What's Hamilton the musical all about and should you be watching it?
We watched Hamilton at Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands and here's what we think.
Hamilton comes with a string of accolades from industry insiders, as well as musical lovers. Now showing at Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands, and presented by Base Asia Entertainment, it is a Broadway musical that has been long-awaited in this part of the world since its debut in August 2015. I first heard about the musical from a colleague many years ago. She made sure she secured tickets to Hamilton, even before getting her air tickets to New York. Watching the musical was top on her to-do list in New York City. This left a deep impression on me, recalling my excitement when I watched Miss Saigon during my grad trip to London. It was, for lack of a better word, an amazing experience, immersing in the show in one of the most beautiful and grandest theatres in the world. Akin to Miss Saigon, I was eager to catch Hamilton to see if it lived up to its reputation.
A winner of the Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Hamilton leaves a profound cultural impact and is a trailblazer when it comes to providing an alternative peek into history, especially in terms of its diverse cast, race representation while incorporating modern nuances into the historical drama.
But I was more concerned about how the audience in this part of the globe is able to appreciate it or even understand its deeper meanings. I was keen to find out.
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Book your tickets via Klook, Marina Bay Sands or Sistic.
What Hamilton’s about
For some shows, I prefer to go in with zero knowledge and see if it surprises me. However, for a musical drama based on a true-life person in history, I would suggest to familiarise oneself with the background story before one heads to the theatre.
Those who are unfamiliar with American history may ask ‘Who is Alexander Hamilton and why should we care about his life?’ TL;DR: Hamilton, the musical is based on the true story of Alexander Hamilton, one of America's Founding Fathers and aide-de-camp to George Washington. During the Revolutionary War, Hamilton, as the first Secretary of the Treasury, played an extremely crucial role in co-writing the Federalist Papers and establishing the nation's financial system. No small feat for an immigrant from the Caribbean, I would say.
However, as with all humans, what makes Hamilton an interesting watch is how this great man's character comes with flaws. As with many great men in history, his historic accomplishments and brave feats during the war are marred by dalliances and indiscretions. Hamilton is no different.
Lin-Manuel Miranda conceptualised the story, music, and lyrics based on his inspiration from Ron Chernow's acclaimed biography of Alexander Hamilton. He saw parallelism in themes such as race, immigration, and struggles in the 18th century versus our modern world and made it accessible to the general public via a score that blends rap, hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway. Hamilton’s cultural impact is undeniable.
Good things come to those who wait, and I know Hamilton’s Singapore fans have been waiting patiently for this moment to arrive...Michael Cassel, producer of Hamilton’s international tour.
The good and what could be better
A few things stood out during the 2-hour and 50-minute show.
As with all creative pursuits, artistic liberties must have been taken to string the various historical figures, such as Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington, into one single narrative, such as Hamilton. While we won’t know for sure the exact motivations and personalities behind each of these important historical figures, we can only perceive them through the eyes of their creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda. At least we from this part of the world can gain a little more understanding of the America that is today.
The effort to include the minority races in the cast is commendable, though I have to work harder in the imagination department when those within the same family, such as siblings and fathers, are formed by a cast of different races.
Also, the incorporation of rapping in the musical was something I wasn’t expecting for a historical drama. While it adds a touch of modernity, I think the rapid-fire way of ‘singing’ and ‘speaking’ may turn out to be a stumbling block, making it less accessible to the general public. I, for one, had difficulty keeping up at times, especially since I was unfamiliar with American history. Perhaps some subtitles would resolve this issue?
Of course, it is to be expected of a musical to focus primarily on its namesake – in which case, Hamilton himself. The audience is privy to Hamilton's banter with his male counterparts, inner struggles, insatiable ambition and his ultimate devotion to his wife. However, I would have loved to understand more about the motivations behind Aaron Burr, his nemesis, and also his wife Eliza who decided to see him through thick and thin, despite his indiscretions and failures.
The 5-star cast
The cast was faultless. From their vocal range, on-stage chemistry, and comic timings, they deserve a 5-star applause. I could feel them giving their all to the audience in the close to a three-hour show, what stamina! In particular, King George the Third provides comic relief filled with satirical and ironic comments. His comedic timing, facial expressions, and body language were impeccable. The same goes with Thomas Jefferson, though portrayed a little too simplistically, should be roles you should watch out for throughout the musical. Naturally, one should not be expecting complete accuracy in their portrayals.
Eliza, Hamilton's wife, delivered each time with her haunting vocals. I wish they had given more stage time to the dynamics between her and Hamilton and also with her sister, Angelica.
Chantal Prudhomme, Chief Executive Officer of Base Entertainment Asia, Hamilton’s Singapore presenter said, “The excitement around Hamilton's premiere in Singapore has been tremendous. People here have been excitedly awaiting the opportunity to see this amazing production and this is our promised commitment to deliver world-class entertainment in Singapore. We are honoured to be part of making this long-awaited dream a reality”.
My thoughts: Is it worth watching?
So did Hamilton live up to its reputation? For a show as epic as Hamilton, I thought that the set design, though grand, could have a bit more variation, as with the costumes. The revolving stage kept the choreography interesting, but the primary set changes comprised only movable ladders and a few pieces of furniture. Even the bed scene was delivered via some obvious body contact and singing between the characters. However, the stunning play of lights added to the aesthetics on stage.
Another friend of mine watched the show the third time — each time in a different city — and loved it, drawing parallelism between himself and the protagonist. He was hooked on the themes of moral dilemma, work ethics and self-sacrifice on the part of Angelica. The show I watched ended with a standing ovation and enthusiastic applause throughout the scenes.
My thoughts? Don’t listen to the hype, but go with a fresh mind to embrace what the show has to offer, especially if you are new to Hamilton. Get yourself acquainted with some basic background knowledge of American history and its historical figures, and you will enjoy the musical even more.
Hamilton is showing now until 9 June 2024 at Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands. Psst, we heard from an industry insider that good seats are still available! When picking the best seats, choose performances on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, or Sunday matinees from mid-May to June.
