Hamilton

  

Rise Up!

    Let's discuss the hit musical sweeping the nation: Hamilton. With the release of the pro-shoot this past July, the popularity of this historical musical has shot up. Although this musical has been performing for years, I have not had the opportunity to view it, so this review will be about the film version featuring the OBC. 

    Hamilton focuses on the life and legacy of the first Treasury Secretary of the United States, Alexander Hamilton. It's a coming-of-age tale filled with love, loss, despair, and hope. With rap-music intertwined with pop tracks and intense ballads, Hamilton spans many genres, appealing to many fans. Without further ado, let's discuss: Hamilton. 

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Disney+

Watching on Disney+

History

    Hamilton was created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the book, music, and lyrics for the show. The show made it's premiere Off-Broadway in 2015, before transferring to Broadway later that same year. It was an immediate success, and took home 11 of 16 nominations at the 2016 Tony Awards. A West End production began in 2017, and the first US National Tour also opened that year. A second US National Tour began in 2018, and a third tour started in 2019. A pro-shoot featuring the OBC was released on Disney+ in July 2020. Hamilton will continue Broadway performances after the COVID-19 shutdown ends. 

Who's in the Cast?

    Lin-Manuel Miranda himself stars as the titular character, Alexander Hamilton. Leslie Odom Jr. plays Aaron Burr, a prominent figure throughout Alexander Hamilton's life. Phillipa Soo plays his wife, Eliza Hamilton, with Renée Elise Goldsberry and Jasmine Cephas Jones playing the roles of her sisters, Angelica and Peggy Schuyler, respectively. Jasmine Cephas Jones also plays the role of the seductive Maria Reynolds. Daveed Diggs plays the double roles of Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson. Okieriete Onaodowan takes on the dual roles of Hercules Mulligan/James Madison. Anthony Ramos originated the roles of John Laurens/Phillip Hamilton. And Christopher Jackson starred as President George Washington. 

    Other characters of significance include Jonathan Groff as King George III, Ariana DeBose as "The Bullet," Jonathan Rua as General Charles Lee, and Thayne Jasperson as Samuel Seabury. 

Overview

    Our story begins with the introduction of our main character, with the others telling the story of his youth, leading the audience to understand where in his life the play begins (Alexander Hamilton). Hamilton is a young man, eager to prove his worth and make his place in the world. He consults Aaron Burr for guidance, to which Burr responds that the most important thing to remember is to "talk less, smile more." Marquis de Lafayette, Hercules Mulligan, and John Laurens enter and introduce themselves, and Hamilton immediately aligns himself with them, forming a strong friendship (Aaron Burr, Sir). Hamilton declares that he is not going to waste his life, and that he will make a successful life and legacy for himself (My Shot). Hamilton, Lafayette, Mulligan, and Laurens acknowledge how the nation is changing as it prepares for the Revolutionary War, and how they will go down in history (The Story of Tonight). 

    We are then introduced to Angelica, Eliza, and Peggy Schuyler, sisters who are descended from a wealthy family and intrigued by the life of "common-folk." They are aware that "history is happening," and they are trying to enjoy the life they have (The Schuyler Sisters). After, Samuel Seabury, a farmer, announces his displeasure with Congress and the war, advising his fellow citizens to stay loyal to the British Crown, to which Hamilton argues with him. Their argument escalates until they are interrupted by British soldiers announcing a message from the king (Farmer Refuted). King George III makes an appearance on the stage, feeling smug that his army will easily defeat the American troops and they will give up their attempts to leave the British rule (You'll Be Back). 

    We are finally introduced to George Washington, then a major general of the colonial army. He is looking for someone to work closely with to keep his affairs in order, as he deals with taking charge of the army. Aaron Burr attempts to offer his assistance, but Washintong dismisses him and hires Hamilton instead. Washington tells Hamilton how severely under-equipped they are, but Hamilton is confident they can pull through, and informs Washington of his friends, who may be able to help a great deal (Right Hand Man). 

    All of the men of prominence attend a dance in the mid-winter of 1780, where Hamilton first lays eyes on the Schuyler Sisters (A Winter's Ball). Eliza is immediately smitten with Hamilton, and their relationship progresses quickly, with a marriage shortly after (Helpless). Angelica is the maid of honor at their wedding, but it is revealed that she too, harbors feelings for Hamilton, and the audience sees the sultry interactions between Hamilton and Angelica, and "what could have been," if Angelica had been bold enough to keep Hamilton to herself instead of introducing him to Eliza (Satisfied). Lafayette, Mulligan, Laurens, and Hamilton gather together after the wedding to drink and celebrate, and come across Burr, who is revealed to be romantically linked to a wife of a British officer (The Story of Tonight (Reprise)). Burr describes how he's going to be patient and let things work out in his life, including his relationship with Theodosia and his climb to power, saying that life works differently for everybody and everyone dies eventually (Wait For It). 

