I had the opportunity to see this amazing show this past week while I was in Chicago. It is spectacular. The energy and the excitement of the audience could not help but affect the actors. Rousing applause from an audience that obviously knew the music. It's so wonderful to see an American musical that is DIFFERENT and successful.
It's a hip-hop, multi-racial version of the soon to-be United States of America. An image of the white founding fathers in ways that make visible the racial diversity of today. Plus the contributions of immigrants to our nation.
Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison, Burr, the Marquis De Lafayette and more are all here writing the constitution, debating points of economic policy and plotting a revolution. The amazing dialogue which is basically contemporary street talk is so striking. Plus the elegant phrases from documents that should be familiar to all. I hope that the musical encourages people to learn more about the revolutionary period, the constitutional convention and the early years of the republic. So important to understand how (and why) we got where we are today.
As far as musical theatre: the complexity of the choreography, the sets, dialogue, music, etc and how they all fit together was awesome. As a theatrical production it is incredible. Makes me want to see this over and over again.
Here is a review that I recommend because it does discuss the historical challenges of Hamilton. But I feel one of the many positive aspects of the musical is that it forces us to ask these questions and deal with these issues. (For example that the musical downplays the involvement of the Founding Fathers in slavery.)
If you can get tickets, a tall task, go see it!
Andrea
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