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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:
MMMarmite · 22/04/2023 21:15

Hamilton made me realise I love hiphop. But I hate the amount of misogyny in a lot of hiphop songs. If anyone can recommend feminist hiphop artists I'd be very interested.

toastofthetown · 22/04/2023 21:15

Socialdistancechampion · 22/04/2023 20:11

I was underwhelmed by it, but it had been seriously overhyped by the time I got to see it. I enjoyed the story (because I enjoy that period of history) but found it very Lin Manuel Miranda.

If you've seen Encanto you've seen all his shows.

I really like Hamilton (and Moana), but found Encanto both story-wise and musically pretty rubbish. Almost like LMM was phoning it in a bit. Maybe I was a bit Lin Manuel Miranded out by the time I'd seen it, and my expectations were too high though.

SQLsurfer · 22/04/2023 21:16

A

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Theatre
nobodysdaughter · 22/04/2023 21:16

First half brilliant, second half maudlin and goes on FAR too long.

SQLsurfer · 22/04/2023 21:17

The BEST musical I've ever seen. Had watched it on Disney+ several times before we saw it in person Grin

unfor · 22/04/2023 21:17

I think it's fantastic - not perfect, but a thrilling watch. The staging/choreography is incredible. Agree that it's a good idea (as with any musical) to get familiar with the songs first. You'll enjoy it loads more and get more out of it.

SQLsurfer · 22/04/2023 21:18

'Wait for it' is my favourite song too!!

Duckingella · 22/04/2023 21:21

I went because my daughters were obsessed with it so I'd listened to the songs and had been told the historical significance behind it.

Look up Alexander Hamilton on Wikipedia and that'll fill you in.

The acting,singing and dancing was brilliant and there's some funny bits in there too.

SomersetBrie · 22/04/2023 21:30

Listen to the soundtrack, maybe first half of act 1, and if you like it, go see it.
Watch Lin and the others perform in the White House (on YouTube) and if you like that, go see it.
The music is not for everyone and the theatre experience is so much better when it is filled with people who do love it. I saw it recently in London (not for the first time) and you just knew the audience was filled with people also seeing for the second/third/fourth time. It was such a privilege to see those talented singers, dancers, all round performers. I don't think there is anything else like it around at the moment.
But I wouldn't go in without checking out the music first.
(I'd avoid the Disney film until after seeing it, I don't think films ever capture the actual feel of a live performance)

UsingChangeofName · 22/04/2023 21:38

C. Really disappointed. There is a lot of love for it on MN. I go to the theatre quite a bit and enjoy all sorts of different musicals, but felt it was quite 'meh'.
Not really bad or anything, but certainly can't understand why people love it, on MN.

namewhatname · 22/04/2023 21:40

A, A, A.

I've watched it several times on Disney+ and have been spoilt after seeing the performance with the original cast. Leslie Odom Jnr and Daveed Diggs are wonderful, but Lin-Manuel M is undoubtedly very clever and talented as well.

Comefromaway · 22/04/2023 21:48

im worried about seeing it again because Jamael Westman & Giles Terera we’re phenomenal in the original London cast

extramaturecheddarcheese · 22/04/2023 21:51

A

Honestly the best and most layered piece of theatre I've ever seen. Lyrics are amazing, dancing is amazing, staging is amazing and it takes you through all the emotions. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

GettingThereCharleyBear · 22/04/2023 21:51

I would highly recommend watching it on Disney + first. I think you’ll love the live performance even more if you totally understand the story 😍.

SomersetBrie · 22/04/2023 21:52

Comefromaway · 22/04/2023 21:48

im worried about seeing it again because Jamael Westman & Giles Terera we’re phenomenal in the original London cast

I've seen 3 Hamiltons including Jamael and they somehow just kept getting better. I think each performer makes the role their own.
I might be worried the touring set would not be as good, theatre not as good and maybe the performance might need to be simplified.
Makes me think I might try to get back to London ....one last time....

Comefromaway · 22/04/2023 21:54

Have all the touring theatres announced so far got a revolve I wonder?

LudicrouslyCapaciousBag · 22/04/2023 22:00

Comefromaway · 22/04/2023 21:54

Have all the touring theatres announced so far got a revolve I wonder?

Almost none, I think. Certainly none of them have the concentric revolve that Hamilton requires. The US tour brought their own to each venue.

MargaretThursday · 22/04/2023 22:02

DD2 and ds (19 and 15yo) went to see it this week. They both loved it, and ds said he'd see it again, which is unusual as he normally can't see the point in seeing something twice.

RampantIvy · 22/04/2023 22:03

I have tried to watch it and like it, but remain underwhelmed. It seems like I am in a minority. I found it rather boring, even though there were subtitles so that I could follow the story.

fratellia · 22/04/2023 22:08

I loved it, saw it on Disney+ then in London.

BUT

I really think you have to either have knowledge of the history or read a summary of the story beforehand and familiarise with the songs, there’s no way anybody could follow along and understand the story just through the show.

Itakecreaminmycoffee · 22/04/2023 22:11

I don't agree you need to know anything about the history/do research etc at all.

Dh and I went to the west end production on a whim when in London and knew nothing about it/didn't know what to expect.

I thought it was amazing and so original - the cast were the most talented and mind-blowing I've ever seen and I've seen lots of musicals - I was actually agog at times at the things they were doing lyrically. The woman who played Angelica Schuyler blew me away.

Dh fell asleep and said it was cringey, so make of that what you will!

I found the story of Alexander Hamilton (who I'd previously never heard of) extremely interesting and did a lot more reading/research about him afterwards. His story of moving to America as a penniless immigrant to the great man he became is nothing short of incredible.

NoNeedToArgue · 22/04/2023 22:15

A

CeeceeBloomingdale · 22/04/2023 22:58

Love it. I'm a big musical fan and went in cold. I followed it no problem but definitely want to see it again knowing what I know now. However this is true of many shows that I really enjoyed. I completely disagree you need to know the story and the music before hand, most of my favorite shows have been ones I've gone into blind.

sleepwhenidie · 22/04/2023 23:03

I usually avoid musicals. Hamilton was a very weird phenomenon in that our kids (at the time one teenager and 2 pre teens) became obsessed with the soundtrack before we even contemplated booking tickets. So we had heard half the production before we even booked. We all absolutely loved it. I would recommend listening/learning about the subject matter in advance to get the most out if it.

as an aside I find all the other Lib Manuel stuff since a bit formulaic and I’m not so keen.