My Take on "Hamilton"

In the day and age of internet streaming, it was only a matter of time that Broadway would eventually make it onto one streaming website or another. For this in particular, Disney's Disney+ has managed to be the first to the podium with it airing Lin-Manuel Miranda's award winning play, Hamilton (2020). Miranda had spent over six years of his life dedicated to writing, composing and making the lyrics of the play, which is dedicated to one of America's Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton, played by Lin-Manuel Miranda himself. Debuting in 2015, it has finally made its way into peoples homes and it is amazing. Having spent the better part of the last two years wanting to be able to see it and begging the show to make an Australian tour, I was finally able to see with my own eyes the brilliance behind Miranda's music, lyrics and book. And I am mesmerized. I have watched it three times in the first week that it debut on the streaming service, as well as constantly singing the songs to myself and downloading the entire album to my phone; I have never been more hooked into something.

Now, don't get things twisted. This is not a movie. It is a recording of a play in a movie style. The recording is actually done over three different nights in order to get the right shots and close ups to allow for it to have a movie feel, which was executed superbly. As most Brodaway plays are, it also a musical, with every line in the play being either sung or rapped in the styles of Hip-Hop, R&B, Soul, as well as some traditional show tunes, which Broadway shows are known for. However, despite the play lasting a healthy two hours and forty minutes, the constant singing doesn't weigh down on you. The devices they use, really demonstrate the pace of what is happening within the timeline, as well as individual characters having their own style. At one point in the show, character Lafayette, played by the immensely talented Daveed Diggs, raps his lines at a ridiculous speed of six words per second! All while holding a French accent! And that is only one of the few incredibly talented actors/actresses and well written and delivered lines in the show.

Going into the watching, I had a very basic idea of what the show would be telling us. It is set during the start of the Revolutionary War in America, where it's people finally wanted freedom from Britain and the reign of King George the Third (played by Johnathon Groff, is a special treat all on its own, you'll see) and follows Hamilton's life all the way up to his death. The reason I had an inkling of what it was about is because I have a long background in historic studies, but it's not something that you need. Miranda's incredible ability at story writing will leave you, not only engrossed, but educated as well. Throughout the story we meet Hamilton and everyone he came into contact with, which also gives a little story on them as well, as well all of the incredible feats that Hamilton and his friends (for a lack of a better word in some cases) achieve. It juggles extremely well between traditional story telling devices such as comedy, action, romance, sadness and even the occasional breaking-of-the-third-wall for comedic effect. 

I know that musicals and plays aren't everyone's cup of tea, but I believe strongly that you should always just watch one. And this is the one. Hamilton (2020) is something that I have never seen before and to be honest will probably never see again. The style of writing behind it mixed with the music and the most incredible acting I have seen, makes it one of the memorable shows I have witnessed with my own eyes. I have been captivated ever since I first watched it and as I am writing this now, I am finding myself wanting to watch it again. It fills you with desire to want more, to do more. It leaves you with the feeling of something that can only be explained as fire within growing along with the baptism of fire shown in the play. You'll never throw away your shot after watching this!

I give Hamilton (2020) a very much deserving 10/10 bald eagles! You can find Hamilton (2020) here and is scheduled for an Australian tour early 2021.