Winning multiple Tony awards, Hamilton has been one of the most talked-about musicals of the early 21st century. I had wanted to see it, but I could not usually afford the exorbitant prices charged on Broadway in New York City. However, I decided to see it for myself when reasonable tickets became available in San Francisco's Orpheum Theater.
Characters
Summary
Having read Alexander Hamilton by the acclaimed historian Ron Chernow, I was familiar with the exceptional and somewhat tragic life of one of America's founding fathers. I wanted to know if I would like this American history transformed into a hip-hop rap-musical. Although Lin-Manuel Miranda, the author of Hamilton, took quite a few liberties with Hamilton's biography, he made it more engaging for the younger audience.
Characters
- Alexander Hamilton: Vincent Jamal Hooper
- Eliza Hamilton: Julia K Harriman
- Aaron Burr: Donald Weber, Jr.
- Angelica Schuyler: Sabrina Sloan
- George Washington: Darnell Abraham
- Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson: Simon Longnight
- Hercules Mulligan/James Madison: Brandon Louis Armstrong
- John Laurens/Philip Hamilton: Ruben J. Carbajal
- Peggy Schuler/Maria Reynolds: Darilyn Castillo
- King George: Rick Negron
- Philip Schuyler/James Reynolds/Doctor: Christopher Henry Young
- Samuel Seabury: Andrew Wojtal
- Charles Lee: Christophe Campbell
- George Eacker: Alex Swift
Summary
Having read Alexander Hamilton by the acclaimed historian Ron Chernow, I was familiar with the exceptional and somewhat tragic life of one of America's founding fathers. I wanted to know if I would like this American history transformed into a hip-hop rap-musical. Although Lin-Manuel Miranda, the author of Hamilton, took quite a few liberties with Hamilton's biography, he made it more engaging for the younger audience.
I can't say that I liked most of the music or the lyrical rap, but they were intelligently written and not completely horrible. Three particular songs remained ingrained in my memory:
- Alexander Hamilton
- The Room Where It Happens
- Dear Theodosia
Would I see it again? Perhaps on Broadway, but I wouldn't place it in my top 20 musicals. It's not Chicago, Kiss Me Kate!, Cabaret, or Anything Goes!
Here are the details of the Hamilton Musical, courtesy of Wikipedia:
Act I
The orphan Alexander Hamilton lives on the island of Nevis ("Alexander Hamilton"). After arriving in New York in 1776, Hamilton met Aaron Burr, John Laurens, Marquis de Lafayette, and Hercules Mulligan ("Aaron Burr, Sir") and impressed them with his rhetorical skills ("My Shot"). They affirm their revolutionary goals to each other ("The Story of Tonight"). Angelica, Eliza, and Peggy are introduced ("The Schuyler Sisters"). Samuel Seabury warns everyone about the Congress, but Hamilton disagrees and tries to counter Seabury ("Farmer Refuted"). King George then insists on his authority ("You'll Be Back"). During the New York and New Jersey campaigns, Hamilton accepted a position as George Washington's aide-de-camp ("Right Hand Man") instead of field command.
At Philip Schuyler’s ball ("A Winter’s Ball"), Hamilton meets, falls in love with, and marries Elizabeth Schuyler ("Helpless"), as her sister Angelica suppresses her feelings for the sake of their happiness ("Satisfied"). After the wedding, Hamilton, Laurens, Lafayette, and Mulligan drink together while the three poke fun at Hamilton for getting married. Burr walks in on the group, unexpected by Hamilton to be attending. Burr congratulates Hamilton on his position as aide to the camp of Washington; Hamilton confesses that he would much rather have Burr's position on the battlefield ("The Story of Tonight (Reprise)"). Burr reflects on Hamilton's swift rise while considering his own career as more cautious ("Wait For It").
