HAMILTON vs. FUN HOME

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HAMILTON vs. FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 4:51pm

So which show do you prefer? Which do you think is better? I've seen HAMILTON twice and loved it. I thought it was the best musical I've seen, but then I saw FUN HOME just last week, and there's a part of me that thinks FUN HOME is better than HAMILTON. What do you think? I believe that I liked the intimacy of the show in the Circle in the Square Theatre (I wonder how HAMILTON would be in the round? Now, to be fair to HAMILTON, the cast recording is not out yet, but I've been listening to the cast recording of FUN HOME and the story to me seems more relatable to my life now. While the lyrics and songs in HAMILTON are clever and entertaining, the subject matter of a person who lived in the late 1700's versus someone from my own generation, FUN HOME seems more relatable to me. I feel more emotionally moved by it. What do you think, for those of you who have seen both shows?

HAMILTON vs. FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 4:59pm

Braniff Forever said: "I've been listening to the cast recording of FUN HOME and the story to me seems more relatable to my life now."

Suicide is never the answer! #PleaseStay

Braniff Forever said: "While the lyrics and songs in HAMILTON are clever and entertaining, the subject matter of a person who lived in the late 1700's versus someone from my own generation"

I don't buy that, since the whole premise of its inception was Lin reading the bio and seeing the throughline from his life story through to how many of his favorite rappers had to define themselves through the mastery of their words, etc., so the point is the universality of that experience, using one person's specific life to ground that universality.

An argument can be made that someone trying to make something of their life and really steering themselves into a mix where they can find and hone their own greatness is more relatable than a closeted funeral director or a lesbian cartoonist's sexual awakening...

HAMILTON vs. FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 5:22pm

I'm not sure why they need to be compared.

"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

HAMILTON vs. FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 5:26pm

Haterobics, it looks like your photo is a bar of soap with FUN HOME written on it. Would you explain what that means? Just curious

HAMILTON vs. FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 5:27pm

I guess I need to clarify myself. I loved HAMILTON. It was very entertaining and the fact that Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the lyrics, music and acted in the show, well he's a genius. But what I guess I was trying to say, is after seeing HAMILTON for the second time a couple of weeks ago and now having seen FUN HOME, my feelings about the show after the show....memories I guess for lack of a better word, my emotional reaction to the show...I guess I just liked the story of FUN HOME better and it resonated with me more emotionally than an emotional reaction to HAMILTON which to me is more epic because it deals with a historical figure and features our Founding Fathers. To me that's more epic/historical wheras FUN HOME is about one average (or not average) American family in the mid to latter part of the 20th Century. Alison Bechdel is ten years older than me. Alexander Hamilton is a historical figure several hundred years older than me although Lin-Manuel Miranda did a great job of humanizing him.

HAMILTON vs. FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 5:47pm

Two completely different productions - there is no comparison.

Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.

HAMILTON vs. FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 5:50pm

I'm totally with Kad on this. WHY must I pick one over the other. Can't I simply love them both? And I do. Tremendously so. They are both wonderful, both meaningful, both important, they each made me emotional in different ways.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

HAMILTON vs. FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 6:03pm

Fun Home. I admired both, but was drawn into Fun Home much more. I cared much less about the characters in Hamilton.

Also, I don't know if we're comparing shows as much as we are our personal experiences with them.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

HAMILTON vs. FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 6:49pm

Braniff Forever said: "Haterobics, it looks like your photo is a bar of soap with FUN HOME written on it. Would you explain what that means? Just curious "

It is the Fight Club soap, but for BWW I customize it every season. At first, it said If/Then, this past season was Fun Home, and the current season is TBD, although one imagines American Psycho is the most obvious choice for the Fight Club treatment. As to why?! No clue.

#10

HAMILTON vs. FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 7:22pm

Lizzie...I agree with you. I saw HAMILTON first (twice) before seeing FUN HOME, and I really liked it. But I was not prepared for my experience and reaction to FUN HOME. It caught me by surprise. On a personal level, I connected with it more than Hamilton. Had I known how much I loved Fun Home, I would have seen it long ago, but how does one really know how you will react to anything until you see it? (We don't). I'm not asking anyone to pick one over the other, rather interested to know how you felt after seeing both. I loved Hamilton and can't wait to get the cast recording. I want to buy the Alexander Hamilton bio but have not done so yet. It's also about 700 plus pages (oy!). But at Fun Home I felt moved to buy the $20 program and also bought the original graphic novel and have read about half of it so far. It is fascinating and I love it. I feel like I know the characters better than I did from the show. Although the show is fantastic, the graphic novel fleshes out the characters even more, but of course the writing team had to pick out certain parts from the book and musicalize (is that a word?) them. Lin-Manuel did the same thing. He took a 700 plus page book and used parts of it to inspire some awesome and amazing songs (and narrative). But for me the musical adaptation of Fun Home resonated more than the musical adaptation of Hamilton. Maybe you had a different experience, and that's fine. No one should feel compelled to pick one over the other. I'm just curious as to person's reactions to each.

