Matilda or Hamilton?

[Doubleraspberry]

I’m taking DC (8) for a weekend in London as a huge treat. They adore music and I’m going to push the boat to get tickets to something we’d both love to see. We’ve narrowed it down to Matilda and Hamilton. Similar prices (can’t do the lotteries sadly given the flying visit and need for tickets on a specific date).

I know Hamilton has some swears but they are pretty oblivious - I can see there’s an advisory for under-10s owing to language but we’ve had the soundtrack on repeat for weeks already. They do find the politics tricky to follow in the second half so I’m slightly worried they’ll lose focus.

I have actually seen Matilda with an older sibling and adored it, so I’m very happy to go again, and of course it’s (a) more suitable overall and (b) not available on Disney+ any time!

I’m leaning to Matilda but anyone had smaller kids that ended up being blown away at Hamilton?

I actually don't think it's entirel appropriate for a child, if they understand the full story! But then I'm old and grumpy.

Matilda! Hamilton when they’re a bit older.

Know who annoys me more? the sister in law! Perfectly happy to put herself on a plate for him but when he does it with someone else she loves her sister more! No.

I know - they always had this 'thing' going on, even though she apparently loved her sister so much, but there she is ready to bollock him when he admits to doing it with someone else.

Apparently in real life Angelica was already married when Alexander and Elizabeth met, and the theory that they had a thing all stems from a letter her sent her where the position of a comma in 'My dearest Angelica' hints that maybe they were closer than they should have been?

I believe they were fond of each other but the romance was added for story effect. Alexander and Eliza also had seveal other children (including another baby Philip).

Yeah they had 7 more kids, including another Philip, an Alexander, Eliza and Angelica. They needed to get on the MN baby names board for inspiration!

@beautyisthefaceisee not much is! Once you actually start looking in too deeply - Matilda is basically a story about child abuse (Roald Dahl has always been particularly dark). Mary Poppins - my 13 year old is still scarred from a scene in that

Hamilton is easier in some ways because it is historical - change for dramatic effect (as said Angelica was married etc)

Matilda the film terrified me. The musical doesn't look much better!

Don't get me started on him signing adoption papers on her back oh bye then.

I was care experienced and it gives me the rage even now.

Matilda the musical has some very sad bits as not only is it pretty vivid on Matilda’s treatment by her parents but it gives Miss Honey a very poignant back story too.

My child is not a prodigy but they understand the broad storyline of Hamilton’s life. They love the music and I don’t think they need to understand every subtlety and complexity to enjoy it. My original post mentions that they do get a bit bogged down by elements of the second half so it’s not as if they have a fixed view on nascent federalism, and one of the reasons I started this thread to see whether other children of similar age had gone and enjoyed it.

My child is though interested in the concept of the War of Independence and creating a new country, and it’s also led to some discussion of the French Revolution too. Both things have some stories that are fairly obviously interesting to children.

I'm surprised by all those saying that younger children won't understand the storyline. My son definitely does. He has spent lots of time researching American history as a result of watching Hamilton as well as the life of Alexander Hamilton. He also is interested in UK politics and has prime minister questions on record. (May be a little unique there admittedly).

I know you're booked for Matilda now (which is definitely a solid choice), but FWIW my eight-year-old really enjoyed Hamilton. The second act wasn't as engaging as the first, but there was still plenty going on; it's not like they suddenly turn off the music and deliver a series of historical lectures.

It's just tricky with Hamilton, as it's so expensive and still pretty hard to get seats, so it feels like a high-stakes gamble to take anyone who might not love it. Surrounded by grown-ups who've also paid a fortune, there's also zero margin for fidgeting, which made me a bit tense. But it paid off for us, and the fact that there were barely any other kids there, even at a weekend matinee, made DD feel like she was really at something special. Never underestimate the appeal of saying 'but it's not for children' and 'I just don't think you'll understand it' over and over for a few months prior to relenting and buying tickets.

If anyone reading this is hoping to try any West End shows with family this summer, check out Kids Week, where under-17s go free with an adult paying full price. It's actually for the whole of August. Hamilton doesn't participate, sadly, and I think the Matilda tickets have gone, but there are still dozens of shows involved (including Wicked, &Juliet, Frozen).

I could barely understand the storyline as an adult. If I read a Wikipedia article about I would be fine, but the fast pace rap/singing was very hard to follow. I watched it on TV and had to put the subtitles on, which was a lot easier to follow. I know a lot of 8 year olds through my job and few of them would be able to follow the story.

This thread is making me realise that actually DS is not alone! It is really lovely to see others on this thread. @Newuser82 mine was really excited yesterday by the resignations and sounds quite similar. It can be quite lonely I think when his friends just dont know anything about it

Youngers ones find the rap fairly easy as well - DS can rap it and tries to get me too and cant quite understand why I cant!

Am I the only person that loved the film Matilda but thought the music in the musical was monotonous and very loud and harsh.
I just wanted it to end.

@Quartz2208 yes, it's nice to see that there are others who are similar! I can't say he gets it from me as history and politics are certainly not my cup of tea but I do love it about him. My son tends to talk a lot about politics to adults as most of his friends aren't interested at all! He knows all
The words to Hamilton and listens to it constantly!

Mine has my Dad who is a retired history teacher and their relationship has really grown. He also has very clear political views that he has come up with himself and insists on wearing a suit to all his school mufti days!

@Quartz2208 no way! They sound so similar. Mine also wears a suit loads! Either that or some kind of costume! How lovely for your son to have your dad to talk to about it. I've just ordered a few kids politics books for my son for an end of term present. He is going to love them.

I think taking a child to Hamilton who had never heard the soundtrack, seen the film-of-the-musical or discussed it with an adult would leave them pretty lost at times, but that’s never been the proposal!

I can though report that we (the parents) are political junkies and have ended up with one child obsessed with history, one with Minecraft and one with maths (and also Hamilton it seems). I think they can all name the PM but it stops there. We took them to see a comedy version of Hamlet last night in which Claudius was played as Johnson and I was impressed that they all actually spotted it as I wouldn’t have thought they would. (And we explained the story before we went.)

@Doubleraspberry I think taking anyone to see it like that would be confusing!

@Newuser82 yes it really is lovely for both of them. He has a couple of political games on Steam where you create a US politician and go through the process and he loves it. Asks you lots of questions. He is left wing though whenever he does quizzes and I think would like to get into it.

@Quartz2208 that sounds fab. Can you please let me know the name of it? Thanks

I will ask when he gets back from school!

He also really likes Mr Beat (I think) book about the US elections and the videos.

We find US politics easier to discuss - its more straightforward in our household as to who we would vote for!