HAMILTON TOUR. Akmed Junior Khemalai George Washington and Company. Photo Danny Kaan
“Have you seen it before?”
A question I have never been asked so many times before seeing a production, and one I could easily answer with a “No!”
Although that was not quite correct, as I had tried to watch the stage recording of Hamilton that Disney+ broadcast one sleepy afternoon, and I gave up. I didn’t get it. But there again, I haven’t ‘got’ any theatre on TV, it just doesn’t work for me.
Yet everyone who asked me that question had seen Hamilton at least two, three, even five times.
It was wild. It was obvious there was something about this show that drives people to return. Will it do the same to me?
Even the Mayflower Theatre’s Chief Executive, Michael Ockwell, told me “In my opinion Hamilton is the greatest modern musical” and to prove his point, when the lights went down, the cheers went up, excited voices were raised, people were clapping, anticipation was at maximum.
Now I understand why.
HAMILTON TOUR. Marley Fenton Alexander Hamilton and Company. Photo by Danny Kaan
For once I was glad I was in the Dress Circle because in front of me, taking up my whole vision, was the whirlwind of revolution brought to life.
At times cast, orchestra, lighting, stage and crew combined every ounce of effort to bring you a view of history like no other.
Not only was every inch of stage covered by action, with tiny individual moments combining into whirls of movement, but the music and the raps spiralled around the auditorium, propelling the story and audience to the moment of war, while the lighting contracted and expanded to provide width, depth and moments of intimacy, joy and anger, like no other production.
And if there was an award for best use of a rotating stage, this production would win it every year.
But why raps? And why a mainly black cast when this is white history?
Why not? This is revolution, baby! Why not turn things on their head?
Rap is all about battles, the early 80s saw MCs battling it between themselves, live rapping, swapping insults and gibes back and forth, in front of a baying crowd. You lived and died on the stage, just like debates in parliaments around the world.
Yes, you might not pick out every word, but there again how much of Shakespeare do you truly get?
HAMILTON TOUR. Billy Nevers Aaron Burr Roshani Abbey_ Chasity Crisp and Naomi Katiyo Schuyler Sisters. Photo by Danny Kaan
This is a story about massive change, breaking a global mental paradigm and shifting the vibration of a nation, an authentic reproduction just wouldn’t enthuse the public like this show.
The cast were fabulous, there isn’t enough space to pick out individuals but they should all be very proud of what they are doing. In the future, all they need to say is "I was in Hamilton" and there quality will be known. They worked together like the intricate pieces of a pocket watch.
They took us from the birth of the idea, through to the battle against the English with hardly a pause, thousands of words delivered at pace with grace, humour and aggression, wise words tumbled round us, actual lines from history brought to life, passions were raised, and if you arrived at the theatre with an idea for change, you should have left, energised to accomplish your task.
HAMILTON TOUR. Marley Fenton Alexander Hamilton and Billy Nevers Aaron Burr. Photo by Danny Kaan
One of the main characters has the line “I want to be in the room where it happens”, you need to be in the theatre when this happens, but take what you see, feel and hear and do something with it.
I cannot reiterate this enough, every person on and behind the stage, in the orchestra pit and driving the lights and sound, is working in harmony, creating with Hamilton theatre at its very best.
Book your seat here: Mayflower Theatre
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