Updated On: 9/10/15 at 07:22 PM

#11

HAMILTON vs. FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 9:55pm

You probably didn't help your cause by using "vs." though.

Also, I feel old that someone wouldn't instantly associate that pink bar of soap with Fight Club. And I haven't even ever seen Fight Club.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#12

HAMILTON vs. FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 10:11pm

"Also, I feel old that someone wouldn't instantly associate that pink bar of soap with Fight Club. And I haven't even ever seen Fight Club."

We should definitely NOT be talking about Fight Club.

Updated On: 9/10/15 at 10:11 PM

#13

HAMILTON vs. FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 10:21pm

JPeterman said: "We should definitely NOT be talking about Fight Club."

We're breaking all the rules in here.

#14

HAMILTON AND FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 10:25pm

Making this a "versus" fight belittles both shows.

You do them--and yourself--a disservice.

#15

HAMILTON AND FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 10:43pm

If these two shows teach us anything, it is join The Public Theater.

#16

HAMILTON AND FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 10:46pm

I haven't seen Hamilton yet, so I can't make a fair comparison just yet, but from what I've read about both the show and Alexander Hamilton's own life, I think I'm able to relate more to Fun Home on a personal level, particularly the Middle Alison segments since I myself am trying to figure out how to come out of the closet in college.

I wouldn't say it's a matter of which show is better, but rather which show each audience member is able to relate to more. (Or both could be equally relatable, everyone's different!)

"Was uns befreit, das muss stärker sein als wir es sind." -Tanz der Vampire

#17

HAMILTON AND FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 10:48pm

Haterobics, I saw FIGHT CLUB the film and don't remember the pink bar of soap. Maybe I'll watch it again and look for that image/symbol. Maybe someone should come up with FIGHT CLUB THE MUSICAL... If well done, I'm sure many would want to see it!

Also, a good idea about joining The Public Theatre... So many good productions. I'll have to look and see what is showing there no and in the future.

#18

HAMILTON AND FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 11:19pm

"So which show do you prefer?"

Neither.

I preferred Truckload, Good Vibrations, Got Tu Go Disco, and come to think of it, just about everything else!

Updated On: 9/11/15 at 11:19 PM

#19

HAMILTON AND FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 11:32pm

^ We are all surprised by your answer, A8!

Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.

#20

HAMILTON AND FUN HOME

Posted: 9/10/15 at 11:58pm

Braniff Forever said: "Haterobics, I saw FIGHT CLUB the film and don't remember the pink bar of soap. Maybe I'll watch it again and look for that image/symbol."

It was the poster artwork, etc. In the movie they do make soap, but not sure if it is pink, but that was the film logo/artwork.

"Maybe someone should come up with FIGHT CLUB THE MUSICAL... If well done, I'm sure many would want to see it!"

Oh, it's happening! http://www.avclub.com/article/chuck-palahniuk-says-fight-club-musical-really-hap-222300

#21

HAMILTON AND FUN HOME

Posted: 9/11/15 at 1:20am

I think it's a really good discussion about two very different shows. Very touchy subject though cause both have very avid fans but so far it's nice to see that most of the posts agree that both shows are remarkable. If I were to use solely my heart in comparing both shows I feel that Fun Home is the most beautiful show I have ever watched in a decade. But if I use my head then I would say that Hamilton is the most brilliant show I have seen since Rent. While it is not as groundbreaking (in content) as Fun Home, Hamilton is a masterpiece. I love both shows. Both are truly works of art. I'm just glad that it did not compete each other for the Tony award. Though I'm sad that it will compete with each other for the Grammy Award for best cast album. I would think Hamilton would have submitted their album by now since they are eligible when they release it this month. I would be torn. I wanted Fun Home to win a Grammy but the music of Hamilton is pure genius. Aaahh! Wish Hamilton submit theirs next year.

Updated On: 9/11/15 at 01:20 AM

#22

HAMILTON AND FUN HOME

Posted: 9/11/15 at 1:52am

I loved them both but despite the time difference, I related more to the characters in Hamilton. I felt drawn to the need to make your make, and I identified with Aaron Burr always feeling like he wasn't measuring up and was leaving left behind. So I don't think the fact that it was so many years ago makes it hard to relate to. But I see no need to compare them. They're both great.

Updated On: 9/11/15 at 01:52 AM

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