Review of Hamilton

Since grade school, I have been a broadway musical fanatic. Having the privilege to see a wide range of musicals, from comedic shows like School of Rock to tragedies such as Les Miserables, these incredible productions never fail to move me emotionally. Although I hopped on the Hamilton bandwagon late, I am still so happy I was able to see it. It was definitely an experience I will never forget.

 

Hamilton was unlike any other broadway musical I have seen. Compared to the other musicals, Hamilton definitely required more concentration to figure out the storyline, since most of it was in rap. Although it was very fast-paced which made the musical more of a challenge to follow, it was more exciting for the audience. 

The rap style of music is definitely what makes this show so unique and popular, since it is very famous in the 21st century. The play also used many other genres such as blues, jazz, R&B and hip-hop. Another difference between Hamilton and other musicals was the constant rapping and singing throughout the entire show. In most broadway musicals, there will be singing, then a break with monologue by talking and then more singing. The entire show of Hamilton had barely any talking. Although it was sometimes overwhelming, the show was so powerful that no one seemed to care.

 

Some of the assets to the show that made it so powerful were the dancers. This can also be considered a difference compared to the other broadway shows. The dancers always consumed the stage. They were used for interpretation of scenes with minimal props to fill the stage and give more action.

Hamilton, just like the other broadway shows, did a great job of evoking people’s emotions. The production started out intense, showing Hamilton as a young, poor man who was trying to make his way to the top. As he got more and more powerful, it ultimately led to his downfall, which took the play into a dark, depressing turn.

This very moving performance was not only fun to watch, but also a great history lesson about Alexander Hamilton, who was George Washington’s right hand man, the United State’s first Treasury Secretary and the man who wrote 51 of the essays in the Federalist Papers. After watching this spectacular broadway musical, be prepared to not only be moved with emotions, but also to ace your next history test!

 

• broadway
• hamilton
• music
• musical
• review
• singing