    Eliza is worried for Hamilton's safety while he is away at war. Hamilton describes the poor conditions of war as well as his desperation to lead a troop of men into battle. Washington appoints Charles Lee as a general, who fails drastically in a skirmish. When Hamilton again begs for command of Lee's troop, Washington instead puts Lafayette in charge. Out of a job, Charles Lee belittles Washington's ability to lead, causing John Laurens to challenge him to a duel (Stay Alive). The audience is introduced to the 10 rules of dueling. Hamilton is chosen as Lauren's "second" and Burr is chosen by Lee, meaning they are to step in if necessary. John Laurens fires and hits Lee in the side (Ten Duel Commandments). Washington arrives on scene, and orders Hamilton to his office, where he declares he is sending Hamilton home, both for causing in-fighting and with a need to keep him alive (Meet Me Inside). Hamilton heads home, where Eliza reveals that she is pregnant, and she tells Hamilton that he need not try to make so much of a name for himself, that their little life together is enough for her (That Would Be Enough). 

    Lafayette travels to France, asking for their aid in the war to help defeat the British Army, and he convinces Washington to call Hamilton back to the front (Guns and Ships). Washington agrees, and he tells Hamilton that no one has control over life and death, and that what they do in the war will matter for ages to come (History Has Its Eyes On You). Lafayette and Hamilton meet up to fight in the Battle of Yorktown, and reveal that Laurens is fighting in the south. Mulligan is revealed to have been a spy for the colonials, having received British trust and information before turning it over to Washington. A major fight takes place until the British troops raise a white flag in surrender. The colonists have won (Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down). 

    King George III makes another appearance, sour that he has lost the war, but still mocking the colonists on their lack of practice in running a country (What Comes Next?) It is revealed that Burr has had a daughter with Theodosia, and his child bears the same name as his wife. Eliza has had her baby, whom they name Phillip. Burr and Hamilton profess how they will fight to make their new country a better place for their children to grow up, and how when they are grown, they will bring pride to their prospective families (Dear Theodosia). Hamilton recieves a letter from the father of John Laurens, informing him that his son was killed after the war in a skirmish between retreating British troops (Tomorrow There'll Be More Of Us). Hamilton declares he has to get to work. The war being over and done, Hamilton and Burr have become lawyers. Hamilton is climbing steadily in social status, working to help control the public unrest in New York. He proposes a new form of government at the Constitutional Convention, which is greeted with mixed responses. Hamilton approaches Burr and asks for help writing the Federalist Papers, but Burr refuses. Hamilton mocks his lack of ambition, and instead joins together with James Madison and John Jay; together they write the Federalist papers, with Hamilton writing the vast majority. Angelica announces she has married and is moving to London. Eliza begs Hamilton to slow down and appreciate the life he has. Washington is still advising Hamilton to take care with his actions, and Burr questions why Hamilton thinks so highly of himself. Hamilton blocks them all out, declaring he will not waste his life and throw away his shot (Non-Stop). 

    After a stellar first act, Act II opens with the introduction of Thomas Jefferson, who has returned from being the ambassador to France. Washington has asked him to attend a cabinet meeting and take on the role of Secretary of State, and he flaunts the idea of his importance. James Madison informs him that Hamilton's ideas are going to hurt the South, but Jefferson doesn't see him as a threat (What'd I Miss). At the meeting, Jefferson disagrees with the idea of a national bank, but Hamilton counters him with idea that it will help the country overall if they were to go through with his plan. They cannot reach an agreement, and Washington ends the meeting, ordering Hamilton to figure out a plan they can agree upon (Cabinet Battle #1). 

    At home, Eliza has been teaching Phillip how to sing and play piano. Hamilton is hard at work, as usual, and Eliza encourages him to relax and come with her to her father's summer home up north. He tells her it will depend on how much work he gets done. Angelica arrives from London, and she too begs Hamilton to join the family on vacation. Swamped with work, Hamilton declines, and the sisters leave, disappointed (Take A Break). As the summer progressed, Hamilton becomes more and more overwhelmed with work, until one night, Maria Reynolds appears at his door, telling him her husband has abused her and she has nowhere to go. Hamilton walks her home, where she successfully seduces him. They continue to meet secretly for some time, until Hamilton is blackmailed by her husband, who says that Hamilton can continue to meet with his wife if he pays money. Hamilton agrees, so long as the relationship can stay private (Say No To This). 

