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Original poster

How good is Hamilton (the musical)?

124 replies

WhereMyRosemaryGoes · 22/04/2023 20:03

We live in a place that doesn't often get high-end entertainment. A decent production of Hamilton will be playing near us later this year and I need to make a decision.

I do love musicals, but I don't know much about Hamilton.

The reason I'm hesitating is because tickets are quite expensive. We can afford them (at the expense of something else), but I only want to afford them if it's amazing.

So...
A) Holy shit it's amazing you HAVE to see it
B) It's fun.

OP posts:
MintyCedric · 22/04/2023 20:15

A*

I took Dd for her 18th birthday last year…her choice, I was a bit ambivalent about it.

I know know the entire soundtrack off by heart and am hoping to go again this year now I have more knowledge and understanding of the storyline and history.

GayPareeee · 22/04/2023 20:16

B

Whole family thought was fine, not amazing. The new Guys and Dolls though (and Everyones Talking About Jamie), AMAZING

Comefromaway · 22/04/2023 20:16

thankfully Come from away was cheaper too!

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Theatre
PenguinLove1 · 22/04/2023 20:17

Definitely A- its fantastic.

But yes - read up on the story and history so you understand who all the characters are and whats going on.

And stick the soundtrack on when you are in the. Car/ doing house work for a few months before you go - it really does massively increase the enjoyment.

But it's absolutely unbelievable live - and I normally just like the classic musicals but its pretty spectacular.

And to a PP - it wont be an amateur performance, the actual musical is touring the uk at the end of the year and next year - it will sell out very quickly so book good seats now!

Comefromaway · 22/04/2023 20:18

Fightingtalk · 22/04/2023 20:08

It’s amazing but I can’t imagine an amateur production because it’s very wordy and needs to be extremely slick. It’s quite unlike other musicals so might be worth listening to the sound track or watching it on Disney+ to see if it’s your cup of tea before shelling out on tickets?

It’s not an amateur production, it’s the National Tour.

HundredMilesAnHour · 22/04/2023 20:18

MuffinToSeeHere · 22/04/2023 20:09

A but you won't enjoy it at all of you go in cold. You need to listen to the soundtrack for the next few months on repeat and watch the Disney plus version beforehand.

I disagree with this. I deliberately went in 'cold'. I wanted to be wowed rather than already be familiar with everything (that doesn't appeal to me in the slightest although clearly that's different for others).

I saw it on Broadway, from row D so very close to the stage. The delivery was excellent although the actor playing Hamilton was extremely short and I found that distracting (shallow but true - he was really short!!). I enjoyed it but I found the second half a little long and definitely padded out with some less impressive parts/songs. Overall it was very good but I wouldn't spend the money to see it again. Nor would I watch it on Disney or listen to the soundtrack.

I have reservations as to how well it might translate to a less professional production. That could be rather grim.

Comefromaway · 22/04/2023 20:18

Spoiler alert - read up on the character called The Bullet. So clever.

MuffinToSeeHere · 22/04/2023 20:19

Comefromaway · 22/04/2023 20:16

thankfully Come from away was cheaper too!

To be fair come from away would be worth £200 a ticket, it's genuinely the most amazing play I've ever seen. My sister and I rearranged plans when we heard it was closing so we could go and see it and we've both agreed no show will ever come close to beating it and we're keeping everything crossed we can see it now it's going on tour!

Newuser82 · 22/04/2023 20:20

I'd agree that you need to know the story first. I watched it on Disney and didn't love it as I didn't know what was happening.

My son who loves history then told me what was going on and I tried again and really enjoyed it.

Comefromaway · 22/04/2023 20:21

CFA is the best show I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen a lot. I’ve seen it twice. My lucky daughter did a few cover shifts at the Phoenix theatre so has seen it several times.

Sausagerolex · 22/04/2023 20:21

A
I was blown out the water by it and I’ve seen a lot of musicals over the years.

Absolutely agree that you need to know the story and also ideally watch it on Disney or listen to the soundtrack before you go as the music gets even better with familiarity as it’s so fast paced.

Frightenedbunny · 22/04/2023 20:22

A without a doubt. I’ve seen it once, have booked to see it twice in Manchester later this year and will be booking later it. It’s breathtaking beautiful and I think you see something different every time you watch it!

aberlot · 22/04/2023 20:22

A decent production of Hamilton will be playing near us later this year and I need to make a decision.

Official tour? Yes go

Anything else? No way

MuffinToSeeHere · 22/04/2023 20:22

HundredMilesAnHour · 22/04/2023 20:18

I disagree with this. I deliberately went in 'cold'. I wanted to be wowed rather than already be familiar with everything (that doesn't appeal to me in the slightest although clearly that's different for others).

I saw it on Broadway, from row D so very close to the stage. The delivery was excellent although the actor playing Hamilton was extremely short and I found that distracting (shallow but true - he was really short!!). I enjoyed it but I found the second half a little long and definitely padded out with some less impressive parts/songs. Overall it was very good but I wouldn't spend the money to see it again. Nor would I watch it on Disney or listen to the soundtrack.

I have reservations as to how well it might translate to a less professional production. That could be rather grim.

Show quote history

I'm going to be honest here you didn't enjoy it because you went in cold. Everyone I know who hated it did the same. It's one of those that you can't just go and see with no background knowledge, understanding of the story or not knowing the songs. Going in cold is not advisable and no wonder you hated it.

StylishM · 22/04/2023 20:22

A. Watch the Disney plus version to see if you like the style of music as it's very different to a typical musical.

Hamilton basically covers the time period from 1780ish which is the establishment of the US constitution, the first American president, how America gained independence from Britain. I've actually learned shedloads about that time period because of Hamilton and the soundtrack covering so much important history

Whinge · 22/04/2023 20:23

I disagree with this. I deliberately went in 'cold'. I wanted to be wowed rather than already be familiar with everything

If you go in cold you're going to enjoy some parts but spend a lot of time wondering what the heck is going on. It's such a fast paced show it's impossible to understand how clever the wording / songs are, and how important the staging and movements are.

aberlot · 22/04/2023 20:24

I went in cold and was blown away by it. I'm a huge musical theatre fan and didn't expect to enjoy it (I took the teens) but I have been back more then once!!

Comefromaway · 22/04/2023 20:25

I think us Brits have to remember the American audience the show was written for will have had the historical background drummed into them at school.

Freepo · 22/04/2023 20:26

B

it is good but in my opinion it’s overrated and not one of my favourite musicals. That may be partly because the style of music isn’t really my thing

mnahmnah · 22/04/2023 20:26

I’ve only seen it on Disney+, but I was told to watch it with subtitles as the music moves fast and can be hard to understand. I also read up on Wikipedia first. So it all made sense and I absolutely loved it. I would live to see it live.

IJustHadToLookHavingReadTheBook · 22/04/2023 20:27

It's brilliant. Seen in twice in the west end and about a million times on Disney plus. Go and have an amazing time... I wish I could see if for the first time again.

Takoneko · 22/04/2023 20:27

A

WoodenFloorboards · 22/04/2023 20:29

I'd answer A/B, but if you love musicals and rarely get to see them I'd absolutely go for it.

Listen to some of the songs first though.