by Edward Precht. @pertoltprecht.
NEW YORK, NY – They’re finally here to play! Today’s release of the Warriors concept album (based on the 1979 cult classic The Warriors) has been met with nothing short of critical acclaim. Listeners loved the songs, the gender-bent casting, and the impressive list of cameos. But the biggest treat for fans? The inclusion of the Piragua Guy from In the Heights, played once again by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
“We wanted to do a fresh take on a story that’s meant a lot to both of us,” said playwright Eisa Davis, who co-wrote the concept album with House star Lin-Manuel Miranda. “New York, even this fictional version, has such a unique blend of cultural identities, and we wanted to represent as much of them as we could. Warriors is a future written for now.”
“And also, the Piragua Guy is in it!” said Miranda, a little louder than probably intended. “Remember him? It was a fun cameo I did in the In the Heights movie, and Eisa and I agreed it’d be cool to bring him back!” At this, Davis unzipped her jacket to reveal a sweater with the words "I <3 PIRAGUA GUY" stitched across it and gave a thumbs-up so enthusiastic she sprained her wrist.
Indeed, many songs on the album heavily feature the Piragua Guy, whose shouts of “Good luck out there, you crazy scamps!” and “I’ve got some tasty, wet ice for you when you get back!” break up the tension of "Leave the Bronx Behind."
Similarly, he shows up in "Outside Gray’s Papaya" with his famous catchphrase, “Hey, can one of you girls order me a Papaya Dog? I do not have fifty cents, and they keep asking for fifty cents.”
“We had a lot of ground to cover, literally and figuratively,” added Davis. "Sadly, many of our darlings had to die. For instance, Lin wrote a twelve-minute rap for the Piragua Guy, and unfortunately, we just couldn’t find a place for it. But that’s what Broadway’s for!” Davis said before taking off her sweater to reveal a second, smaller sweater emblazoned with the phrase #HAM4WARRIOR.
Critics can’t get enough either.
“I really loved the inclusion of the Piragua Guy,” said a listener we cornered outside the Drama Book Shop. “When he was singing about sweet treats and sticky ice and whatever? I really needed that. I think we all do. I don’t want to hear about the end of the world, or uber-graphic gang violence. No war, just sweet treats.”
Warriors can be found on most streaming platforms starting today. Warriors: the Non-Piragua Cut is rumored to be released sometime next year. Global protests against its release are expected to begin immediately.
This seems like a really original twist! The Piragua Guy's inclusion is brilliant; his positive outlook is just what we need in a world that is all too frequently preoccupied with negative issues. I'm eager to listen to the album and enjoy this modern interpretation of a classic! backyard baseball