    In the world of work, Hamilton successfully comes to an agreement with Jefferson and Madison, and Burr laments his lack of success while Hamilton has been able to climb to the top (The Room Where It Happens). Home from their vacation, Eliza and Phillip read in the paper that Eliza's father has lost his Senate seat to Aaron Burr, and Hamilton accuses Burr of taking the seat just to spite him. Burr tells him it's not personal; he's simply trying to elevate his status (Schuyler Defeated). At another cabinet meeting, Jefferson tries to convince Washington that they should provide aid to France in their own war, but Hamilton disagrees, saying they're too weak to provide aid. Washington agrees with Hamilton and leaves, giving Jefferson the opportunity to mock Hamilton, saying that if he did not have the support of Washington, he would have no status whatsoever (Cabinet Battle #2). Jefferson, Madison, and Burr complain about Hamilton's success, giving the credit to Washington. They decide to watch the funding, hoping to catch Hamilton in an act of fraud, so they have an excuse to remove him from office (Washington on Your Side). Meanwhile, Washington reveals to Hamilton that Jefferson is running for president, and that Washington himself is stepping down and not running again. He asks Hamilton to write him a speech to give to the people, acknowledging his mistakes and the privilege to serve (One Last Time). King George III makes his final appearance, after hearing that Washington is stepping down from power. His attendant informs him that John Adams has been elected as president, and King George III laughs at the idea (I Know Him). Jefferson is the vice president, having come in second place in the election, and Adams insults Hamilton. With Washington gone, Hamilton is out of power, but Jefferson, Madison, and Burr are still aware that with his incredible writing skills, Hamilton can still pose a threat (The Adams Administration). The three men approach Hamilton with receipts of him paying money out of an account, claiming he has been embezzling government funds. Hamilton counters them with receipts of his payments to the husband of Maria Reynolds, admitting that he has been having an affair, and that how ever dishonorable that is, he has not committed treason and spent government money. The three men promise not to tell the public of his actions, but Hamilton is nervous nonetheless (We Know). Hamilton laments how his past actions have been building up consistently, leading him to where he is at in his life write now, and how it has turned his life into a storm. He decides that the only way out of the storm is through it, and decides to push his way out by writing about his affair (Hurricane). He publishes the Reynold's Pamphlet, a detailed document describing his relationship with Maria Reynolds and his payments to her husband. Jefferson, Madison, and Burr are thrilled, believing Hamilton to have forever ruined his own career. Angelica arrives from London again, and Hamilton mistakenly believes she is there to comfort him. Angelica has no pity for him, and announces she has come to comfort her sister. (The Reynolds Pamphlet). Eliza, heartbroken, attempts to erase herself from history by burning all evidence of the lover letters between herself and her husband. She does not want to be connected to Hamilton in any way, and laments their relationship (Burn). 

    Phillip Hamilton has recently graduated college, and is eager to prove his worth. He challenges George Eacker to a duel, because one week prior, Eacker had disparaged Hamilton's name in public, and Phillip refused to let Eacker continue to speak that way. Phillip asks his father for dueling advice, and Hamilton tells him to aim his pistol at the sky, so he does not have to live with the knowledge that he killed someone. Phillip is nervous, but he decides to follow his fathers advice. During the duel, Eacker shoots early, and Phillip is shot (Blow Us All Away). Hamilton rushes his to his son's deathbed, where Phillip weakly tells him that he aimed at the sky. Eliza races in, distraught, and tries to encourage Phillip to sing with her, and he complies, until passing away mid-song in the arms of his parents (Stay Alive (Reprise)). 

