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BrumHour saw Hamilton at the invite of Birmingham Hippodrome.
By Dave Massey x.com/BrumHour
This production contains some strong language.
Review: Hamilton at Birmingham Hippodrome
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Stunning!
Directed by Thomas Kail, book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Set in the late 1700s and early 1800s, Alexander Hamilton is the focus of this hugely popular Broadway musical that has arrived at Birmingham Hippodrome across July and August 2024.
Shaq Taylor plays the titular Hamilton, commanding the stage from the second he appears on it, whilst Charles Simmons plays George Washington, the First President of the United States. The story is spread over the years that follow covering war, Politics and love, loyalty and infidelity.
There is no dialogue, every word is sung or spoken with a poetic beat, even breaking out into a full rap battle at one point. It shows that Hamilton is ready to embrace storytelling to a new generation without fear of what has come before.
Many will try and compare it to other musicals or productions they’ve seen before, just to give it context, but it stands up there with the very best of Broadway and the West End on its own two feet.
The mostly static set, has a mezzanine wrap-around three-sided balcony with three sets of stairs. The stage floor is two huge circular rotating platforms one within the other, this is used to great effect throughout, helping give the impression of entourages walking/marching and parading. Creative lighting is used to mark out spaces on the stage floor.
The costumes are stunning and fully evoke the gentry influence of the English and French of the late 1700s, giving the appearance of a ballet company at several points with the very ensemble choreography taking centre stage. (I saw that Swan Lake nod!)
Vocals and music styles vary throughout with Aisha Jawando as Angelica Schuyler providing the most delicate vocals of the show. Then Maya Britto shines as Eliza Hamilton wife of Alexander exploring her legacy and all her work after her connection to the story at hand. Daniel Boys almost scene steals every single scene he is in as chaotic King George, providing a lighter humour in what is a seriously entertaining produxtion.
This is a surprisingly educational production which runs two hours and fifty minutes including interval, it is a show that the audience loved with a huge standing ovation and a great atmosphere throughout. There were moments of total silence in the audience, unheard of in most shows. Just like the story it tells it, carves its own place in theatre history.
A stunning musical, Hamilton is at Birmingham Hippodrome until 31st August 2024 with limited tickets available. Book tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/hamilton.
