Hamilton Previews — Page 12

Anyone know when the cast album is coming out?

I enjoyed the show. Am I running to friends telling them that they MUST see it? My answer would be no. In some of the songs it was hard to understand a lot what was being said. I'm a 52 year old man with good hearing but some of the fast rapping was unintelligible. And I can tell that a few older people (in early to mid 70's) around me were having the same issue. But overall it was an enjoyable night. Lin-Manuel is great, as well Leslie Odom that plays Aaron Burr. Jonathan Groff (with a very small role) is hysterical. The rest of the cast is good as well. Truth is when I saw Jersey Boys I walked out and called friends and said "you must see this it's great!" I did the same with The Producers (with Lane and Broderick), The Lion King, original cast of Rent (which I originally saw at the NY Theatre Workshop and then at the Nederlander), and well you get the idea. It's puzzling that they already sold $27 million in tickets. Maybe a lot of the scalpers bought them??? Who knows. I'm not bashing the show by any means but like I said - I enjoyed it but did not love it.

Updated On: 7/17/15 at 09:58 AM

I took my father to see it at the Public and he didn't miss a word - dude's in his late sixties and his hearing is failing. He also loved it.

"Seating question -- I'm in Orch Row T, extreme side (last 2 seats on side). Nervous about the view - both bc of the overhang and the side... Anyone sat in similar seats yet? Thanks! "

I was on the side in Row V, but more towards the center of the section. The overhang didn't bother me. You might have a little issue with the sides but most of the action is towards the center so you won't miss much.

Anyone try the lotto tonight? I am more excited to see the nightly lotto videos than anything else!

Lotto tonight was bedlam, made worse by the crowd control barriers already up along the curb on both sides of the street (Obama is seeing the Sat matinee). I'd say 400 people tonight vying for 21 front row seats ($10) and 6 standing room slots ($40). At 5:55 LMM and two other cast members came out the stage door and entertained us with a rap duel between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton over the national bank and whiskey taxes. Then 6pm and we lost the lotto.

As far as the cast recording, it's available for pre-order at the theater and the merch guys are saying it will likely ship in October as Lin is still making changes and they will not begin recording it until the show is frozen.

I saw the show last night and happily, it's just as good as it was at The Public.

I'd guess that 10-15% of the show has changed. Lines in some songs are different here and there, with One Last Time being the biggest change. However, the change in the focus of the song works. I enjoyed it more as One Last Ride, but this is still good.

There's nothing in the show I can say is bad. The cast is out there giving 100% and leaving nothing out. Staging, lighting, and choreography are very similar to what was at The Public, but just bigger. Think of the original, stretch it to fit the Rodgers, and you have it.

My appreciation of Daveed Diggs continues to grow. His Lafayette and Jefferson are just perfect, especially Jefferson. As others have said, "What'd I Miss?" is one of the biggest highlights of the show. Jefferson is funny without being an outright clown. As other shows open this season, there's no doubt we'll see excellent performances, but his is one that I think will be recognized 9, 10 months from now.

Renee Elise Goldsberry. Just wow. What a voice. She makes you care about Angelica Schuyler and the relationship she had with Hamilton. I've spent more then a minute or two of my time just thinking about what the relationship between the two must have been like in real life and a long series of what ifs.

The show feels very balanced to me and I think that helps it be so successful.

I saw Hamilton this weekend after seeing it four times at The Public. I was really nervous the show would lose a lot in the transfer. But it has not. It is somehow better. ClydeBarrow, I agree about "One Last Time". I prefer the stair reveal to King George. However, I think this staging is more dramatic for George Washington and Chris Jackson is excellent.

The entire cast has improved. Leslie Odom gets better and better with that stunning showstopper. There are so many high points. Daveed, Renee, Phillipa. For me, it's perfect casting. Having seen Brian as the King, I worried I would not like Jonathan but his take on King George is still very enjoyable.

Not sure I've ever seen a show with ensemble work this thrilling. They're working their butts off and play a significant part in the storytelling. The movement is mesmerizing. I have missed a lyric or facial expression because I'm watching the dancers. In addition to Lin's outstanding book, music, lyrics.. Andy Blakenbuehler's choreography is amazing.

I listened to what people were saying during intermission and after the show and I still heard young and older theatergoers say things like "unbelievable" and "I've never seen anything like it".

I'll see it again, hopefully with Javier.

I also saw the show last evening after seeing it twice at the Public, and loved it again, especially Act. 1. I have a few minor quibbles about some of the changes.

But first: seating. I was very happy with our seats in Row Q of the side orchestra. I was surprised that the stage seemed to be very close. The overhang did not block our view at all, at least in Row Q. I was in the third seat from the far side and had a wonderful view. The two people seated next to me also said they could see fine (they were on the end). Row Q is in the area that has the stadium seating, so we had no difficulty seeing over the heads of the people in front of us. I highly recommend these seats if you can't spend any more than regular price. But yes, leg room is lacking, definitely.

One change that I did like: the "rewind" that takes place before "Satified." It makes it very clear that we are going back in time as Angelica relives the scene when she and Hamilton met, including introducing Eliza to him, and the subsequent marriage. I didn't think it was unclear before, but evidetly someone did.

But some of the changes didn't serve the show. In My Shot, which is one of my favorite songs, I noticed a lyric change that disappointed me. Toward the end, Anthony Ramos sings something like, "Don't this s--t make my people wanna rise up." He sings it a couple of times, getting louder each time, until it's a powerful call to arms. Could this have been the sample of a rap song that the production didn't want to pay for? If so, I can understand it, but other than that it's a bad change. The new lyrics are something like, "When you're living on your knees, rise up." And something about "your sister." I would love to see the original lyrics restored, as that's one of my favorite passages in the whole play.

Something else I missed: The Whiskey Rebellion. Yes, it sounds dumb, but I loved that scene. It echoes Right-Hand Man, with "Here comes the President, rise up!" "You are outgunned, outmanned…" And I like how the two men, so recently rebels themselves, now have to put down a rebellion. Ironic, isn't it? And the scene shows the growing pains of the fragile young nation. Also, as an aside, Hamilton admonishes the rebels, "Pay your taxes!" and it made me crack up. So I missed this scene, and the number that replaced it didn't seem much shorter, so I don't think any time was saved.

As others have commented, I also missed the staging with George Washington up on the staircase. At the Public, it was very moving and inspiring to see him up there. Having Christopher Jackson just in the front center of the stage didn't do it for me.

And although Groff is wonderful as the king and very funny (and a crowd favorite!) I did prefer Brian d'Arcy James's take on the role. His voice is so magnificent and he uses it so well. I thought he brought some more gravitas to the role, which comically played up the song and the silliness of the nonsense lyrics ("Dah dah dah dah dah...")

But the show is in wonderful shape on the larger stage, with the amped-up choreography. Outstanding performances all around. Best wishes to Lin-Manuel for a wonderful opening and a long and successful run!

Updated On: 7/19/15 at 11:05 AM

macnyc, thanks for the reminder about the "Rise up" lyrics. You're right, it was a little more powerful at The Public and Anthony Ramos delivered. Also forgot about the "pay your taxes!" line which was amusing. I wondered about the overhang. Good to know it's not obstructing the view.