Hamilton: the Stage Version

by Paula Gail Benson

Before I began this post, I decided to look back to see how many times Hamilton had been discussed on Writers Who Kill. I found I had already written two posts on the subject: the first from August 16, 2016 about The Phenomenon of Broadway’s Hamilton and the second on July 21, 2020 about Historical Musicals.

What more could I really say?

That I got to see Hamilton up close and in person with live performers and an orchestra!

And, because I got to see it up close and in person, I was able to judge for myself if what so many friends, who had seen it numerous times, told me was true.

Was it as captivating as I’d heard?

Did the action on stage distract rather than focus attention where it needed to be?

How would the performers compare with the original cast I saw in the video version on the Disney channel?

Hamilton Set

On March 10, I attended the show on the last night it played in Columbia. I really hadn’t expected to go. I figured it would be difficult to get good tickets (I like to sit down front, close enough so the actors can spit on you if they are enunciating well). But, when I saw the length of time the show was scheduled to be in Columbia, I decided to give it a try. I got a block of three  tickets, located just where I like to be. I gave one to a friend who had been in the original Broadway production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. I offered the other to my law clerk, who said she had learned to love musicals by listening to Hamilton. A perfect combination of true theater enthusiasts! We all were excited at the prospect of seeing the show live and in person.

We arrived early to find a parking spot and be certain that we could make our way through security. They checked everyone’s bag and scanned each person with a wand.

After passing the security check, we sat in the lobby to watch the crowd until the house opened. The director of the Center came over to greet us. We asked her how the experience had been with Hamilton. She indicated all had gone smoothly, but she encountered a unique aspect. The company relied on the services of a bed bug detecting black labrador retriever. I suppose with such a large group traveling, it was a wise safety measure.

In the lobby, we sat next to the merchandise vendors. Of course, we had to check out the stock. We each got a pair of Hamilton socks that featured various poses from different characters.

The performances did indeed draw us in and kept us cheering throughout. It was absolutely wonderful to hear the overwhelming applause offered for individuals and the cast as a whole.

Yes, it kept us captivated for nearly three hours.

No, the choreography did not distract, but kept us focused. (Or, maybe we just knew it so well from all the times we had played the original cast recording.)

The excellent performers captured the moments we expected but made the characters their own.

We heard that the young man playing King George had just begun that role and his father had flown in to see two performances. The actor was outstanding and I know his father must have been proud.

 Have you seen the stage version of Hamilton? I hope you’ll have the chance to experience it.