Hamilton

* The cast, soaking up the spotlight *

Hamilton has been a worldwide phenomenon pretty much since it debuted on Broadway back in 2015. Theaters have been sold out, millions of albums have been sold/downloaded, both the biography the play is based on and a behind the scenes tome ranked among the national bestsellers, and the cast have become household names. 

I, of course, knew about Hamilton, but I had never seen it performed live or even watched any clips on YouTube. Nor had I ever even listened to any of the songs. I was interested in seeing the play eventually, but kind of figured that wouldn't happen. I don't get to New York City as often as I'd like and even the touring company is hard to snag tickets for. When I heard that Disney had purchased the rights to distribute a filmed production of the stage play, I was excited. I only needed to wait until October 2021 to see it on the big screen at my local movie theater! I'd been waiting years already, so another 18 months or so didn't seem like that big of deal. 

Then Covid-19 hit and changed Disney's plan. Since nothing new was debuting in theaters, the Mouse House decided it would debut Hamilton on its streaming service Disney+ and moved up the date to July 3rd - a fitting weekend when Americans were already planning to celebrate the founding fathers.

* Hamilton, center stage, flanked by his compatriots *

My wife and I sat down in our living room to watch Hamilton in the middle of the day on July 5th. Would I have preferred to see it live on Broadway during our long delayed NYC trip? Of course. Would I have preferred to see it on the big screen at a movie theater? Again, yes. But our living room was the only option and I was still absolutely floored by what would unfold over the next 2 hours and 40 minutes. To say my already lofty expectations were exceeded would be putting it mildly. Hamilton might be the best "movie" I've seen in recent years and would definitely earn a place on a lot of the different lists I so very much love putting together for this blog.

Hamilton tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, from the his college days through his time as a war hero during the Revolutionary War, to his tenure as America's first Treasury secretary, and beyond to his untimely death from Aaron Burr's dueling pistol. While the basics of his life are well known, I'll freely admit that I didn't know too many details about the man who appears on our ten dollar bill. I've seen his face thousands of times over the years, but didn't know much about him or his influence on our burgeoning country.

Hamilton includes wonderful songs that encompass so many different emotions. Different moments are thrilling, funny, sad, and/or just educational. Songs that are in genres that I normally don't care for like rap and hip hop. Songs that are brilliantly written by the genius (literally, the man won a MacArthur Genius grant) Lin-Manuel Miranda and performed by a cast of marvelously talented singers/actors/dancers. Songs that are so endlessly re-listenable and catchy that I've listened to parts (or all) of the soundtrack nearly every day since I first watched the show. And I can't see myself stopping anytime soon. 

I wasn't too familiar with any of the cast members, but pretty much every actor on stage - in big roles and small - was perfect. It helps that the original cast had been performing the play for about a year at the point this movie was filmed back in 2016. I've heard Miranda describe them as "the most well-rehearsed cast in movie history" and they hit every note, every action just perfectly.

* Hamilton and Burr - friends and enemies, depending on the time *

Miranda plays Alexander Hamilton, the star of the production. It's understandable why he would give himself the lead role - who wouldn't want to write them self a star making role? - and Miranda is very good. To my untrained ear, he's a fine rapper/singer and he more than handles his own in the acting department. He moves around on stage with a certain fluidity and grace, embodying Hamilton with confidence and swagger. During the sad songs, Miranda's acting is brilliant. You really believe that he's going through these various traumatic experiences. But Miranda isn't the best performer in his play, in fact he's probably the worst of the leads. He's just not as talented as the other men and women who he cast - which is the best way to produce any play or movie. You want to surround yourself with the best possible talent available. Even if they outshine you, you're going to get credit for putting them all together and for writing the beautiful, poetic words they get to deliver.

* Thomas Jefferson in all his swagger *

I'd be hard pressed to pick my favorite performer in the cast. Is it Daveed Diggs, who plays the dual role of Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson? He's certainly outstanding as both characters, one Hamilton's good friend and compatriot and the other, his political arch rival. Diggs can sing and dance with abandon and is simply a joy to watch. His cocky portrayal of Jefferson might be the highlight of the play's second act. Watching him prance around during the second act's opening number "What'd I Miss?" is something I won't soon forget.

