Hamilton
Starring: Lin Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Daveed Diggs, Phillipa Soo
Directed By: Thomas Kail
Rated: PG-13
The broadway hit Hamilton is a cultural phenomenon that has taken the world by storm. The show, with music and lyrics by Lin Manuel Miranda, is based on the life of Alexander Hamilton. It became a huge success when it opened in 2015. I have never been able to see the show in person, but I remember getting interested in the show after watching a Grammy performance by the cast. This Fourth of July weekend, Disney Plus made a recording of the show available for all of its subscribers to view. What an exciting time for us all!
It’s difficult to review a Broadway production as a film. Since I’ve never seen the show, I’ll review both the story as well as the quality of the show. Truthfully, this is my favorite film I’ve seen in 2020. (says the girl who loves almost every musical.)
As a massive fan of musical theater, I’m thrilled to finally able to watch Hamilton. The show is a jolt of energy from start to finish. Lin Manuel Miranda is a creative genius to bring the story of these founding fathers to life in such an exciting, contemporary way. While the central focus is on Hamilton, the show gets you invested in the supporting characters, including Aaron Burr, George Washington, Eliza Schuyler, Lafayette, and Angelica Schuyler. They all have their time to shine, and you get to see the story from their point of view in certain sequences. Part of what makes Hamilton so engaging is it doesn’t feel like a historical play or a lecture about the Founding Fathers, but a fleshed-out deep dive into their lives.
The actual production of the show is excellent. Director Thomas Kail makes the viewer feel like they are up close with each performer. Kail utilizes the right camera angles in each moment so we can see the action unfolding, the character’s expressions, and the performative numbers in all of their glory. This includes close-ups, wide shots, and a birds-eye view to show the stage from above. So if you missed Hamilton live on stage like I did, at least we get to watch it from every angle possible. The rotating stage in the middle of the theater adds so much to the production of the show. It turns to symbolize the passage of time. It’s an artistically brilliant set-piece.
Alright, I’ve got to talk about music! Instead of talking, the entire show is sung like Les Miserables or Cats. (Sorry for mentioning Cats in this review) Hamilton utilizes hip-hop, rap, and pop to tell the story. From the opening song Alexander Hamilton, you can tell things are about to get epic. There are the standout numbers that you won’t be forgetting like My Shot, The Schuyler Sisters, Satisfied, Yorktown, and The Room Where it Happened. There are the straight-up epic songs that you could play if you were involved in a dance battle like Guns and Ships, Cabinet Battle #1 and #2, and The Reynolds Pamphlet. Then there are moving ballads that you could sing dramatically like Wait For It, Burn, Dear Theodosia, and It’s Quiet Uptown. What I’m saying is I’m obsessed with this soundtrack and haven’t listened to anything since watching the show. Hamilton has me ready to write a musical about a historical figure! Does anyone have suggestions? Maybe Abraham Lincoln. Has anyone written a musical about him? I’ll get to work on that.
Every character in the show is perfectly cast. Lin Manuel Miranda deserves so much applause for his work. I can’t believe he wrote all of this. It’s (Chris traeger voice) LIT-ERALLY astounding. What an incredible feat to put such a masterwork together. He plays Hamilton as a man who simply has to succeed. As Angelica puts it “he will never be Satisfied.” There’s no other option than to leave a legacy for his family and country. It’s great that Miranda shows the accomplishments Hamilton made for the country. At the same time, Miranda doesn’t sugarcoat everything about Hamilton. He isn’t afraid to show he was a human who made his share of mistakes. This is a character study that is quite fascinating.
Leslie Odom Jr. is phenomenal as Aaron Burr, Hamilton’s friend turned rival and the narrator of the story. There’s a bit of a Javert/Jean Valjean (Les Miserables) dynamic to their relationship. I’ve also seen it explained as a Salieri/Mozart dynamic, which I think is an excellent comparison. Leslie Odom Jr. does so much to add layers to Burr’s characterization, especially through his performances of “Wait for It”, “Dear Theodosia,” and “The Room Where It Happens.” Throughout the show, Burr encourages Hamilton to “talk less and smile more” to get ahead politically which is the complete opposite of Hamilton’s belief system.
Despite their opposing beliefs and tragic end to the story, I’m intrigued by the way Miranda wove Burr and Hamilton’s story’s together showing that these two very different individuals had many similarities. (Both orphaned at childhood, both fought in the war, and both driven by political ambition.)
Phillipa Soo, Renee Elise Goldsberry, and Jasmine Cephas Jones shine as The Schuyler Sister. Soo and Goldsberry are the central female characters as Eliza and Angelica Schuyler, the two have very distinct personalities but have an incredible sisterly bond. The transition between “Helpless” and “Satisfied” is so seamless and it tells the audience so much about their personalities. Both actress bring so much to the show with their time on stage.
There are so many fantastic performances in the supporting cast. I love the enthusiasm of Daveed Diggs who plays Lafayette in Act I and Thomas Jefferson in Act II. He is a lightening bolt of energy in every scene! Chris Jackson is a commanding and regal George Washington.
Jonathan Groff is hilarious as the tyrannical King George, who insists the Americans will “be back.” He dominates every single moment he’s on stage. Anthony Ramos (who will be appearing soon in Lin Manuel Miranda’s film adaption of In The Heights) is a scene-stealer as both Laurens and Hamilton’s son Phillip I.
Fans of the show already know this, but Hamilton is a stellar artistic achievement. It takes a chapter of our country’s history and makes it endlessly exciting. The acting, music, and staging are fantastic. Hamilton deserves a standing ovation.
My Rating: 10/10