Somehow it's almost 10 years since Hamilton premiered on Broadway in January 2015.
And it's almost 4 years since it became available to watch on Disney+ during lock down - I remember that because it was the reason we subscribed to Disney+... but we weren't that enthralled by it on the screen, and didn't actually finish it.
But still - I couldn't help but wonder if the actual stage show could live up to the hype, so when it was advertised as coming to Bristol, I bought tickets a year in advance.
I say "hype" because it's had plenty of that. If you don't know anything about it, it's a mixture of rap, pop, hip-hop, jazz, and classic musical theatre showtunes meaning it burst on to the stage with a very differnet sound to most musicals. It also has a diverse cast; The New York Theatre Guide says "People of color play all of the lead roles in the musical, in a nod to how non-white faces have always been left out of the history books."
It was written and composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda who originally took the leading role as Hamilton. The story goes that Miranda read a book about Founding Father Alexander Hamilton when he was on holiday, when he was supposed to be relaxing, and came back with an award winning musical. I've read that he identified with Hamilton as they were/are both such prolific writers - but I think the similarites could stretch further, as they have both made quite a splash in their times. Since Hamilton, Miranda has written the songs for Moana and Encanto, being nominated for an Oscar for each, and played Jack in Mary Poppins Returns, amongst other achievements. Thanks to Hamilton and his other work, he is just an Oscar away from EGOT status - as he's got an Emmy, Grammy and Tony award - he just needs an Oscar Academy Award for the O. Hamilton's MASSIVE list of awards can be read here.
So I hoped it would be good. American Revolution history isn't actually a pet subject of mine, and I often prefer musicals I know the words to - and I didn't know any of these songs - but I felt like it was one I should see, like how I went to see Wicked a couple of months ago.
First impressions
As soon as it started, I knew it was going to be brilliant. I felt the sound levels were a little low for the first couple of seconds as I could hardly hear the opening line but then it got good. "Energetic" is the word that kept coming to mind - it's the most passionate show I've seen and has a tremendous energy and beat running through it the whole time. The energy is delivered by the outstanding cast and the flawless dancing.
Music
It's fast, it's furious and it's super catchy, actually. My 2 year old has been telling me to stop singing all morning. I'm not typically a rap or hip-hop fan but it's a great style for conveying lots of information quickly! And it certainly does - from the opening line you're being delivered facts about the life of this man who was born in the 1750's. There are slower, gentler songs - but no low points. And there's some comedy courtesy of the King of England, who was fantastic light relief last night, although in the videos I've seen on YouTube of the original stage show, he was perhaps less lighthearted and a tad more sinister?
I think - again, listening to YouTube today - that whilst I often wonder at how absolutely phenomenally talented Lin-Manuel Miranda is, actually I prefered our Hamilton last night - Shaq Taylor (who, based on his instagram, was previously Beast in Beauty and the Beast). I think our King of England was Daniel Boys - and his version of You'll be Back - which I LOVE - is here:
Burr was also amazing last night, which according to Bristol Theatre was probably Sam Oladeinde although I'm not 100% sure - I've also learned I need an eye test as I couldn't see faces at all from the cheap seats at the back. We also came home raving about Hamilton's wife Eliza - who was probably Maya Britto. Note to self: don't enter through the bar, you miss the cast list.
The rest of the cast info is here.
Scenery
About 30 minutes in - that's a guess as I didn't want to take my eyes off the stage to look at my watch - I realised they were doing something which I generally don't love... they don't change the staging. There was no curtain over the stage when we arrived, you could see the wooden structure around the stage as we waited for the show to begin; and this staging is what stays in place the whole time. There's one bit that moves, and then moves back again, but all the scenes are set by people carrying on sparse items of furniture, by lighting, and by the floor of the stage having 2 circles in the middle (which you can't see in the photo as they don't really show until they're moving) - 1 ring around the other - which can rotate in opposite directions to each other. Now, I know in theory you don't need scenery and staging - but I usually find it helps. In fact, it was one of the best bits about the Frozen Musical I saw last year. But Hamilton did absolutely not need more. The moving rings on the floor were used spectacularly well, with people walking against the direction of the turn, and characters being rotated around. The wooden structure around the edge also allowed them to convey the passing of time or journeys, with a letter being passed from actor to actor around the stage until it reached it's recipient. I can't do this aspect of it justice with these poor examples - but it was simple whilst very, very effective.
Multiple viewings
I've heard about people seeing it several times - I went with someone from work who's seen it before and this morning a friend told me someone she knows has seen it twice but already bought tickets for 2 more showings in the future! 2 future visits lined up! And actually, writing this, I realise I can see why. I'd like to soak up how that scene setting worked more, there are odd lines I'd like to try and catch on another viewing (although I have been listening to the songs this morning on YouTube - some of which have captions so you can read the lyrics). I can love a show without feeling the need to see it again, but this one actually - there's so much going on, I think you could get more from it each time you see it.
Overall
Hamilton is one of the longer musicals - it was 2 hours 45 minutes including an interval (I've found reports of it opening on Broadway at 2 hours 55 minutes so I don't know what's been cut or if you just have a longer intermission on Broadway), so make sure you've got a comfy seat and plenty of cash for the babysitter.
I'm very glad I've seen it, would happily see it again if anyone wanted to buy me a ticket, and can 100% see what all the fuss is about. It is absolutely a world class show.
My only other comment would be that it is very much a historic retelling rather than a "story". There aren't plot twists, there isn't a big reveal - it doesn't leave you thinking about a moral. I came away from Wicked with my head buzzing about propoganda and injustice in the world, as well as the clever intertextuality of the story with The Wizard of Oz (I go into all of that in my review of Wicked here). But it is incredibly entertaining, deeply emotional at times (I full on cried - if you watch it, you'll know when) and you come away feeling like you've learned something. Let's just hope Miranda was factually accurate enough that we can rely on what we learned!
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