Conditions are worsening for the continental army, and Hamilton's constant pleading to Washington for a command continues to be shot down. Washington grants a command to General Charles Lee, who is unfit to lead one. After being fired by Washington, Lee goes on a tirade against Washington, claiming him unfit to lead. Though Hamilton wishes to challenge Lee, he is commanded not to by Washington. Since Hamilton is unable to challenge Lee, Laurens does ("Stay Alive") and thus duels Lee, with Hamilton and Burr as their seconds. Laurens injures Lee, who yields ("Ten Duel Commandments"). Hamilton is temporarily suspended by Washington ("Meet Me Inside") over the duel and is sent home. There, Eliza reveals that she is pregnant with her first child and asks Hamilton to simply slow down to take in what has happened in their lives ("That Would Be Enough"). After Lafayette convinces France to get involved on the colonists' side ("Guns and Ships"), he urges Washington to call Hamilton back to help plan the final Siege of Yorktown. Washington agrees but explains to Hamilton—who is convinced he should die a martyr and a hero in war—that he should be careful with his actions because whatever he does will be known for ages to come ("History Has its Eyes on You"). Hamilton agrees to join and reflects that he now has something to live for (a wife and a child on the way) and will give up on his efforts to die in war. At the Siege of Yorktown, Hamilton meets up with Lafayette to take down the British, revealing that Mulligan was recruited as a spy, helping them figure out what to do to trap the British and win the war ("Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)").
Soon after the victory at Yorktown, King George asks the rebels how they will succeed in governing on their own (“What Comes Next?”). Hamilton's son, Philip, is born, while Burr has a daughter, Theodosia ("Dear Theodosia"). Hamilton receives word that his friend Laurens has been killed in a seemingly pointless battle and throws himself into his work ("Tomorrow There'll Be More of Us"). He co-authored The Federalist Papers and was selected as Secretary of the Treasury by newly-elected President Washington. Angelica moves to London with her new husband ("Non-Stop").
Thomas Jefferson returned to America from being the U.S. ambassador to France ("What'd I Miss"). 1789 Jefferson and Hamilton debated the latter's financial proposals at a Cabinet meeting. Washington pulled Hamilton aside and told him to figure out a compromise to win over Congress ("Cabinet Battle #1").
Eliza and her family and Angelica, who is back from London, travel upstate during the summer, while Hamilton stays home to work on the compromise ("Take a Break"). Hamilton begins an affair with Maria Reynolds, making him vulnerable to her husband's blackmail ("Say No To This"). Hamilton, Jefferson, and James Madison created the Compromise of 1790 over a private dinner, exchanging Hamilton's financial plan for placing the country's permanent capital on the Potomac River. Burr is envious of Hamilton's sway in the government and wishes he had similar power ("The Room Where It Happens"). Burr switches political parties and defeats Philip Schuyler, making Hamilton now a rival (“Schuyler Defeated”).
In another Cabinet meeting, Jefferson and Hamilton argued whether the United States should assist France in its conflict with Britain. This decision is not subject to congressional approval, and Washington ultimately agrees with Hamilton's argument for remaining neutral ("Cabinet Battle #2"). In the wake of this, Jefferson, Madison, and Burr decide to join forces to find a way to discredit Hamilton in Washington's eyes ("Washington on Your Side"). Washington decided to retire from the presidency, and Hamilton assisted in writing a farewell address ("One Last Time").
King George received word that George Washington would be replaced by John Adams in the President's spot (“I Know Him”). John Adams became the second President and fired Hamilton, who published an inflammatory critique of the new President as a response ("The Adams Administration"). In the face of accusations of speculation of government funds by Jefferson, Madison, and Burr—and out of fear that his affair with Maria Reynolds would be used against him in his political career ("We Know")—Hamilton chooses to publicize his affair ("Hurricane") in the Reynolds Pamphlet ("The Reynolds Pamphlet"), damaging his relationship with Eliza ("Burn"). George Eacker gave a critical speech about Alexander Hamilton. Philip confronts Eacker and challenges him to a duel. Philip, instructed by Hamilton, raises his pistol in the air, hoping Eacker to stand down. Still, at the count of seven, he gets shot ("Blow Us All Away") and dies in the hospital ("Stay Alive (Reprise)"), causing a reconciliation between Alexander and Eliza ("It's Quiet Uptown").
