Thanks, I really enjoyed watching this.
Does a musical's claim to masterpiece status necessarily rest on whether or not its score breaks new ground?
Can a score be masterly even if it arguably isn't innovative? (many, for instance, might persuasuviely argue that South Pacific's score is a masterpiece, but to what extent is it stylistically unlike anything anyone ever heard before?)
Also, Chernow, while recognizing that Hamilton and Laurens may have been lovers, persuasively argues that similarly demonstrative expressions of affection between men in the 18th century were common and not conclusive of a sexual relationship. What strikes 21st century ears as "gay" certainly might have had different meaning in the 18th century.
From my own personal reading of the letters, one possibility is that Hamilton may have understood that Laurens had a strong erotic attachment to him, which may have flattered even honored Hamilton, but which he didn't return in kind notwithstanding the mutual boycrush. Just one possibility.
But I agree with Chernow we will never know.
The inconclusiveness of their physical relationship raises several interesting questions for a librettist. How to tackle dramatizing their affection given that we don't know whether or not they were lovers? Would it have been preferable to present the ardor between these two men without telling us whether they had sex? Would some consider that a cop out? Would it have been preferable to go all the way with it? Or would that have been considered by some objectionably speculative and sensationalistic? Given this quandary (lose-lose proposition?), might it not be better to simply leave it alone, particularly considering how many other parts of the story need to be told?
Which brings us to the King.
I respectfully disagree that his presence or his numbers are superfluous. Not only are George's song and reprises great pop, they entertainingly underscore exactly why the American revolution turned the world upside down, sparklingly contrast the old and new world orders, and dramatically highlight old and new world anxieties.
Updated On: 5/12/17 at 10:43 AM
