By Sheila Barth
BOX INFO: The national touring company of author-composer-lyricist Manuel Lin Miranda’s Broadway two-act, 2 1/2 hour musical through Nov. 18 at the Boston Opera House, 539 Washington St., Boston: Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 2,8 p.m.; Sunday, 1, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m.Ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster, 800-982-2787, social media channels. Tickets, $84.50-$199.50, premium seats, if available, $569.50. HAM4HAM lottery, visit https://boston.broadway.com/HamiltonInformation/
While attending the second night of the national touring company of Manuel Lin Miranda’s Broadway two-act, 2 1/2 hour, trailblazing 11 Tony Award-winning, musical, “Hamilton,” at Boston’s Opera House, I heard several people remark excitedly, “I’ve waited two years to see this play!”
They weren’t disappointed. In fact, the over 2,500 who packed the Boston Opera House that night cheered and applauded every number enthusiastically. It didn’t matter that understudy Edred Utomi replaced star Austin Scott as Hamilton, or Paul Oakley Stovall and Bryson Bruce switched roles portraying George Washington and dual role Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson. Every performer was fantastic. Dressed in Paul Tazewell’s resplendent, historically accurate costumes, the cast was powerful. Their voices soared to the rafters, and every song-and-dance, every ensemble number, was spectacular.
Rhythmic, upbeat, and memorable, Miranda fuses together hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway show style tunes. When Hamilton sings and reprises the song “My Shot” throughout the play, it resonates. Music Conductor Andre Cerullo on keyboards and marvelous musicians ensures every song resonates, in fact. This production also boasts the talents of the multi-Tony award winning staff: director Thomas Kail, choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler, with musical orchestration and supervision by Alex Lacamoire. They’re the same team that helped win the Tony Award for Best Musical for Miranda’s play “In the Heights” In 2008.
The story is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Hamilton. Although Miranda takes some poetic license, he highlights historical events leading up to the American Revolution, the revolution itself, the new country’s politics and foreign liaisons, and the bitter relationship between Hamilton and Aaron Burr. Founding father Alexander Hamilton had emigrated from the British West Indies and became George Washington’s go-to person during the American Revolution. He also was the nation’s first treasury secretary, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. Hamilton also promoted the US Constitution, founded the nation’s financial system, the Federalist Party, and the New York Post newspaper. Although Miranda paints Hamilton as an “orphan bastard,” he actually was the son of trader James Hamilton and Rachel Fawcett Lavine. However, his father abandoned him and his mother died, so Hamilton became a ward of his relatives.
In life and the play, Hamilton staunchly defended the Boston Tea Party, bravely fought and led a group in the Battle of Trenton, where he caught Washington’s eye and, because of his fluency speaking French, he became a liaison between Washington and the French generals and admirals.
Miranda doesn’t ignore Hamilton’s scandalous affair in 1791, though, that made him prey to blackmail and scandal.
Hamilton also swayed the vote for president away from Burr, to Jefferson, angering Burr further. Burr demanded satisfaction after Hamilton made comments about him at a dinner party. The duel took place in Weehawken, N, J, the same place Hamilton’s son was killed in a duel three years earlier. “Hamilton” is like a fine piece of art. Once you’ve seen and experienced it, you want to see it again, because there’s so much to appreciate and enjoy. Besides, it’s an excellent and memorable way for kids to learn American history. Tickets are selling out quickly, so don’t miss out getting yours.
