Hamilton

In fairness that might have been more entertaining! 😂

I couldn’t understand why there was a musical about a racing car driver…… !

I thought it was well produced but difficult to follow in parts as the rap wasn’t as clear as speech. I thought the schylur sisters songs weren’t the best - felt a bit screechy in parts. Not sure if it was the music or the singer. And I would prefer more songs with a more recognisable motive. I enjoyed it but wouldn’t put it right up there like many on here have.

This could be outing (joking) because I didn’t like it at all and I’m the only one I know who didn’t enjoy it. But one man’s trash is another’s treasure, so give it a try!

If you’re watching in London, the grand circle boxes are a great shout especially if there’s 4 of you as you get your own room with so much space and can move around / lean over to see everything (visibility is a tiny bit restricted but not to affect the experience - it feels like a real treat).

We’d watched on Disney + in lockdown & all 4 of us incl dc aged 10 & 8 really enjoyed it (they are Theatre kids tho).

i definitely agree there’s something about knowing the story and songs a bit first - I didn’t really enjoy wicked all that much the first time I saw it because missed so many lyrics.

Watch it on disney if you can. You will fall in love and be so excited to see it live!!!

I’ve seen it twice in London and many times on Disney+.

I absolutely love it. Everything about it is so well done, the staging, the choreography, the lighting (when characters switch political views the lighting changes accordingly), the costumes……. It’s all just brilliant in my opinion.

I don’t “get” learning the songs before going to a musical though. I did know a fair bit of Hamilton before going but didn’t know Six or Come From Away before going (loved Come From Away and went again, Six was okay but I wouldn’t go again). Going to see Hades Town soon and know the story of Hades & Persephone but not heard the songs.

Yep I didn’t watch it beforehand or know much at all about it

It blew me away, it’s ok to not know much it’s still great

Yet to meet anyone who dislikes it in my MT world. It's a very much loved top show.

Get the best out of it?
You're overthinking it.
Just turn up and enjoy the show.

Just watch it all on Disney plus first, with subtitles. The songs and lyrics are insanely good and clever and it is magic. In real life it is perfect, the performances are mesmerising.

I'm not sure why you feel the need to "know" all the songs before hand...? Bit of a weird take.

Yes, don't understand this. You're not singing along. I didn't know the songs and still loved it. I did know the story of Hamilton, though.

Why would you learn the words? Do people sing along at these shows
I've read enough to know I would absolutely hate it.
Great that so many people have had so much fun though!

On paper, Hamilton looks deathly dull, but I promise you, it's one of THE best shows out there. It's won literally ALL the awards, and when you see it, you'll understand why.

I'm not sure why you feel the need to "know" all the songs before hand...? Bit of a weird take.

Agree. I only saw it last year because I was put off by the hype. Someone treated me for my birthday. I'm very grateful.

I absolutely loved it. But yes, on the ball is necessary.

I feel like mumsnet needs a Musicals topic board (unless there’s one I’ve missed). Or a broader theatre board.

I'm a massive fan. I went to see it knowing none of the songs or storyline and was absolutely blown away by it.

I've seen to twice since (having become extremely familiar with the soundtrack) and it just gets better and better every time. It's so layered and complex.

I also read the book 'My Dear Hamilton' which tells Betsy's (Eliza's) story and is really good. That helped me appreciate it more.

If someone tells me they don't like Hamilton, or have no interest in it, I know they're not my kind of person! My in-laws declared it boring, which tells me everything....

PS my username (and most of my previous usernames!) are lines from Hamilton...

Exactly this. It is quite long though and six is a concert rather than a musical so it would be a huge leap!

I would see it again. It’s pretty much ruined all other musicals for me now

Loved it! I saw it three times - first time I enjoyed it, but I got so much more out of if the second time as it is so densely and cleverly written, and moves so fast that there are details on rewatching you don’t see the first time. It brilliantly captures so many emotions - ambition, rebellion, love, jealousy, parenthood, grief, etc etc and each time with a song that just gets it.

It really is incredible.

For knowing the words - think of it like going to a concert. You appreciate it mich more if you know the songs so can concentrate on the performance.

I agree he's multi talented - never said he wasn't. But his voice is too weak against the rest of the cast. I couldn't watch the Disney recording because of it. When i watch a musical, the singing is one of the main reasons to watch it. He's not a great singer. I'm pleased for him that his version of the character of Hamilton, played exactly as he saw the character is out there but I'm allowed to not enjoy it.

The person who played Hamilton when i saw it in London was far better and meant the whole experience was more engaging. So i disagree that he's the best Hamilton - but as I've only seen one other so i couldn't possibly say who was the best overall of all the people who ever played the role.

Disagree that LMM is the best Hamilton. Yes his song writing and lyrics are brilliant but there are better performers. The actor I saw in the 2019 London production was better in the role than LMM, as was the 2022 West End one we saw (although not as amazing as the one in 2019).

I think it's less important to know the words but to know the history.

What makes Hamilton such a success is a very good use of social media and YouTube it started off as Lin reading Ron Chernows biography on holiday and then did a bit at a White House spoken word event before working on it properly, Hamil tapes and the Hamilton Mix Tapes with modern versions of the songs released on youtube. Extremely clever interweaving of musical and music styles into the lyrics and musical stylings of the show but much more subtly than Moulin rouge or similar. There is an accompanying book which is beautiful called "Hamilton The Revolution" which goes into the nuances of the creative process, the decisions on the choreography and what things represent which makes the show so much 'more'. I think it was the first show to really be completely open and pull the audience into the creative process.

You can enjoy it without deep diving into the background of it but it does make it more enjoyable. The Ron Chernows Hamilton biography is a beast but when you read it you can see where he pieced different bits together.

It is a thousand times better than Six (which is just a Spice Girls pastiche, and not a proper musical). I've seen Hamilton 3 times, and it's still fantastic. The story may sound dull, but you will get caught up in it.... I cry when George Washington steps down as President! Beautifully staged, clever, thoughtful.... just book it, you won't regret it.

I hated it, really boring but too intense at the same time