Hamilton Review: The Historical Musical Lives Up To The Hype
The acclaimed musical finally comes to Singapore, nine years after its debut. Here’s why you should catch it.
ICYMI, Hamilton opened in Singapore on Friday, 19 April, and already it’s become one of the most buzzed-about shows to hit our shores in recent history. Sure, many global hit musicals have been staged here and even returned for second and third runs, but Hamilton—a relatively recent entry into the oeuvre having debuted in 2015— is more than a night’s entertainment. It’s become a worldwide cultural and theatrical phenomenon, thanks to the wildly inventive mix of hip-hop, R&B, pop, and traditional show tunes; and its diverse, non-white cast that turns history on its head.
The original role of Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the United States, was played by Lin-Manuel Miranda (who is of Puerto Rican descent). The hugely-talented star also wrote the music, lyrics and book for Hamilton based off an acclaimed biography by Ron Chernow. Best described as “the ten dollar founding father without a father”—Hamilton’s difficult childhood, intellectual prowess and leadership contributions to the United States are the main highlights of his life story.
The ‘Hamilton’ cast led by Jason Arrow (far left).
The musical is set against the backdrop of the American Revolutionary War, and portrays Hamilton’s arrival as an ambitious immigrant in New York, charting his rise to power as George Washington’s right-hand man. But along the way, the human side of Hamilton, such as his relationship with his faithful wife Eliza, and his fatal flaws, form the complexity and dramatic tension in the narrative. There are no clear villains in the narrative; even Aaron Burr’s portrayal is multi-layered, while King George III is portrayed with a knowing wink as both punchline and main antagonist—but is never depicted to be entirely deplorable.
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Rather than a stale or yawn-inducing history lesson, Miranda’s interpretation is buzzing with verve, relevance and wit, not to mention toe-tapping musical numbers that bend the rules of what a traditional musical can and should sound like. It’s no wonder the show won multiple Tony Awards including Best Musical and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama as well as Emmys for its filmed version that screens on Disney+.
The Schuyler sisters in ‘Hamilton’.
Will I Get It?
In short, yes. Despite a large part of the plot revolving around American history and the birth of a nation, there are definitely universal themes about ambition, sacrificing your happiness for love, the thirst for freedom, and leaving a legacy, that will resonate with the Singapore audience even if you don’t know much about the history and politics of the time.
Think of it as Les Mis for Gen Z’s and millennials. This immersive musical left me wanting to read more about the lives and political careers of the founding fathers and also about the (minor) characters like Burr that have been relegated to side notes in the history books. The only downside is that there is not a huge amount of exposition (which is a good thing overall) and the heavy American accents and rapid-fire hip-hop verses may be hard to catch and digest in its entirety.
Still, it’s relatively easy to fill in the blanks, even if you have only a passing grasp of history, and repeated listens or viewings will surely reveal the rich word play and dense historical references that Miranda impressively packs into the songs and the script.
The cast of Hamilton.
Should I Catch Hamilton?
Yes, if you enjoy musicals in general. But do go in without expectation of what a musical should be. Top marks go to the staging (there’s a revolving stage that is used well throughout the show), dramatic use of lighting, excellent sound design, and the energetic performances by the international cast, led by Australian Jason Arrow as the titular Hamilton. It should be noted that Arrow’s rich and versatile tenor is much stronger than Miranda’s vocals, lending a dazzling technical virtuosity to his role.
As someone who went in with no intimate knowledge of the musical beyond its cultural cachet, I enjoyed the score, and the musical numbers like “My Shot” and “The Room Where it Happens” certainly linger way past the closing curtains. The choreography, which incorporates elements of modern street dance, helps to create that visual spectacle that complements the lyrical storytelling.
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Brent Hill as King George III in Hamilton.
As tickets are selling fast, it’s best to grab seats quickly if you want to catch this cultural phenomenon. The best seats that are currently available would be on Tuesday, Wednesday evening and Sunday matinee performances from mid-May to June. If you aren’t able to get tickets, do note that in the tradition of Ham4Ham, Singapore will also be holding ticket lotteries for the entire run of Hamilton. Winners will have the opportunity to purchase a set of two tickets at $56 at hamiltonmusical.sg. Ticket lotteries will begin on each Wednesday for the upcoming week’s performances.
Hamilton runs from 19 April to 9 June at the Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands.