Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Hamilton Deserves the Hype

Lin-Manuel Miranda as Hamilton extolling Freedom
So, wow!
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After a sold out run at the Public (which I missed - see "sold out"), "Hamilton" opens on Broadway in a week or so.  It is in previews now, but since the show recently moved, "previews" are a bit of a misnomer.  The cast is seasoned.  There are a few new numbers, big, better staging and nicer theater, but they are ready.
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And the show has been way hyped.  President Obama and daughters saw it last week (Michelle had seen it at the Public).  Sunday Joe Biden and Angela Lansbury were there.  When Eddie and I went, Whoopi Goldberg was a row behind us and Billy Crystal a row in front.  It is "the thing".
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And so I was prepared to be disappointed.  I mean you know something is suppose to be fantastic, it rarely lives up to all the hype.
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Hamilton did.  And then some.
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It is based on the book Hamilton by Ron Chernow.  Then Lin-Manuel Miranda read the book and was inspired.   Turns our Lin-Manuel is an immigrant from the Dominican Republic and Hamilton was an immigrant from Saint Kitts (also in the Caribbean).  They both overcame their poor childhoods by writing and working harder than anyone elese..
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So Lin-Manuel turned Hamilton's story - and the story of OUR revolution - into a Hip Hop Musical Drama that is amazing.  I wish they could transport every child in America to this theater for a day.  This tells the story of the fight for freedom and the fight to come up with a government that works in a unique interesting and relevant way.  The story follows history amazingly well.  And, let me say first off, I am not a giant fan of rap or hip-hop.  So for this old foggie to like it is something.
That is George Washington on the balcony.  Everyone is great.  Third from the left is Daveed Diggs - who is spectacular
And it is a fantastic musical to boot.  Emotional, stirring, it is our Le Miz without the annoying kids and over-ballad-izing.
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Wow!
Annie Lebowitz glamour shot of Lin-Manuel and Jonathan Groff - who is HILARIOUS as King George