* Hamilton and Eliza, planning for their future *

Is it Phillipa Soo? As Hamilton's smart, brave, and (eventually) heartbroken wife Eliza Schuyler, Soo is a revelation, evolving easily from a carefree young lady smitten with her new beau to a strong, determined, and fierce woman who can do seemingly anything she sets her mind to. Soo's singing voice is fantastic and she can express happiness and sadness equally well. She and Miranda have excellent chemistry together and they're a joy to watch. As a side note, I think Eliza probably deserves a play all of her own. She led an interesting and remarkable life for 50 years after Hamilton left her a widow. 

Is it Christopher Jackson, as the inimitable George Washington? Washington is such a large character and someone I've known about since my early childhood, so I was surprised with how effortlessly Jackson was able to slip into the role and make it his own. Jackson leads my favorite song of the entire play, "Right Hand Man" and plays a pivotal part in several other great songs. His voice is booming, but also manages to showcase an underlying fragility in parts. Jackson also shines even while in the background of other parts of the show. He just commands the stage/screen.

* Burr admiring the phenomenal Schuyler sisters *

Is it Renee Elise Goldsberry, who plays Angelica - Eliza's big sister and possibly Hamilton's true love? Angelica is a linchpin of the story, the character who introduces Hamilton to Eliza and continues to inspire both of them throughout the story. Goldsberry can sing with fiery passion and completely floored me on several occasions. Her performance, both as a singer and as an actress, on "Satisfied" is mesmerizing and brings me to tears each time I see/hear it.  

Is it Leslie Odom, Jr? Odom plays Hamilton's friend/enemy Aaron Burr and also somewhat narrates the story as everything unfolds. I think in the hands of a less skilled performer, Burr might have ended up being more of a story device than actual character. Burr pops up throughout the play and moves the story along nicely, and Odom is so great that he grabs you from the very start. In a certain way, Burr could work as the hero of his own play, but since this is about Hamilton first and foremost, Burr ends up being the villain. The writing and Odom's performance are both of such a high caliber, though, that you get to know the man nearly as well as any of the heroes. "Wait for It" and "Dear Theodosia" are powerful, memorable songs and Odom sings them perfectly.

* King George showing off his wealth and class *

Other members of the cast - such as Okieriete Onadowan (as both Hercules Mulligan and James Madison), Jasmine Cephas Jones (as Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds), and Jonathan Groff (as the dastardly King George) - each get their different moments to shine throughout the production, though they're not featured as much as the rest of the main cast. Groff, especially, is captivating as King George and really gets into the role, with burning eyes and spit flying as he performs "You'll Be Back". Stylistically, it is much different than the rest of the entries. Instead of rap/hip hop, "You'll Be Back" is a breakup song in the style of The Beatles or Electric Light Orchestra and Groff simple kills it.

Besides the wonderful songs and interesting story, Hamilton shines in terms of choreography and direction. The choreography, which sometimes includes 20 or more cast members at a time is just so interesting to watch. The performers weave in and out of different groups and all around the stage with such precision that I can't imagine the amount of time and effort that went into learning all the elaborate steps and dance moves. I couldn't find a choreography listed in the credits, so I don't know if Miranda himself is responsible for everything or if it was some combination of him, the director - Thomas Kail - and the actors themselves. Whoever it was, though, deserves a tremendous amount of credit. I especially liked how the choreography was designed to use a circular, rotating section of the stage in some moments. This little touch helped to liven up the action and really made certain scenes "pop" in an exciting way.

Kail certainly deserves praise for his direction, for the play itself and for this filmed version of it. I don't have nearly as much experience with stage directors as I do with film, but I imagine they have to do a lot of the same things. Things like coaching the actors, coming up with the "vision" of the production, and just overseeing all the other elements and ensuring that everything flows smoothly on set. Kail also directed several episodes of the terrific miniseries Fosse/Verdon last year, and his work there was exemplary, so the man obviously has talent.

