Hamilton

[Geminijust]

DD18 says she would like to see Hamilton for a birthday treat. Doesn't seem to know much about it but has heard a couple of songs she likes and said "I feel I ought to see it".

I've tried listening to the soundtrack and it seems OK, with a couple of decent tracks ( I know it can take a while to learn songs so will perservere). I googled the plot and I have to say it sounds a bit dull. I told DD if she really wants to see it I'll book it but we must learn the songs beforehand. Did that with SIX and loved it but this has many many more songs.

Reviews seem mixed, people seem to love it or hate it.

Well, it seems she's keen to go so it looks like I will be booking.

I generally like musicals. Loved Les Mis, Jamie, Evita, Billy Elliot for example. Hated Phantom, King & I.

Any tips on how to get the best out of it?

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I watched it on Disney plus “cold” in lockdown and thought it was terrible.

Saw it was coming to Edinburgh so decided to give it a go. Read a bit on the plot and listened to the soundtrack.

I thought it was phenomenal. LMM is a genius. I am obsessed and can’t wait to see it again! Not got plans for that yet though.

Doing some prep helps get the most out of it but nothing can compare to being in the room where it happens

Saw it with my daughter when she was 14 - she loved it! Younger child also loved the soundtrack at approx age 11/12 and then loved the show when we watched the filmed one on Disney+.
Also, the first time I saw the show I had never heard any of the songs and thought it was brilliant- def not necessary to learn the songs first, in fact it would kind of spoil it.

It's a fantastic musical definitely give it a go.

Disagree, I knew next to nothing about the founding fathers etc but didn’t struggle with the plot - I think the lyrics explain it all.

My dd loved it when she was 14/15, knew all the songs, myself and her friend's mum took them to London for the weekend to see it 5 years ago when they it was first playing on the west end and they both loved it and myself and the other parent enjoyed it too.

Totally agree, I knew nothing about the story whatsoever and it was really easy to follow, no more complicated than any other musical.

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You need to buy and both read this book before you go. Children’s book so easy to follow and quick to read. Will make the play so much better for you.

Its brilliant. Seen it twice. Didn't listen to it first. In fact I don't really get why you would, that's like watching a film at home then watching it again in the cinema. We did listen to the soundtrack at home after the first time and then of course knew it better the second time, but musical theatre is best experienced live I think.

My 14 year old went with school and didn't enjoy it in the least.

I don't understand though, if it's a birthday treat then why do you have to learn all the songs?
Why put conditions and pressure on it?

I could've written this word for word @ISeeTheLight and totally agree.

It's absolutely amazing @Geminijust and hopefully you will think so too.
LMM is an absolute artist and genius imo!

I originally didn't think it sounded interesting until it started it's run in Edinburgh recently. Then several friends said how wonderful it was, so we decided to go. I didn't know any of the songs, but I did make sure I had a rough idea of the story before we went. It was absolutely wonderful and very high energy from the word go, from the cast.

Absolutely not necessary to learn the words before you go, and I'm not sure why you would want to do that, since it's not a 'sing-a-long' production for the audience in any case - but it would probably help to follow the full story line if you listened to the music before you go. The entire play tells the story in 'song', so that might be helpful, as sometimes we didn't catch all the words.

It would definitely be helpful to at least read a good synopsis of the story before you go and the names of the earliest US Presidents too as several of them are mentioned while still just politicians

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_(musical)#:~:text=Hamilton%20narrates%20Alexander%20Hamilton's%20life,interactions%20with%20Aaron%20Burr%20which

Completely over hyped. Second half better than first, but internal GnT may have contributed.

It's ok but nothing amazing.

I think that maybe depends on the individual I am shit at following film plots etc so it definitely helped me to know what was going on!

Wow. Not sure how you could possibly have heard all the hype but missed the bit about the colour-blind casting!

'I told DD if she really wants to see it I'll book it but we must learn the songs beforehand.'

That seems like a totally crackers and anti-fun approach to me.

I have seen it live and on TV. The live show has much more energy. The dancing is fantastic and the songs are very catchy. There's typical highs, lows, comedy of a musical. I am sure you'll love it.

Because it's mainly rap you do have to concentrate on the words and the text is quite dense, so it's not undemanding easy entertainment. But if your daughter is into that kind of music she'll be used to that. Sometimes you just get the gist rather than every single word. But I'd watch it live for the story the first time, and listen for the words & detail again later.

Your DD is bang on, she ought to see it.
Just play the soundtrack on Spotify or similar, let the songs sink in by osmosis, maybe read a bit of Wikipedia on the founding fathers but don’t over- think it. Don’t spoil the impact of the staging by watching on Disney+ first.

@ShelfShark - Just a gentle correction, for accuracy. It is about American Independence ( from Britain) and the Founding of USA with its constitution and NOT the American Civil War which was much later, during the time of Abraham Lincoln.

Me too don't understand the fuss. Only seen it on Disney+, switched it off after an hour as was soo bored. I love musicals but as you say it's all the same, just don't get the hype.

think this is a common answer but I saw it on Disney+ first and enjoyed it greatly. Regularly listen to the soundtrack on runs and saw it in London last year. I would say there are differences between the recorded show and the live show. For starters, tv recording includes the original cast, you get amazing camera angles and has subtitles for some of the more wordy parts. Personally I would have been lost in the live show if I hadn’t watched the recording and knew what was going on.

I do think you need to familiarise yourself with the story / history / songs to get the most out of the live show. It was amazing to see it live but I was a fan of the recording so I knew what to expect etc. I’d equate it to listening to band on Spotify vs going to a concert - they serve different purposes. I would say the london cast were good but manage expectations they aren’t in the same league as the original Broadway actors like LLM, Daveed Diggs, Leslie Odin Jr who helped make the musical such a phenomenon originally.

I really enjoyed it. I think of you like Les Mis you’ll enjoy it. There’s a couple of slight similar themes. Such as making something of yourself from nothing, and a rivalry between two main characters without it being a good vs evil thing. Hamilton and Burr reminded me a lot of Val Jean and Javert.

I learnt a lot about American history from it and have continued to learn more. I enjoyed the ideas about a legacy and how history and reputation is decided by who tells it.

The female characters are brilliantly written, the musical does a great job of showing how smart women were often trapped back then be it by social status or poverty. I even felt for the woman Hamilton had an affair with.

Also the songs are really catchy, it’s staged well. Great costumes, great characters. There were a couple of bits that gave me goosebumps. Some scenes are heartbreaking. I’m off to see the tour in a couple of weeks and I can’t wait!

Way over-hyped imo but I know I’m in a minority

Why on earth must you learn all the songs beforehand? What’s the goal and why is it a blocker if you don’t know the songs?

If you’re planning to sit there belting out the songs from your chair….be prepared to be the proud recipient of a few side-eyes because that will probably annoy some people.