I think it’s fair to say that Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hip hop musical about Founding Father Alexander Hamilton has been one of the most anticipated shows to arrive in Wales for years, and I can tell you now, everyone at the Wales Millennium Centre last night thought HAMILTON was well worth the wait.
One of the stand out songs (and there are many) is ‘The Room Where it Happens’ and at the risk of sounding cheesy the Donald Gordon Theatre is the room, and what happened on stage last night was breathtakingly awesome.
Let’s kick our review off with some very emotional reaction from the audience. We also spoke to cast members BILLY NEVERS (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), LEVI TYRELL JOHNSON (Ensemble), he also happens to be from Wales, and we got our royal seal of approval from King George himself, DANIEL BOYS……
Whatever you’ve heard about this show is true, it’s as good, if not better than all the hype and the five star reviews that precede it. It’s a rock concert, history lesson, a non-stop fusion of R&B, Hip-Hop, Dance and raw emotion, most of all however, it’s a story of friendships, love and deceit.
I came to the theatre last night with a little bit of Hamilton history having seen the show on its very first ever UK performance, with Lin Manuel and Cameron Mackintosh sat close by. I saw it again on its first birthday and was in the Royal Albert Hall when the show and cast won countless Olivier Awards. What I witnessed last night in our home capital was something which surpassed all of those great moments. The production felt bigger, more dramatic and towers head and shoulders above anything you’ll see on the WMC stage.
In my head I thought I would be writing a short review, believing everyone knows everything about Hamilton but actually we met so many who knew nothing about the show or story. People who came along to the theatre with no preconceived ideas never having heard the ‘hype’.
So, how do you even begin to describe HAMILTON, both the show and the man himself? Alexander, played superbly by SHAQ TAYLOR, was a 19-year-old orphan, arriving in New York City, with no friends or money but a mind and political talent to rocket him to incredible heights.
As the opening line says, ‘How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence, impoverished, in squalor, grow up to be a hero and a scholar?‘
If you listen to Lin Manuel talking about that opening line you’ll realise how important it is, and judging by the reaction from last nights audience, many fans were clearly waiting for that very moment.
The show then takes you on the journey through Hamilton’s life, told in part by Aaron Burr (SAM OLADEINDE) but also his wife Eliza (MAYA BRITTO). As much as this is Alexander’s story it’s also a testament to the woman who stood by his side through the good, and many not so good times. For me, the Eliza/Alexander story is key to the success of the show and is the element which strikes such an emotional chord with the audience.
Watch our interview with Maya HERE.
If you’ve listened to the soundtrack or even watched the show on Disney+ you’ll be familiar with the pace, puns and incredible rhymes, but watching live really elevates the experience to another level. With a runtime of almost three hours, including a very strict 15 minute break, you begin to realise just how spectacular the songs, staging and entire company are.
The choreography is beyond spectacular and when you combine this with some of the most breathless, intricate lyrics, you begin to realise how much work goes into making a show like this happen.
The cast move effortlessly from one song to another, while never missing a beat. There are some real stand out moments, but with a soundtrack of 46 songs it’s nigh on impossible to pick a favourite. If I was pushed it would have to be the ‘rewind’ moment during ‘Satisfied‘. Effectively the song plays out, it then spins back to give us the story from Angelica’s (AISHA JAWANDO) perspective, revealing the hidden intimacy between her and Alexander.
It goes without saying that King George (DANIEL BOYS) is a highlight of the show, his madness is played out brilliantly in ‘You’ll Be Back‘, without doubt one of the catchiest musical numbers you’ll hear anywhere.
Every song develops the story further, introducing and revealing elements of the main characters along the way, but for pretty much everyone sat around me it was in act two when Alexander and Eliza are alone outside, following a key moment in the storyline. By the end of ‘It’s Quiet Uptown‘ there was barely a dry eye in the house.
The entire company are first class and I would direct you to the Hamilton site to read about each of them – HERE.
Gabriela Benedetti is Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds, and KM Drew Boateng is Hercules Mulligan/James Madison. DeAngelo Jones is performing as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton, with Billy Nevers as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson and Charles Simmons as George Washington.
They are joined by Simeon Beckett, Taylor Bradshaw, Cletus Chan, Kyerron Dixon-Bassey, Kyeirah D’marni, Yesy Garcia, Jonathan Hermosa-Lopez, Levi Tyrell Johnson, Honey Joseph, Akmed Junior Khemalai, Richard Logun, Buna McCreery-Njie, Mia Mullarkey, Antoine Murray-Straughan, Kiran Patel, Izzy Read, Alice Readie, Harry Robinson, Phoebe Samuel-Gray, Jasmine Jia Yung Shen, Samantha Shuma, Michael James Stewart, Rhys West, Jack Whitehead and Sian Yeo.
The band are incredible, the set will take your breath away and, as was mentioned in our video, the lighting is spectacular. All in all I think it’s fair to say that Hamilton is as perfect a production as you’re likely to see.
I’ve talked a lot about the hype behind this musical phenomenon and maybe you’re still wondering if it’s worth going to see. Just do it, NOW. It’s not often we get a show like this in South Wales and who knows when Hamilton will be back out on the road. This was my third time seeing the show and I felt blessed to watch it right here, at home.
The power of the show is its ability to make the past feel incredibly relevant today. We see the legacy of Alexander Hamilton performed by some of the best talent around. What we also witness is the legacy of Lin Manuel Miranda who has created a musical not only of our time but for generations to come.
So, now is the time to get yourself in the Cardiff room where it happens, namely the Wales Millennium Centre. HAMILTON is here till the 25th January 2025. Tickets start at just £25 and there are lots of performances with 2:30pm matinees on each Thursday and Saturday and evening performances at 7:30pm. There’s also a 1pm performance on both Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.
Best thing is to head over to their site and check out all the details – HERE.
Also be aware that Hamilton contains some strong language, death, and occasional loud gun shots. The show is appropriate for ages 10+. Everyone, regardless of age, must have their own ticket to enter the theatre.
Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by and sat next to a ticket holder who is at least 18 years old. Children under the age of 3 will not be admitted.
One point, take some tissues along as you will be crying in Act 2.
Finally, here’s something to enjoy before you go to the show….
SOUTH WALES LIFE HAMILTON FACT FILE
- It took ages to create – When Lin-Manuel set out to create Hamilton, he’d already won a Tony for In the Heights, a hip-hop- and salsa-infused show set in Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighbourhood. It took Miranda a full year to write the first song, and another year to write the second.
- It sticks pretty close to the facts – Lin-Manuel of course used some creative license with the history, but for the most part he wanted this to be an accurate telling of the story. He read Hamilton’s writings (and there are many), and visited the New York spots where history happened — including Fraunces Tavern on Pearl Street where George Washington gave a farewell address to his officers.
- The show caused a bit of a political stir – Back in 2016, then Vice President-elect Mike Pence wnet to see Hamilton, which offers a strongly pro-immigration message, and was booed by members of the audience. After the final curtain call, actor Brandon Dixon, who plays Aaron Burr, made a statement from the stage.
- There’s a lot of words in this musical – Using hip-hop meant Hamilton could break away from the norm and pack in those words. Oklahoma! averages around 59 words per minute, with a total word count of 4,303; Phantom of the Opera had 77 words per minute, and a total of 4,709 words. But Hamilton beats them all – the show packs in 144 words per minute, and its total word count is 20,520.
- The show was partly inspired by Les Misérables – Lin-Manuel has always loved musicals, and performed in quite a few at school. One of his all-time favourites is Les Misérables, and that classic inspired him with Hamilton.