    The death of their son brings Hamilton and Eliza closer together again, and the move uptown to try to live more privately. Hamilton apologizes for his actions and the death of Phillip, and Eliza takes his hand (It's Quiet Uptown). Meanwhile, Jefferson, Madison, and Burr have been hard at work. Both Jefferson and Burr are running for president. The votes are tallied and it's a tie; the results of the election will be up to the delegates. Hamilton's vote carries a lot of power, and although he has never agreed with Jefferson's ideas before, he endorses Jefferson instead of Burr, claiming that Burr has not truly revealed his stance on any political topics. Jefferson becomes the next president, and Burr serves as his vice president (The Election of 1800). Burr is enraged with Hamilton. He had believed that the history between Hamilton and himself would have encouraged Hamilton to give his vote to Burr, and when he loses, he blames Hamilton. Hamilton defends his actions, but Burr decides the only way to end their disagreement is through a duel, to which Hamilton accepts (Your Obedient Servant). The morning of the duel, Hamilton prepares to leave early. Eliza awakens and tells him to go back to sleep; he simply tells her what a good wife she is and that he has to leave for a meeting out of town, and Eliza returns to bed (Best of Wives and Best of Women). 

    Arriving at the scene of the duel, Hamilton is preparing himself. Burr describes how he cannot lose the duel, because he has to stay alive for his daughter. No negotiation can be reached, and the two prepare to shoot. Time stops, and Hamilton ponders the meaning of a legacy: is his legacy to die by throwing away his shot? Has he done enough for his new country? He aims his pistol at the sky, as he instructed his own son to do, and Burr shoots him in the ribs. Hamilton is taken away, and he dies with Angelica and Eliza at his side. Burr laments how his actions have painted him as the villain in history (The World Was Wide Enough). 

    In a similar fashion to the introductory song, the show closes with a piece detailing the events after Hamilton's life. Jefferson admits that Hamilton's financial plan was a work of genius. Madison becomes president, and declares that Hamilton does not get enough credit for the work he did in building the country. Eliza reveals all the work she does, living 50 years more. She raises funds for the Washington monument, speaks out against slavery, and opens the first private orphanage in New York City. She wonders if she has done enough to tell Hamilton's story (Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story).

Thoughts

   Wow. What a loaded musical. Let me just say, rap-style music felt so incredibly right for this show. Rap is not very common in the musical theatre realm, but something about seeing historical figures like Hamilton, Lafayette and Angelica Schuyler rap their hearts out felt both badass and paw-some. AND THE REPRESENTATION. Part of the casting gives special preference to actors of color, so majority of all Hamilton casts are comprised of POC. This cat loves to see it. It adds another level to the show: not only is is cool to see historical figures rapping, it's incredible to see them played by the historically marginalized and oppressed, and it opens up more opportunities for actors of color to pursue jobs in the theatre world. 

    Plot-wise, I do find Act I more enjoyable, but that's because I prefer to watch and learn about wars more than the political side of them, which is where much of Act II is focused. One of my favorite moments was the dance break during Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down). The ensemble is absolutely phenomenal, and when they all strike a pose at the end, there's a moment of utter silence, where you are able to take in the incredible performance you just witnessed. I think it's a fantastic and powerful display and it brings attention to the spectacular ensemble. 

    Picking a favorite character will be immensely hard, because each actor displayed such a forceful amount of talent, and performed their personal characters so well. Because of this, down below, I'm going to list both a male and female actor as "Best Actor." Again, it is incredibly hard to choose, because each actor was stretched to the brink with their characters, emotions, skill, and portrayal. Even though the show does have a main character (Hamilton), it's one of those shows where it feels like everybody has their own important story to be told. 

    This show does have a few explicit words, but I would honestly recommend Hamilton to just about anybody. It will definitely make more sense to those who are in high school and older, but you truly don't need that much knowledge of American history to follow along. And even though the actors are rapping quickly at times, they are still clear to understand, and the plot is simple to follow along. It is a long show, over 2.5 hours, but it is worth every second of it. Although not everything in the show is historically accurate, much of it is, so I think it provides a somewhat educational aspect to the musical theatre world.

    If you're interested, you can watch the OBC pro-shoot performance on the Disney+ streaming site, but I would recommend seeing it in person if you have the opportunity. Theatre is always more impactful in person!

    Unfortunately, there were no cats in this show. A little disappointing, but I guess it would be hard to find space for a cat in an already 2.5 hour long production. Still. 

Ratings

Find the rating scale here.

Soundtrack          ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Acting                  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lighting               ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Set                        ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall                 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cat rating             ⭐

Best song: One Last Time

Best actor: Daveed Diggs (Lafayette/Jefferson) and Renée Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler)

Best (and only) set: The stage

Fun Facts!

• Jasmine Cephas Jones and Anthony Ramos met while producing Hamilton and are now engaged to be married!
• Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the song You'll Be Back on his honeymoon.
• Hamilton is a sung-through musical, meaning the story is told entirely through song, with no spoken dialogue.