Performance Review- Skylar Mays

Hamilton Review

Skylar Mays

    Recently Hamilton has been getting a lot of good press and if you haven't seen it you might

question “well how good is it really.” I can assure you, it is well worth the wait. It made history with 16 Tony nominations, the most ever. And has also made advances towards engaging the education systems by providing shows for high school juniors in US history for just $10. Hamilton is a new take on history in some of the most exciting ways possible.

    On April 9th, 2016 I saw Hamilton on Broadway at 2 pm. It was written by Lin Manuel Miranda and directed by Thomas Kail. Miranda also starred as leading role Alexander Hamilton. Also starring were Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, Daveed Diggs as Thomas Jefferson, Phillipa Soo as Eliza Schuyler, Renée Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler, Jonathan Groff as the King of England, and lastly Christopher Jackson as George Washington.

    The production takes place in a common area that with a few tables and other movable props can be turned into a bar, wedding reception, or home/office. The lights change in order to set mood and provide action. For example, they use a bright, white flash of light from the right side of the stage to symbolize cannons the British are firing. And when Jonathan Groff is singing about how America has declared independence the lights are a warm red, much like the red coats the British wore, until he says “I'm so blue,” to which the lights switch to blue. The actors all wear appropriate costuming for the time period. The dancers wear beige costuming with boots, making it easy for them to add a coat to be apart of the army or a new character, like Thayne Jasperson who is normally a dancer, but added a Navy jacket and became a farmer/commoner.

    It goes without saying that it's ultimately the language that makes this play the success that it is. Miranda used hip-hop and rap not only to bring the script into modern times but to also fit more words and lyrics into a smaller period of time. His lyrics bring to life the ideals of a “young, scrappy, and hungry” immigrant capable of changing the new world. From Renée Goldsberry’s character we see hopes in advances in women's rights when she says she's been reading Common Sense, and wants Jefferson to include “women in the sequel.” Not only does it show strong feminist qualities with all the female actors and dancers but the diversity in the production is phenomenal. Almost every character is from a different descent. This is an attempt by Miranda to show students and immigrants their importance.

    I would recommend this play to anyone and everyone because I feel like there is something to be gained by everyone. And if nothing else, it is accurate and entertaining.