Abhiroop Das
Created by Rebecca Cutter, ‘Hightown’ centers around the murder of a young woman, which compels two agents of law enforcement from completely different backgrounds to team up and find the truth. National Marine Fisheries Service Agent, Jackie Quiñones, juggles work with her drug and alcohol addiction, while Ray Abruzzo from the Narcotics Unit deals with his personal ties to the case. Ultimately, his quest takes him to a bar cum strip club in Hyannis, named Xavier’s Bar and Lounge. Here, he meets an exotic dancer named Renee, who is s Frankie Cuevas’ former partner. While the latter, an infamous drug kingpin, is presently behind bars, the protagonist still believes him to be behind the murder. Hence, Ray urges Renee to become his ally in the investigation. Xavier’s serves as a backdrop to every iteration of their meeting, along with several other key scenes, adding an enchanting undertone to the narrative. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Xavier’s is a Fictional Bar Brought to Life by its Set Design
While Xavier’s is a fictional bar and lounge that is created by the writing team behind ‘Hightown,’ it grounds itself through its sophisticated set, which adds a level of realism and lets the narrative shine through. Reportedly, for seasons 2 and 3, the crew makes use of a building at 2505 Carolina Beach Road as a stand-in for the fictive bar. All the exterior shots of the bar, featuring its characteristic minimalist design and a bright neon sign declaring its name, are all thanks to this fixture. For the first season, it is possible that similar establishments were used to achieve the desired effect. Additionally, the interior shots were likely all taped on set, which gives the crew the flexibility required for pulling off major sequences seamlessly.
The name Xavier, being used in association with a bar, is not without precedent either. Within Massachusetts, Xavier’s Place is a famous bar and nightclub located at 245 Lawrence Street. However, besides the broad similarity in their names and locations, there appears to be no prominent connection to the bar’s fictional nature. Its most striking feature is the fact that it doubles as a strip club. While it doesn’t appear to have any direct inspirations, it is likely inspired by the numerous real-life bar and strip club combinations, as it closely follows the intricacies of such establishments. Xavier features exotic dancers, along with special bouncers to maintain decorum, which aligns with the functioning of its real-life analogs.
Renee’s Experience at Xavier’s is Informed by Her Real-Life Counterparts
Renee is one of the exotic dancers who work at Xavier’s, which in turn makes it a recurring setting, as many characters show interest in her, be it conversational or soliciting her services. The show doesn’t shy away from covering the length and breadth of Renee’s experience, and she soon becomes a player in both Ray and Frankie’s plans against each other. This marks a gradual shift in the intensity of the scenes that take place in Xavier’s. While it initially comes off as a place where the characters can relax and move away from their professional troubles, that idea quickly goes away with Ray’s hidden agendas, and the bar becomes a hub for many cold negotiations and desperate pleas. Soon, other professionals at the bar become embroiled in the larger conspiracy as well, which stands as a testament to how crime affects each and every element in its vicinity.
In an interview with Cinema Blend, actor Riley Voelkel talks about her experience in bringing Renee’s role to life, particularly drawing attention to real-life exotic dancers. She stated: “Oh, it’s totally an art. And I mean, these girls who actually do it for a living just blew me out of the water. You can see them in the background. They’re just so incredible, so strong, and so talented. It is a talent, and it’s so much harder (than you’d think.) They make it look graceful and easy; it’s not. It is not.” As the seasons progress, Renee’s character shows a deeper involvement in the narrative. This progression adds several layers to both her character and the bar she works at, as their involvement in the show gets more and more complex.
Read More: Where Was Hightown Filmed? All Shooting Locations
