Hamilton

[Megan Hilty Wannabe]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 6:19pm

I am wondering what do people think of Hamilton ?

[billyelliotfan123]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 6:23pm

Generally people thought it sucked at that it was a disgrace to musical theater 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 6:24pm

You could just search for the existing threads about the off bway run. But in a nutshell, most people LOVED it.

[BonnieBanks]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 6:26pm

There are many threads on the topic. Most here claim it's the show of the generation. I don't believe most of the hype, but I've had to change my tickets twice, so I'm expecting to be amazed. 

[brdway411]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 6:31pm

I thought it was good but not great. I like In The Heights a lot better. 

[jessejaehoon]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 6:39pm

I mean, it's all a matter of personal taste, but I thought it was the best damn thing I've ever seen in my life. And one of the most important. I'd definitely equate it to RENT in the impact it has had already and will probably continue to have.

Again, that's just me.

[Megan Hilty Wannabe]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 6:42pm

"I mean, it's all a matter of personal taste, but I thought it was the best damn thing I've ever seen in my life. And one of the most important. I'd definitely equate it to RENT in the impact it has had already and will probably continue to have.
Again, that's just me."

 

I am failing to see what is so good about it 

I am not going throwing away my shot 
is most liukely he is going to kill someone, going to get his last chance or chance to gain power. and most likely a whole heep of other metaphores . But Rent from what I have seen is much smarter and brilliant 

Updated On: 7/10/15 at 06:42 PM

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 7:14pm

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 7:19pm

I really, really liked it. Like really, really.

I've always had a lot of respect for LMM and what he does, but I wasn't a huge fan of In the Heights. It just wasn't my bag. I thought the notion of Hamilton was clever when LMM would discuss his newest project, The Hamilton Mixtapes. But as someone who had spent the better part of a decade studying government and history, I wasn't sure Alexander Hamilton was the best topic for a musical. He's one of the most important of the founding fathers, but he's forgotten. In my K-12 education, he was only mentioned 2 or 3 times: he did a lot with The Federalist Papers, he was the first treasury secretary and got put on the $20 bill, and he died in a dual. The end. Ron Chernow tried to show he was much more with his biography that inspired the musical (And he did. It's long, but a great read if you have any interest in Early American history or politics). When the first clip of LMM doing the title song at the White House emerged, I thought it was catchy as hell and incredibly informative in a nice neat package. 

Any time something you have knowledge of something being developed, you become curious of what the final result will be. To be honest, I didn't expect this to ever be fully developed. The idea of telling this story using incredibly modern music just didn't seem like it would be something that could be taken seriously. But back in 2014 or whenever it was announced to play at the Public, I decided it would be worth catching on my annual January trip.

Wthin about 10 minutes of the show starting, I realized this was something I could really get into. At intermission, I texted a friend and said I was shocked about how well it worked. At the end of the show, I was stunned. It was really, really good. It was this ridiculous blend of lyrics and music that told the story so absolutely truthfully, but in a way that was appealing. I'm a secondary social studies teacher. I've seen kids throw away this part of history as being mind-numbingly boring more then once. Colleagues had warned me that kids see the post revolutionary period as being dry as dirt, but this wasn't. This was fun and engaging. Even if you didn't like it, you can't deny that it held your attention.

A day or so after seeing it, I didn't have a song from it stuck in my head. I had like 6 songs. Always a good sign. At that point, I realized that I needed to thank every power that be because I knew I had just seen something really special and that was going to have a big impact on theater.

As a show, I felt it was very well put together. Every element was polished and ready and they went together really tightly. If this was a puzzle, you'd say that the pieces went together without trying.  You weren't forcing things to fit and make them work--they just did. The blend of the acting, singing, dancing, lighting, and scenery just captured everything perfectly. 

It's a musical that had so many layers and elements in it that it had to be long. When I saw it, it was running about 3 hours, but I know getting the show a bit shorter was one of things that was constantly being worked on. But it almost seems like a show you just understand may be long because they're telling a long story.

