Alex M said: "Has anyone seen James Monroe Iglehart or Brian d'Arcy James in the show? If so how were they?
I saw the show last night, my first time seeing the new cast. I was so thrilled when I heard the news that d'Arcy James returned to the role, and he didn't disappoint. He was great, very very funny. The crowd went wild for him. He wasn't as menacing as Groff in the role, but I felt James brought more of an addled maturity to it. I had seen him at the Public, and it seemed to me (from what I can remember) that his performance hasn't changed all that much.
I also liked James Monroe Iglehart, and I loved that they didn't cast a Daveed clone. Iglehart is an interesting choice. That said, I did miss Daveed! I think it would be hard for anyone to top that performance, as other posters have commented. He brought such verve to the role. Iglehart's rapping didn't compare favorably either. It was especially noticeable during Guns and Ships, not a surprise, as that's one of the more difficult numbers.
But I did enjoy Iglehart. He was very funny, and he can move! I loved that he jumped off the table. I thought that the costuming choice of a do rag with his fancy duds (during the wedding scene) was a bit distracting, but that's a minor point. His What'd I Miss? was as funny as you'd expect.
I went in expecting to see Brandon Victor Dixon as Burr, so I guess I'm a bit behind the times! But I thought Nik Walker was excellent, as was Bryan Terrell Clark as George Washington. I did miss Renee Elise Goldsberry a lot. Like Daveed's, her performance is tough to equal. It was my first time seeing Javier, and he was excellent. What a voice! He managed to sound a bit like Lin Manuel once in a while though!
Overall, I think the show is in great shape. I didn't feel the lack of energy that other posters have noted. I thought the pacing was great, and once I got over the fact that the original cast is gone and not coming back, I had a great time. I still feel very fortunate to have seen the original cast, but for those experiencing the show for the first time, you have a treat in store!
Updated On: 5/7/17 at 09:52 PM