Hamilton's endorsement of Jefferson in the presidential election of 1800 ("The Election of 1800") resulted in further animosity between Hamilton and Burr, who challenged Hamilton to a duel via an exchange of letters ("Your Obedient Servant"). Hamilton writes his last letter in a rush while Eliza tells him to go back to bed (“Best of Wives and Best of Women”). Burr and Hamilton travel to New Jersey for the duel. During the duel, both Burr and Hamilton fire at each other after ten paces, with Hamilton intentionally missing his shot. Hamilton dies as a result, with Eliza and Angelica at his side. Burr laments that even though he survived, he is cursed to be remembered as the villain who killed Hamilton ("The World Was Wide Enough"). The musical closes with a reflection on historical memory, showing how Eliza kept Hamilton’s legacy alive ("Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story").
Here are the details of the Hamilton Musical, courtesy of Wikipedia:
Act I
The orphan Alexander Hamilton lives on the island of Nevis ("Alexander Hamilton"). After arriving in New York in 1776, Hamilton met Aaron Burr, John Laurens, Marquis de Lafayette, and Hercules Mulligan ("Aaron Burr, Sir") and impressed them with his rhetorical skills ("My Shot"). They affirm their revolutionary goals to each other ("The Story of Tonight"). Angelica, Eliza, and Peggy are introduced ("The Schuyler Sisters"). Samuel Seabury warns everyone about the Congress, but Hamilton disagrees and tries to counter Seabury ("Farmer Refuted"). King George then insists on his authority ("You'll Be Back"). During the New York and New Jersey campaigns, Hamilton accepted a position as George Washington's aide-de-camp ("Right Hand Man") instead of field command.
At Philip Schuyler’s ball ("A Winter’s Ball"), Hamilton meets, falls in love with, and marries Elizabeth Schuyler ("Helpless"), as her sister Angelica suppresses her feelings for the sake of their happiness ("Satisfied"). After the wedding, Hamilton, Laurens, Lafayette, and Mulligan drink together while the three poke fun at Hamilton for getting married. Burr walks in on the group, unexpected by Hamilton to be attending. Burr congratulates Hamilton on his position as aide to the camp of Washington; Hamilton confesses that he would much rather have Burr's position on the battlefield ("The Story of Tonight (Reprise)"). Burr reflects on Hamilton's swift rise while considering his own career as more cautious ("Wait For It").
Conditions are worsening for the continental army, and Hamilton's constant pleading to Washington for a command continues to be shot down. Washington grants a command to General Charles Lee, who is unfit to lead one. After being fired by Washington, Lee goes on a tirade against Washington, claiming him unfit to lead. Though Hamilton wishes to challenge Lee, he is commanded not to by Washington. Since Hamilton is unable to challenge Lee, Laurens does ("Stay Alive") and thus duels Lee, with Hamilton and Burr as their seconds. Laurens injures Lee, who yields ("Ten Duel Commandments"). Hamilton is temporarily suspended by Washington ("Meet Me Inside") over the duel and is sent home. There, Eliza reveals that she is pregnant with her first child and asks Hamilton to simply slow down to take in what has happened in their lives ("That Would Be Enough"). After Lafayette convinces France to get involved on the colonists' side ("Guns and Ships"), he urges Washington to call Hamilton back to help plan the final Siege of Yorktown. Washington agrees but explains to Hamilton—who is convinced he should die a martyr and a hero in war—that he should be careful with his actions because whatever he does will be known for ages to come ("History Has its Eyes on You"). Hamilton agrees to join and reflects that he now has something to live for (a wife and a child on the way) and will give up on his efforts to die in war. At the Siege of Yorktown, Hamilton meets up with Lafayette to take down the British, revealing that Mulligan was recruited as a spy, helping them figure out what to do to trap the British and win the war ("Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)").