In the end, I found it to be so memorable and catchy. It makes you rethink what we see as being the traditional musical formula. This combines so many different types of music and captures the strengths of the cast so well.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 7:20pm

Almost making Philly look intellectual.

 

But really, you are going to make a decision about a show based on one out of context number?

[gypsy101]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 7:25pm

I am failing to see what is so good about it 
I am not going throwing away my shot 
is most liukely he is going to kill someone, going to get his last chance or chance to gain power. and most likely a whole heep of other metaphores . But Rent from what I have seen is much smarter and brilliant "

He dies in a duel. Save yourself the trip if you don't want to see it. I can't wait for it.
Also, it's spelled "heap" and there's no e at the end of the word metaphor.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 7:26pm

MHW, you are new here (unless you are a regular who is trolling with a different ID). Before addressing your question (the answer to which has been rehearsed here at length), you need to understand that people who try to draw conclusions without seeing shows and/or based on isolated exposure to songs from a show they have not seen, are not well received. Suffice it to say, most people here (including me) have been effusive of their praise of the show. Ditto for the critical reception and word of mouth. Now there are of course people who liked it less (as their always are) and some of them have already chimed in to answer you. But the majority of people who have seen the show and who have expressed an opinion think it is the best show in most of our adult lifetimes. For me, that goes back (but just barely) to A Chorus Line. To me, it is better to me than ACL, Rent and most of the golden age musicals. I would put it in the top 5 of a century's worth of musical theatre, in both quality and import, with Fiddler, West Side Story, Oklahoma, Show Boat. Others may put together a different list, but that's the historical context in which it is going to be evaluated. So forgive me for finding your post ridiculous, but on what possible intelligent basis could you possibly have seen "what's so good about it" or, even more preposterously, that Rent is "much smarter and brilliant"?  Stated simply, "what [you] have seen" is absolutely nothing. Now it's one thing to ask what people thought of it (because you are too lazy to put an 8 letter word in the search box) but it is quite another to opine about something you manifestly have no basis for an opinion. 

[Megan Hilty Wannabe]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 8:05pm

 

 

"MHW, you are new here (unless you are a regular who is trolling with a different ID). Before addressing your question (the answer to which has been rehearsed here at length), you need to understand that people who try to draw conclusions without seeing shows and/or based on isolated exposure to songs from a show they have not seen, are not well received. Suffice it to say, most people here (including me) have been effusive of their praise of the show. Ditto for the critical reception and word of mouth. Now there are of course people who liked it less (as their always are) and some of them have already chimed in to answer you. But the majority of people who have seen the show and who have expressed an opinion think it is the best show in most of our adult lifetimes. For me, that goes back (but just barely) to A Chorus Line. To me, it is better to me than ACL, Rent and most of the golden age musicals. I would put it in the top 5 of a century's worth of musical theatre, in both quality and import, with Fiddler, West Side Story, Oklahoma, Show Boat. Others may put together a different list, but that's the historical context in which it is going to be evaluated. So forgive me for finding your post ridiculous, but on what possible intelligent basis could you possibly have seen "what's so good about it" or, even more preposterously, that Rent is "much smarter and brilliant"?  Stated simply, "what [you] have seen" is absolutely nothing. Now it's one thing to ask what people thought of it (because you are too lazy to put an 8 letter word in the search box) but it is quite another to opine about something you manifestly have no basis for an opinion. "

 I am not new and have just got a new id. I have been here since 2012.

I wrote negative stuff to see how strongly people felt about Hamilton. They addressed my concerns about seeing NYC over London. And that concern has been dealt with. I am going to NYC. I just felt everyone was saying it was good to look cool

Updated On: 7/10/15 at 08:05 PM

[BonnieBanks]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 8:09pm

To me, it is better to me than ACL, Rent and most of the golden age musicals. I would put it in the top 5 of a century's worth of musical theatre, in both quality and import, with Fiddler, West Side Story, Oklahoma, Show Boat.

That's a rather large statement. What in your mind makes Hamilton better or on par with all these shows? And are you speaking objectively or are you saying it's your favorite above the best? As I'm sure you know, there's a large difference between Favorite and Best.

