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Last night was the first time I’d seen Hamilton.
My wife has seen it live a couple of times (one was supposed to be with me, but I let my daughter go instead).
So, I’ve been hearing the music in my house on repeat for years. It far exceeded my expectations.
My wife has seen it live a couple of times (one was supposed to be with me, but I let my daughter go instead).
So, I’ve been hearing the music in my house on repeat for years. It far exceeded my expectations.
For background, my wife is a very huge musical fan. Our first date was to see RENT. I proposed at The Music Man. Just to say I’m decently well versed in Broadway, and knew what I was getting in for.
But Hamilton is different. On a level by itself.
But Hamilton is different. On a level by itself.
Obvious, it puts the Revolution and the Constitution in a modern context.
But it’s more than just using modern music. The setting itself is a modern idea of the city.
They consistently reference the Harlem, Brooklyn, Manhattan. They “go out” in the city.
But it’s more than just using modern music. The setting itself is a modern idea of the city.
They consistently reference the Harlem, Brooklyn, Manhattan. They “go out” in the city.
In another way they take the courtship between Hamilton and Eliza and put it in modern context.
Eliza’s song during this scene is “Helpless,” a play on the lack of agency women of the period may have had in the dating process, but the lyrics are modern, about falling in love.
Eliza’s song during this scene is “Helpless,” a play on the lack of agency women of the period may have had in the dating process, but the lyrics are modern, about falling in love.
This is before even talking about the notes on race, the problems around the defincincies of the founders in establishing a free nation while ignoring chattel slavery.
This makes the story of America’s founding far more accessible to modern audiences. Something we need more of.
This makes the story of America’s founding far more accessible to modern audiences. Something we need more of.
From a technical standpoint, the music is insanely incredible.
The use of consistent character motifs make the story insanely complex, but all of these motifs dance around each other, intermixing in different songs, making the stories all work together in a consistent way.
The use of consistent character motifs make the story insanely complex, but all of these motifs dance around each other, intermixing in different songs, making the stories all work together in a consistent way.
But all of that I knew before seeing it.
Seeing it, though, it isn’t a normal musical. The stage direction is closer to something like Stomp or Blue Man Group.
The circular stage is used in some crazy ways. A lot of my favorite moments are visual, the duals, passing letters.
Seeing it, though, it isn’t a normal musical. The stage direction is closer to something like Stomp or Blue Man Group.
The circular stage is used in some crazy ways. A lot of my favorite moments are visual, the duals, passing letters.
Take the fourth and go watch it, then go watch it a second time.
We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
