Telling the story of America’s first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, the musical “Hamilton” (written by Lin-Manuel Miranda) is renowned worldwide as one of the best twenty-first century musicals. Having already seen the Disney+ film, and having listened to the soundtrack more times than I can count, I was greatly excited to see the touring cast at Birmingham Hippodrome, and the production did not disappoint.
It goes without saying that the music and lyrics are phenomenal, and anyone who is even mildly familiar with the soundtrack will already be aware of this. The thing that struck me the most about seeing “Hamilton” live for the first time was the way in which the incredible backing dancers, costume, set and musicians would combine to produce a performance so powerful it left the entire audience on their feet come curtain call.
The musical starts with Hamilton (performed by understudy Jonathan Hermosa-Lopez) arriving in New York, and meeting Aaron Burr (Sam Oladeinde), who gives him advice on how to succeed in America – advice which Hamilton chooses to ignore. Hermosa-Lopez’s Hamilton is fast and angry, on the attack and constantly trying to prove himself – until the point in Act 2 when the character no longer has to prove himself, and becomes too self-assure and confident. The change in the character is played to perfection, and casts Hamilton as both the victor and master of his own destruction, finding particular nuance in this tragic story.
On the other hand, Oladeinde’s Burr, as Hamilton’s main competition, feels oddly reserved during the first half, with Burr’s song “Wait for it” failing to make the impact it could have achieved. Thankfully, the reserved nature of this performance pays off in the second act, as Burr decides to finally take action in his quest to reach the top, culminating in a heart-stopping performance in “The room where it happens”, which left the audience speechless and made us hungry for more. By the time the end of the play arrives, it is unclear whether to root for Hamilton or Burr – both have won our hearts with their clear, character-driven stories.
Hamilton’s rise to power is aided by President George Washington (Charles Simmons, whose smooth and clear voice was a joy to listen to) and John Laurens (DeAngelo Jones). Billy Nevers, playing the roles of both Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, received some of the biggest laughs of the night thanks to his sarcastic portrayal of America’s third president, whilst KM Drew Boateng gave an exhilarating, energetic performance as Mulligan/Madison although it was sometimes difficult to catch every word in his songs.
Hamilton’s family life also plays a huge role in this musical, in particular his relationship with wife Eliza (Maya Britto), whose strong yet emotional rendition of “Burn” provided a change of pace from the rest of the upbeat, hip-hop extravaganza. Hamilton is tempted by, but resists, Eliza’s sister Angelica (Aisha Jawando). In my opinion, Jawando was the weakest link in the cast, with various vocal gymnastics taking away from the simple beauty of the lyrics, and making it hard to understand some of her songs.
It will be of no surprise when I say that “Hamilton” is a must-see. Everything about this show combines in such a perfect way to tell a tale that is incredibly easy to follow and relate to. The combination of rap, hip-hop and musical theatre is done so well that it feels like it was meant to be. American politics has never been so exciting…
Tom Morley, July 2024
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