To honor Austin Scott's last week
playing Alexander Hamilton on the Angelica National Tour I thought
that I would post my review of the production of Hamilton that I saw
him in Buffalo at the beginning of December!
I, like seemingly the rest of world,
have been a fan of Hamilton for a while. I think I first heard it in
2016 but I really have no idea. It was in the very top of it's hype,
about 6 months or so before the Original cast retired. When Shea's
announced that it was hosting Hamilton here in Buffalo it was kind of
pandemonium. There was a run on the box office when tickets went on
sale. I had signed up for the verified fan ticket process and I got
through, but the tickets were just too overpriced. I passed and
decided to try my luck at the lottery. Well, I lost. Twenty times. So
I bought myself an overpriced ticket anyway the day before the last
Friday performance. I don't at all regret it.
This isn't so much going to be a review
of the play Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote but the performance itself that
I was finally privy to see! This will solely be based on a hearing
versus seeing it live comparison. I'll be writing about the
experience itself (but there will be spoilers, of course)!
Since there are multiple tours going
nationwide right now they are all named. I saw the Angelica Cast.
Austin Scott was my Hamilton, Josh Tower was my Burr, and Hannah Cruz
was my Eliza to give context. This cast was phenomenal! So many of
them sounded so much like the original cast I was astounded! I was
incredibly impressed with everyone, although some were still getting
into the groove of the fast paced world they were inhabiting and no
one can fault them for that!
Forgive me for this, but being in the
'Room Where it Happened' was worth every penny. I think if you love
the soundtrack for what it is then actually seeing the action on
stage is an odd, wonderful thing. Seeing what the actors are doing on
stage as they sing the now famed songs was like nothing I could have
imagined. For everything that goes on in the packed play I thought
that the movement on stage would be at least as busy but it was
minimal in comparison. The main company used their actions sparingly
for maximum impact. The ensemble though, never seemed to cease. Their
movements were so fluid and seamless that it was impossible not to
admire them. The stage was minimal and used wonderfully as were the
lights! The lighting of Hamilton was what surprised me most of all as
it was a character in itself! I sat relatively high up so I was
looking down upon the stage and I'm so glad that I was for I was able
to see that during Hurricane the lights put Hamilton in the eye of
the storm! Ugh, everything about this production of Hamilton was
truly awe inspiring!
 |
| Me and A. Ham himself (Austin Scott) |
I am so glad that I went to see it. If
it comes to your town and you are able, please go see it. I assure
you all that hype really is worth it. I went by myself and I was
sitting between two amazing older couples. On my right was a married
couple who were fans of musicals and excited to see the play that got
their grandkids into plays. They were prepared for how fast it was
going to be and kept up well. On my left were a couple of friends.
These women had no idea what they walked into and kindly asked if I'd
give them a crash course on the history which I gladly supplied. All
four of them afterward were so enthralled with what they had just
seen! Hamilton can be enjoyed by all because it written to include
everyone.
~Laura!
(Apparently, this is also my 300th post
and I couldn't have chosen a better subject to have this honor!)
