Hamilton
Hamilton starts with the question, "How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore, and a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence, impoverished, in squalor, grow up to be a hero and a scholar?" Well through the talented eyes of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Broadway of Chicago seeks to answer the question about how Alexander Hamilton, whose enemies tried to destroy his rep and make America forget him, rose from an impoverished immigrant and became a military officer, a statesman who helped draft the Constitution and a Founding Father who served as the first Secretary of the Treasury. As a young immigrant from the Caribbean, Alexander Hamilton arrived in the United States with nothing but his wit, talent, and unstoppable ambition. He quickly rose to prominence in the American Revolution, becoming a trusted aide to General George Washington and helping to shape the course of the war. But Hamilton's true passion lay in creating a new nation founded on freedom, democracy, and equality. His main goal was to leave a legacy, shaping the pathway of American history. What's so magical and splendid about this much-hyped-up musical is that you became part of how American history unfolded with the rise of one of the founders of the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton. Splendidly written with highs and lows and executed for knowledge and entertainment, Miranda delivered a revolutionary story filled with passion and unstoppable ambition that shaped a new nation filled with sex, scandal, blackmail, and death in a duel by the vice president. From the book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton is a non-stop, exhilarating musical that features a blend of hip-hop, jazz, and R&B that thoroughly mixed in with historical culture, the backbone of American politics and educational thesis that only Broadway could pull off. Direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, this masterful production has come back to the James M. Nederlander Theatre, and its brazen look of one man's past that set the course of our history is still packaging the house.
While Lin-Manuel Miranda initially performed in the blockbuster role of Alexander Hamilton, Pierre Jean Gonzalez is currently portraying the role of Alexander Hamilton in the Philip Touring Company of Hamilton. Gonzalez still displays Miranda's wit, passion, and intensity; however, he brings a more edgy persona to the role. Hamilton is a stage production that is in continual motion for two hours and forty-five minutes, and, with its amazing sound effects, historically correct costumes, dancing, stimulating dialogue, and high-energy performances, it's a phenomenal theatrical history lesson that rivals seeing Macbeth on stage. Audiences viewing this magnificent production may miss the beauty within the simplicity of the staging, which provides a perfect blend of the actors and their costumes. There is also a bit of humor with King George, in the song, "You'll Be Back," who laments over the anti-royal government and the rebelling American colonists, telling him, "I will kill your friends and family/To remind you of my love." A role delightfully played by Neil Haskell, who has been a member of the Original Broadway Cast of 'Hamilton since 2015. This two-act performance has 46 songs, 23 in each act, with memorable songs of My Shot, Washington On Your Side, You'll Be Back, The Room Where It Happens, and Spotify's most popular song played with currently 194 Million Listens, "Alexander Hamilton." One scene that bothered the stickler in me, as the correct visual is crucial in theatrical performances, was when Hamilton's son died from a shot during a duel, and they placed him on a wooden table instead of a medical stretcher. You can find a used one on eBay for $54.95, and that scene would have been 100% more impactful.
Hamilton concludes with Aaron Burr (Wait For It), "Death doesn't discriminate/Between the sinners and the saints," who felt that since he and Hamilton are both orphans making, similar but have a vast difference viewpoints on how to succeed, he fatally shoots his long-time political antagonist Alexander Hamilton, who died the following day. Featuring a cast that mostly people of color playing white characters allows the world to see our unlimited potential for greatness if diversity is given the chance to succeed. Hopefully, in 2024, we will find the relevance, not to waste our shot of unity.
You will thoroughly enjoy this high-octane musical!
4 Stars ****
James Nederlander Theatre
Hamilton
Book, Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Directed by Thomas Kail
Music Supervision and Orchestration by Alex LaCamoire
Choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler
September 13 - December 30, 2023
