My second, and presumably last, visit to Hamilton's tour stop in San Francisco, was last night.
I was in the much-feared "limited view" seats last night (Row H, Seat 14, on the far right). There were two seats to my right, which are labeled "obstructed view." For those considering those seats, they do have some problems, as much for the limited view of the back of the right side of the stage as for the expected problems seeing actors on the far right. (I actually could see actors on the second level some of the time.) My wife and daughter, sitting closer to the aisle, were better off. Basically, closer to the center is definitely better, at least when you're close to the elevated stage. But you don't really miss anything, especially if you've seen the show before, and there are definite advantages to Row H - as it was the closest I've been to the actors at Hamilton (my third time overall, including seeing the OBC, sans Lin and Oak, last year).
Most of the young cast has eased into their roles nicely, and I got a chance to see Ryan Alvarado - who basically served as my chance to see a poor man's Lin-Manuel Miranda. He has shaky moments, as his voice is weak in ballads ["Dear Theodosia," "Hurricane" - two songs where Javier Munoz and Michael Luwoye, my previous Hamiltons, shine, as well as "It's Quiet Uptown"] but I really enjoyed him overall. It's got to be quite something for such a young, inexperienced guy on his first tour to be playing opposite Joshua Henry. He plays the role with confidence and handles the acting and rapping well.
Nothing much to say about Henry, who at this point I can only compare to his March performance and to Leslie Odom Jr. My wife, who didn't see him in March, marveled at his acting work and the simmering resentment he aims at Hamilton until it bubbles over. His performances of "Your Obedient Servant" and "The World Was Wide Enough" were fantastic, especially at close range.
The show was in previews when I saw it last, and there were some noticeable improvements. The most striking was by Jondan Donica. I have been more critical of Donica's performance, especially as Jefferson, than anyone on this thread. But he was a lot better, displaying more of Jefferson's shrewdness than before, even if he still crumples a bit too easily during the rap battles. But Donica's Jefferson no longer seems like an unworthy rival of Hamilton and Burr, and the actor has developed enough confidence to put some of his own flair in the role. Donica always had charm as Lafayette, and if he can't quite keep up with "Guns and Ships" while holding a French accent, well, that's because Daveed Diggs is unique. Donica has let his hair grow out. Maybe that helps. But he tops my "Most Improved" list.
I liked Emmy Raver-Lampmann a lot in March, and she's only gotten better. Back then, I felt like she was holding back a little in "Satisfied" until the end. No longer. She rips her way through the song and still ends with an anguished flourish. It's remarkable to watch up close.
Solea Pfeiffer owns Act 2 as Eliza, especially with "Burn," which she stops right before the last line for an extra beat or two in the best performance I have ever seen of the song. She acts the part very well. My only qualm remains "Helpless," although her vocals are stronger than they were in March.
I didn't see Mathenee Treco in March, because he was out, but he's great fun as Mulligan and does fine as Madison.
I have defended Amber Iman before. She's a lot of comic fun as Peggy, and I thought her performance as Maria Reynolds in "Say No to This" was a lot more effective than in March - and I didn't dislike it then. She's not Jasmine Cephas Jones, and she has a lower voice. But Iman is fine.
Isaiah Johnson was a standout vocally as George Washington in March, but he's only gained in confidence since then. His acting was a bit tentative then, but he is a lot more comfortable now and demonstrates the command that Washington should have. And his soulful "One Last Time," always one of my favorite songs in the show, is wonderful.
It's funny to me how so many people on various threads here carp that Hamilton won't "age well." I have no idea how audiences in 2040 will respond to the show, but it's a well-constructed musical with plenty of spectacle and substance. "Yorktown" got a huge response from the audience last night because, well, it's pretty awesome. "The Room Where it Happens" is a masterfully-constructed song that sets up the rest of the show (I really noticed the banjo, being so close to the stage). Lin-Manuel Miranda, with plenty of help from his collaborators, put together a terrific (and in many ways traditional) show that doesn't need the original cast to work.
Updated On: 5/28/17 at 06:21 PM