You are basically saying Hamilton is the best show to ever be on broadway, better than all the wonderful Golden Age musicals like Gypsy, Hello Dolly, and many other gems. Yet, I doubt you saw any of those original productions, so how could you possibly say Hamilton is better or on par with those?

Perhaps you are talking about subject matter rather than the actual physical production?

I ask these questions because I really do wonder if you are speaking objectively or are just lovesick on the new hot show in town.

When I read most of the comments about Hamilton, they reminded me of the comments I heard from teenage girls standing in line for Wicked tickets.

Of course I don't fault you for being excited about Hamilton, I also am excited to see the show. I don't know much about the show and have not listened to many of the songs, I took a leap of faith and decided to purchase tickets for my Niece and I based solely on the hype it is receiving in America. 

Just genuine curiosity on your statements. 

[Megan Hilty Wannabe]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 8:10pm

 

A Chorus Line had a bare set and it lasted 15 years

[brdway411]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 8:29pm

I saw it in Jan, at The Public, it was just under 3 hours. Like I said it was good not great. Its a 3 hour history lesson rapped to you. I got bored once the novelty wore off. 

[Megan Hilty Wannabe]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 8:30pm

"I saw it in Jan, at The Public, it was just under 3 hours. Like I said it was good not great. Its a 3 hour history lesson rapped to you. I got bored once the novelty wore off. "

 I happen to think Lin is a genius but really wanted PS to win over ITH

[Pootie2]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 8:56pm

"  
 I wrote negative stuff to see how strongly people felt about "

The definition of trolling.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/10/15 at 10:26pm

Bonnie, what I said was "quality and import." I am expressing both my opinion and my sense of the overall impression the show has made. 

I don't really know what best or favorite means. If by favorite you mean the show I want to see over and over again, then no, there are other shows (none of which are on the pedestal I built) that I would rather see repeatedly than any of what I view as the top 5. As it relates to me, best is obviously subjective, but as it relates to a general consensus, it is my objective assessment. I believe the show is exceptionally finely wrought, I think it is inventive, entertaining, challenging and important. There has been a lot written not about how hot the show is, but how seriously important it is on multiple levels.

I have of course not seen the original productions of all of the shows you or I have mentioned, but I don't think that's relevant; I also haven't see the original productions of Hamlet, but I have seen fine productions of every one of these shows. For what it's worth, I did see the original productions of Fiddler (as a child), Rent, ACL. I don't think anyone who has been reading what i have written on this site would ever accuse me of being a fanboi (much less a fangurl), and I think if you survey the editorial writing on Hamilton, you will find lots of people who not only are the polar opposites of "teenage girls standing in line for Wicked tickets" but also not even people who normally pay much attention to musical theatre. 

I don't know if I've responded to what you were asking and I obviously don't know how you will respond to the show. To me it is a high water mark in the theatre, and it comes at a time when many of us had given up hope that there would ever be one after all the crap we have endured over the last few years especially. I assume you will let us know what you think in due course.

[jessejaehoon]

Posted: 7/11/15 at 12:34am

If you really want to see if you can believe the hype, go check it out. Spend the few hours forming your own opinion, because all of us have wildly different tastes in theater. But it's gained so much hype, and you're obviously curious about the show, so just check it out. You may end up loving it or hating it, but at least you'll have formed your own opinion about it through actually watching the thing.

SPOILERS TO FOLLOW (I guess, although we all know what happened).

His "shot" does have many meanings, referring to his shot at commanding an army, creating a treasury, redefining a country, and ultimately his duel between himself and his longtime nemesis Aaron Burr. So yes, it refers to his chance or seizing opportunity, but in the end he literally throws away his shot(Hamilton allegedly raised his gun into the air and fired, whereupon Burr shot him) and it costs him his life.

Updated On: 7/11/15 at 12:34 AM

[gypsy101]

Posted: 7/11/15 at 1:48am

My official guess is that Megan Hilty Wannabe is Mr Smith.