* Hamilton and his revolutionary brothers *

I really can't think of a single thing that Hamilton doesn't excel at. From all the major components that I've already touched on to smaller, but no less important, aspects like costume design, props, lighting, and set design, everything is just wonderful.

One of the main complaints I've read online about Hamilton concerns the songs/music and how repetitive certain parts are. This didn't bother me in the least, though, actually the opposite - I thoroughly enjoyed the repeated motifs and turns of phrase. I liked how moments from one song were called back to later in the production. Also, according to my wife, this is a standard and expected device for many musicals, so I don't see why Hamilton should be criticized for it.

The other big complaint of course relates to the casting of black and brown people as historically white characters. This, again, didn't bother me in the least. While some see this as "stunt casting" it never rubbed me that way. It seems like Miranda wanted to get the best performers possible and also show how America was built by immigrants and people of color in a very real way, even if none of them happened to be our Founding Fathers. Washington, Jefferson, and Hamilton - in addition to scores of other white men - get all the credit, but there were just as many people of color and women who were instrumental in America's history. If you're upset about a play not casting exclusively white people to play these roles, I think that says more about you than you might like to admit.

* Lafayette bounding for joy *

If you've read more than a handful of my blog entries, you know how much I love making lists, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that I've made a list of my favorite Hamilton songs. The soundtrack consists of 46 tracks, but five or six of those are very short or reprises of other songs. So out of about 40 songs, I struggled to pare down a list of 20. Like I said before, a lot of these songs are absolutely wonderful in every way, so my ranking is just how I'm feeling right now. After the next time I watch the play or listen to the soundtrack, I may feel differently about the songs included on this list or their ranking.

1. "Right Hand Man"
2. "Satisfied"
3. "You'll Be Back"
4. "It's Quiet Uptown"
5. "The Schuyler Sisters"
6. "My Shot"
7. "What'd I Miss?"
8. "Alexander Hamilton"
9. "Helpless"
10. "Washington on Your Side"
11. "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)"
12. "Non-Stop" 
13. "Wait for It"
14. "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story"
15. "Guns and Ships"
16. "Stay Alive"
17. "Say No to This"
18. "Dear Theodosia"
19. "What Comes Next"
20. "The World Was Wide Enough"

 

Hamilton has been nearly universally praised and has won more awards than I could easily count. Among the major accolades are the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Obie Award for Best New American Theater Work, the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album, and 11 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book, Best Original Score, and Best Actor statues for Odom, Diggs, and Goldsberry. Simply put, Hamilton is one of the most beloved pieces of theater from this century and maybe of all-time.

My wife has described me as "obsessed" with Hamilton and I freely admit that she's correct. I do have a tendency to get obsessed with a new favorite movie once in a while. The last time it happened was with Sing Street a few years ago - I rewatched that movie a bunch of times and listened to the soundtrack on repeat for the first month or so. Hamilton is different, though, since it's also inspired me to dig into the history portrayed on stage. So far, I've just been exploring different things online, but I do intend to purchase the Hamilton biography by Ron Chernow that inspired Miranda to write the play. And I've been thinking about buying Hamilton: The Revolution, Miranda's behind-the-scenes book about the production and his creative process. I'm sure it would shed an even greater light on his masterpiece.

* One image showing off the sets, costumes, and lighting prowess *

Hamilton is the rare piece of art that is infinitely rewatchable and fun, but also complex and deep, both on a personal and philosophical level. I have a friend who thinks Hamilton ranks among Hamlet and Moby Dick as the best works of fiction he has ever consumed. He's obviously more cultured than I am since I've never read Moby Dick or seen a production of Hamlet, but I can attest that Hamilton is among the best stage plays I've ever seen and one of the best things I've ever watched in my living room.

If movie theaters ever open back up and Disney decides to release Hamilton via that route, I'll definitely buy a ticket to catch it in all its glory on the big screen with professional surround sound. And if I ever get the opportunity to see it performed live on stage, I'll do that as well.

Until then, though, I'll just watch it from my trusty recliner in my living room. Maybe even again tonight!