d sit and have a drink of gin.
There never was a man who was as good as Pete.
He played all night and never missed a beat.
He didn’t play the bongo – no, no, no.
He didn’t play maracas – no, no, no.
But he was very good at playing fast and slow
(Click-click, click-click, click-click-click)
North or south or east or west
Music soothes the savage breast.

(Band break.)

It’s a law of nature and I don’t know why,
But nearly ev’ry man has got a roving eye.
There was a woman living down the street
Who set her cap to catch the eye of Pete.
She didn’t want his bongo – no, siree.
She didn’t want maracas – no, siree.
The thing that she was after was his specialty.
(Click-click, click-click, click-click-click)
Evil woman always can
Make a monkey out of man.

(Band break.)

I wait in vain for Calypso Pete,
Until one night I take a walk along the street.
From a certain woman’s house there comes to me
A sound of great familiarity.
Could it be the bongo? No, no, wrong.
Could it be maracas? Also wrong.
To me it was a version of “Love’s Old Sweet Song.”
(Click-click, click-click, click-click-click, click-click-click-click-etc.)

Spoken.
Stop the music!

Sung.
A man who two-time, not so bright.
Jealous woman dynamite.

(Band break.)

I open the door and then I fire a shot,
And much to my surprise I find it hit the spot.
Now I’m alone and yet it’s nice to know
Calypso Pete is playing down below.
I never miss the bongo – no, no, no.
I never miss maracas – no, no, no.
But sometimes in the evening when the lights are low,
(Click-click, click-click, click-click-click)
I kinda miss Calypso Pete!

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THE HEART AT THE LAURA PELS THEATRE

The Heart, a new musical based on the 2014 novel, opened an Off-Broadway engagement on Thursday at the Laura Pels Theatre, under the auspices of Roundabout Theatre Company. It has a book and additional lyrics by Kait Kerrigan, lyrics and music by Anne Eisendrath and Ian Eisendrath, and direction by Christopher Ashley, and it has real potential, but it is currently underdone. I will refrain from a public discussion of the piece, because I have privately provided my notes to the creative team, but my two headlines, in terms of areas of focus, are Character and Relationships, and Calibration and Composition. Sue Frost and Randy Adams are leading the commercial charge, and Steve and Paula Reynolds provided major development support. The Heart has a capitalization of $14 million, with a $16 million max.

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IN THE HEIGHTS AT NEW YORK CITY CENTER

In the Heights, a concert revival of the 2008 musical, is currently playing a three-week engagement at New York City Center. It has a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes, lyrics and music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and direction by David Mendizábal, and it is a dull, dull, deeply unassured production of a mediocre property that borders on poor.

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PRESS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Here is a list of select press announcements from the past week. Each headline is clickable for more information.

• American Sing-Song’s Hole! Will Bow Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons
• The Heart to Extend at Roundabout Theatre Company
• Broadway-Bound Houdini: A Magical Musical Will Embark on U.S. Tour in 2028; Watch the Trailer
• I Became We Extends Run Off-Broadway at Atlantic Theater Company
• Soon Off-Broadway Extended Through November at St. Luke’s Theatre
• Dates Set for The Greatest Showman: The Musical at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
• Full Cast Set for Girls Just Want to Have Fun World Premiere in Pittsburgh

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PREVIEWS AND OPENINGS

Here is a list of the new musicals and revivals either opening or beginning previews during the upcoming week, specifically on Broadway and Off-Broadway. It contains, as well, select new musicals beginning performances regionally, and select new musicals and revivals beginning performances in New York City. Each title is clickable for more information.

Monday, November 2

Tuesday, November 3
• Previews: The King’s Critique

Wednesday, November 4
• Regional: Passing Strange
• NYC: Traitorz

Thursday, November 5

Friday, November 6

Saturday, November 7

Sunday, November 8
• Opening: Ms. Blakk for President
• Opening: Wanted

Photo of a scene from The Heart by Joan Marcus.