The Thread for HAMILTON Fans/Obsessives [SPOILERS AHEAD] — Page 59

Haven't been able to catch up with this and the other threads, since I was avoiding spoilers, but I FINALLY saw Hamilton tonight and had a fantastic time. I purposely didn't finish the album, so at least much of the 2nd act was totally fresh for me. Really bowled over by the staging (and incredible lighting). Smart, inspired movement from beginning to end and was always in service of the fully fleshed out characters and relationships that the creatives were able to mold. 

The men are very, very strong from beginning to end. We saw Michael Luwoye as Hamilton and I thought he was incredibly thoughtful and charismatic. I thought Dixon's portrayal of Burr was a bit broad, but damn what a great role and he sounded fantastic. My favorite, by far, was Jackson as Washington who is really doing wonders with that role. Wonderfully soulful, I couldn't take my eyes off him. He really ran away with the show. 

The real reason I'm writing though is how disappointed I was in the women. Their (brilliant) material carries so much of the emotional weight and seeing it performed in such a lackluster fashion really kept me from being able to get emotionally involved in the show. Has anyone else that has seen it lately had the same experience?

Lexi Lawson was just ok as Eliza. She has a nice, flexible voice, but lacking in power and nuance. She was at her best during Burn, but otherwise her acting really didn't move me. I saw understudy Elizabeth Judd as Angelica and ...woof. Maybe she's sick? Her singing was incredibly weak and acting was basically non-existent. I mean how do you not make the most of something as RICH as Satisfied?! 

Believe me, it's really rare that I'm this harsh, but I was just kind of shocked. It's Hamilton on Broadway and there are so many actresses that would NAIL these roles. I don't know, it was weird. 

Anyway, that couldn't take away from how exciting, innovative, and well-crafted this score and show is. And to see so many young people, at a matinee, truly excited about the theater. That will forever be worth it for me. 

Was also at the matinee yesterday.

 

I agree the women were weak, which was disappointing.I found myself just sitting there waiting for their songs to end. They didn't elevate the show at all like they should. However, the men were each incredible and I found myself focusing on them more. Pippa and Renee milked every moment of their characters and took you on their journey. Yesterday, Eliza and Renee seemed merely supporting and ancillary. I ended up focusing my attention elsewhere and having a different experience. Yet another reason I love returning to Hamilton again and again, It didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the show, but I definitely found myself a little bored in parts (like Helpless and Satisfied) where I am normally in the zone. 

Michael Luwoye is hands down the best Hamilton I've seen, and I enjoyed Lin and think Javi is fantastic. But Michael brought a little extra something to the role. I was with him from the start. 

I saw Brandon Victor Dixon in his first week and had a hard time believing him but felt he's grown a lot since and I truly enjoyed his performance. It's very different from the other Burrs I have seen but equally heartbreaking and effective. I like how he almost has two personalities. In front of others, he tries hard to be professional, put together, and proper. But as the narrator he shows us how he really feels. He has more attitude and sass, you can tell Hamilton gets under his skin. His turn in Room Where It Happens is thrilling.

Chris Jackson. I'm so glad I got to see him (forgive the pun) one last time. Somehow he;s managed to never plateau. His performance is more nuanced each time, and he is such a standout. If the Tonys were held today instead of back in June, he may have taken it from Daveed. And yes, he did get a partial standing O after One Last Time.

After missing Oak the last two times and being disappointed and entirely underwhelmed by his understudy, I forgot how amazing and effective he is as Mulligan and Madison. 

I'm seeing this again in the next couple of weeks so I spent a bit of yesterday night and now this morning reading on the observations of those who have had the opportunity to see some of the newest cast members and replacements. 

I am a little taken aback by some of the things I've read (e.g.: the women coming off as weak, Stewart's "Jefferson" coming off like a boob, etc.) 

Hopefully this will not be the case when I finally get to see it again.

 

I found Lawson's performance far less powerful than Soo's, but still wasn't nearly as offended by her performance as others on here have been. I actually thought she was quite good; she had me bawling in the finale as Soo did (Alysha Deslorieux's Eliza, however, did not).

Gonzalez's Angelica was the real disappointment for me.

Updated On: 11/7/16 at 11:26 AM

I'd also like to mention just how politically poignant the entire show felt yesterday, just two days shy of the election. I obviously made connections since the show started, just as the primaries were beginning. But every line struck a chord with me after the almost two yearlong election season. It's all too real and frightening how we are dealing with the same issues our Founding Fathers worked on 240 years ago.

I had this pit in my stomach the whole show that made for a very interesting theatrical experience.

Honestly I've always been scared about post-Phillipa Elizas and it's why I always thought her performance was underappreciated. Eliza has so little to work with, she doesn't have a standout moment like Angelica and 'Satisfied', Burr with 'Room Where It Happens', Hamilton with 'My Shot' etc. I mean she has some great songs like 'Helpless' and 'Burn' but they're not written to be showstoppers. But Phillipa brought so many nuances and subtleties to the role, even to the extent that her posture developed over the course of the evening, you could feel her aging, despite no physical signs. She really squeezed out everything she could from what was on paper, whereas I worry that perhaps the criticism of Lexi is coming from her just playing it in a more obvious way - sweet, loving - and not much else. I may be completely off base but I do think Eliza needs an actress who can provide a subtle yet affecting performance, because she is the emotional core of the show.

I haven't seen this cast so I probably shouldn't comment, but I'm wishing that the Chicago women were here in NYC and vice versa.

luvcaroline said: "macnyc said: "I haven't seen this cast so I probably shouldn't comment, but I'm wishing that the Chicago women were here in NYC and vice versa.
"

^^^^

This

The women in Chicago were absolutely stellar. "

Any chance that they'd move some of the cast over from Chicago to New York?

Also, visually they all looked fairly similar in coloring to me, which blurred some of the individuality that was so obvious when Renee and Phillipa were in the cast.  But just this week I've been reflecting on some of Viola Davis' comments about the lack of roles for darker skinned African-American women, so that may be why I noticed it.

 

This bugged me too. I thought it really detracted from the impact of the diversity of the cast to have all the sisters look like sisters. 

Castle2 said: "https://twitter.com/HamiltonMusical/status/795838628144566272

A new block of tickets will go on sale Wednesday, November 9th, at 10AM for performances through 11/5/17.


WHAT.  I just told myself that I need to stop spending so much money and yet I'll probably quite a bit tomorrow. Also, it could just be me but I think Corbin Bleu would make a pretty good Lafayette/Jefferson. Just throwing that out there.

 

Did anyone here see Andrew Chappelle as King George III tonight?  I'm curious to hear impressions.

Also curious what Lexi does instead of the gasp, I doubt I'll get a chance to see her.

Was anyone at Chris Jackson's last show?  Would love to read any reactions.  He will be greatly missed.  What a performance!