REVIEW: Hamilton Brings Fantasia of American History to Life in Edmonton
The experiment was to see if one could understand and enjoy Hamilton without knowing any of the backstory – other than that it was created by and stars a guy whose name I can never remember (Lin-Manuel Miranda, had to look that up) and has something to do with the American Revolution.
The answer is a resounding yes on both counts!
At the Jubilee Auditorium until July 10 in a Broadway Across Canada production, this musical fantasia of Americana crams a college degree of historical exposition into 34 strange and adventurous musical numbers. The key is in Miranda’s main choice of musical genre: hip hop – and man, does this work well in a high-production musical. The plot just zings along. Never seen political debates rendered as rap battles before (and what a good idea), complete with the mic drop; entire elections are dealt with in just one verse, political scandals in quick R&B songs, and not one, but two impressionistic duel scenes bookend the story. Makes your head spin.
You’ll Be Back
Of course we all know (because we can look it up), that Alexander Hamilton was one of the Founding Fathers – every one of them white – the Secretary of the Treasury under the first US president George Washington, and many other accomplishments, before he was shot dead in a duel with Aaron Burr in 1804. Huge volumes have been written about the tumultuous period in American history between 1776 and 1800 or so, from the revolution to the war to the new government, the new constitution, new presidents, new candidates, the bickering players therein – and this musical hits almost all the points in just 2 hours and 45 minutes (with intermission). The time flies by. Musical Theatre has never seen anything quite like this before, and no wonder it won all those awards.
A savage irony is built right into the production: African-American actors cast as slave-owning historical figures determined to build a “free” country. Among them, Hamilton worked to make the slave trade illegal, but he didn’t get much support from people like, oh, say, Thomas Jefferson (played by Justin Showell here) – who even sired children with one of his slaves. Geez.
Miranda isn’t in Edmonton, of course. He’s reaping the rewards of his inspired creation. But the actors in the touring show are all astoundingly talented, to a man and woman, the elegant stage design and live chamber orchestra adding a touch of modern class. Brandon Louis Armstrong as James Madison is particularly effective and could be a convincing gangsta rapper if this musical theatre thing doesn’t work out. Most of the cast is just as gifted in the “traditional” vocal methods as they are at rap: Julius Thomas III as the title character, Donald Webber Jr. as Aaron Burr, and Darnell Abraham as George Washington, each gifted with rich tenor voices, backed by a large ensemble of singers and once again the uniquely interesting music and arrangements by Miranda. He’s at least a triple threat. King George (Rick Negron) provides comic relief in at least two numbers, including a sneering song called You’ll Be Back shortly after America won the war. At one point, the f-bomb is dropped, “Fucking Democratic Republicans!” Whoever they are.
Of course it wouldn’t be American politics without sex scandals. Victoria Ann Scovens plays Alexander Hamilton’s long-suffering wife Eliza – whom he cheated on at least once, leading to his disgrace and ultimate death years later.
They should really bring duels back. Imagine Trump and Biden down Fifth Avenue at dawn? Never mind. We’re more civilized now.
