I had heard of this weird musical full of rapping called Hamilton and it didn’t interest me at all until I saw this performance on the Royal Variety Performance of 2018.
I was not only struck by the music, the rhyme schemes and the speed and accuracy of the delivery but by the wonderful directorial and choreographical touches. Watch the papers move about the stage, watch the book appear in Hamilton’s hand and then disappear again and watch his coat vanish as if by magic. Wonderful use of cast and movement!
After seeing this performance, I simply had to see the show. I did and was staggered by its brilliance throughout the whole two hours. An extraordinary piece of theatre!
Some years ago, I directed Stephen Sondheim’s SWEENEY TODD for the WAOS Musical Theatre company in Woking. We won two NODA awards for that show. I love it!
Later, I discovered this amazing tribute to that show in the style of the opening number (see above) of Hamilton.
It was, again, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also chillingly portrayed the “demon barber of Fleet Street” as his fellow cast members retold the dark, twisted tale.
If you know the show SWEENEY TODD, you will see and hear the many references to it while continuing the rapping that Hamilton is famous for. Enjoy!
