Theatre Review: Hamilton, Wales Millennium Centre
Summary:
Rating: ★★★★
Running Dates: Tuesday 26th November 2024 – Saturday 25th January 2025
Where to see it: Wales Millennium Centre
Duration: 2 hours and 45 minutes (including interval)
Keywords: USA, American history, R&B, musical
Photo Credit: Danny Kaan
Review
All in all, ‘Hamilton’ is a lyricism masterpiece with compelling performances and creativity – it is a play that deserves applause yet also reflection.
We have all heard of ‘Hamilton’ before – this worldwide cultural phenomenon written by Lin-Manuel Miranda was first performed in 2015 and has had a cult following ever since. Now that it has finally landed in Cardiff, it was finally our turn to ‘be in the room where it happens’.
‘Hamilton’ is a powerful musical which tells us the story of Alexander Hamilton, a poor orphan immigrant turned invaluable political figure and Founding Father, through a fascinating mix of rap and R&B with a more traditional musical theatre flare. The performance starts with the popular ‘Alexander Hamilton’ song, which introduces us to Hamilton and many key characters we will see throughout the play. There are a total of three musical numbers before any character speaks, and by then the audience is already hooked.
The set design of this play is deceivingly simple – at first glance we only see wooden structures, however the audience is soon awarded with a rotating stage, which makes the play all the more dynamic. This device makes the performances versatile yet still allows us to still keep our eyes on the characters. A standout moment is when Angelica Schuyler (Aisha Jawando) performs “Satisfied”, a song where she rewinds time to tell us about when she first met Hamilton.
Photo Credit: Danny Kaan
Where ‘Hamilton’ truly shines is in its musical performances, which are a songwriting masterclass and groundbreaking for a Broadway show. The show cleverly blends R&B and rap in a way which modernises the play and makes it more entertaining for new audiences which may not be interested in more ‘traditional musical theatre’. The lyricism of ‘My Shot’ is particularly impressive, but the whole play is testament to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s talent.
In fact, we could argue ‘Hamilton’ helped to modernise musical theatre not only by adding new singing styles to a play, but also by ensuring a diverse cast was selected to portray a period of history where no people of colour were given a voice. It was very impactful to see those casting choices being mirrored in the UK & Ireland tour and being introduced to incredible talent. Whilst the whole ensemble was fantastic, a special mention must be given to Marquis de Lafayette (Billy Nevers) and his jaw-dropping rapping skills.
Still somewhat on the topic of singing, there were several songs where only men are singing on the main stage, but the female cast is still participating (and elevating!) the musical performance in the role of backup singers – to me this served as a powerful metaphor for how women were also pushed to the sidelines in the history of US independence. Only at the very end of the play, in “Who lives, who dies, who tells your story” do we see Eliza (Maya Britto) share some of her own story beyond her connection to Alexander Hamilton. Maya also shines in her emotional portrayal of “Burn”.
Photo Credit: Danny Kaan
Like many serious plays, ‘Hamilton’ does need a few instances of playfulness to allow the audience to have a moment away from all the tension of a difficult and convoluted period of US history. King George III (Daniel Boys) is the perfect character for this, as his performance blends wit and theatrical over-the-top mannerisms in a flawless way. ‘You’ll Be Back’ was one of the best musical performances of the night and its hilarious absurdity was not unnoticed.
Although it does not take away from the play’s success, watching ‘Hamilton’ in 2024 does come with a hint of irony – this play celebrates USA’s fight for freedom and independence and audiences are now watching it at a time when the country is actively stripping rights from many of its citizens. Even watching the performance in the UK, that conflict felt hard to ignore.
All in all, ‘Hamilton’ is a lyricism masterpiece with compelling performances and creativity – it is a play that deserves applause yet also reflection. It serves as a powerful reminder that we celebrate the freedoms of our past whilst living in a world where so many freedoms remain unattainable.
Standout Quote or Moment: ‘If you stand for nothing, Burr, what will you fall for?’
See If: You like energising musical performances, USA history, or simply are curious about this global phenomenon!
Similar Plays: Les Misérables
Last Impression: Strong lyricism, diverse cast, and a hint of political irony
To get tickets for the show click here
We were kindly gifted these tickets in exchange for a review.
Written by Mariana Andrade
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