Soon after the victory at Yorktown, King George asks the rebels how they will succeed in governing on their own (“What Comes Next?”). Hamilton's son, Philip, is born, while Burr has a daughter, Theodosia ("Dear Theodosia"). Hamilton receives word that his friend Laurens has been killed in a seemingly pointless battle and throws himself into his work ("Tomorrow There'll Be More of Us"). He co-authored The Federalist Papers and was selected as Secretary of the Treasury by newly-elected President Washington. Angelica moves to London with her new husband ("Non-Stop").
Act II
Thomas Jefferson returned to America from being the U.S. ambassador to France ("What'd I Miss"). 1789 Jefferson and Hamilton debated the latter's financial proposals at a Cabinet meeting. Washington pulled Hamilton aside and told him to figure out a compromise to win over Congress ("Cabinet Battle #1").
Eliza and her family and Angelica, who is back from London, travel upstate during the summer, while Hamilton stays home to work on the compromise ("Take a Break"). Hamilton begins an affair with Maria Reynolds, making him vulnerable to her husband's blackmail ("Say No To This"). Hamilton, Jefferson, and James Madison created the Compromise of 1790 over a private dinner, exchanging Hamilton's financial plan for placing the country's permanent capital on the Potomac River. Burr is envious of Hamilton's sway in the government and wishes he had similar power ("The Room Where It Happens"). Burr switches political parties and defeats Philip Schuyler, making Hamilton now a rival (“Schuyler Defeated”).
In another Cabinet meeting, Jefferson and Hamilton argued whether the United States should assist France in its conflict with Britain. This decision is not subject to congressional approval, and Washington ultimately agrees with Hamilton's argument for remaining neutral ("Cabinet Battle #2"). In the wake of this, Jefferson, Madison, and Burr decide to join forces to find a way to discredit Hamilton in Washington's eyes ("Washington on Your Side"). Washington decided to retire from the presidency, and Hamilton assisted in writing a farewell address ("One Last Time").
King George received word that George Washington would be replaced by John Adams in the President's spot (“I Know Him”). John Adams became the second President and fired Hamilton, who published an inflammatory critique of the new President as a response ("The Adams Administration"). In the face of accusations of speculation of government funds by Jefferson, Madison, and Burr—and out of fear that his affair with Maria Reynolds would be used against him in his political career ("We Know")—Hamilton chooses to publicize his affair ("Hurricane") in the Reynolds Pamphlet ("The Reynolds Pamphlet"), damaging his relationship with Eliza ("Burn"). George Eacker gave a critical speech about Alexander Hamilton. Philip confronts Eacker and challenges him to a duel. Philip, instructed by Hamilton, raises his pistol in the air, hoping Eacker to stand down. Still, at the count of seven, he gets shot ("Blow Us All Away") and dies in the hospital ("Stay Alive (Reprise)"), causing a reconciliation between Alexander and Eliza ("It's Quiet Uptown").
Hamilton's endorsement of Jefferson in the presidential election of 1800 ("The Election of 1800") resulted in further animosity between Hamilton and Burr, who challenged Hamilton to a duel via an exchange of letters ("Your Obedient Servant"). Hamilton writes his last letter in a rush while Eliza tells him to go back to bed (“Best of Wives and Best of Women”). Burr and Hamilton travel to New Jersey for the duel. During the duel, both Burr and Hamilton fire at each other after ten paces, with Hamilton intentionally missing his shot. Hamilton dies as a result, with Eliza and Angelica at his side. Burr laments that even though he survived, he is cursed to be remembered as the villain who killed Hamilton ("The World Was Wide Enough"). The musical closes with a reflection on historical memory, showing how Eliza kept Hamilton’s legacy alive ("Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story").
Musical numbers[edit]
Act I
Act II
Overall: 3 out of 5 (one of the better recent musicals but not at the level of Chicago)
Positives
Negatives
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