On the 4th July 2020 the long anticipated film of the staged musical 'Hamilton' was released on Disney+ and immediately broke streaming records. The film captured the original Broadway cast, edited together from three performances back in 2016. Despite the hype, recent criticisms of the show's portrayal of history have come to light. So, is it worth a shot? Or can you say no to this?
Firstly, the choreography is outstanding. Each and every moment is performed with exact precision as the cast moves not as individuals but as an ensemble. Minute details that could easily be missed add subtextual context, providing yet another layer of intrigue. For example, whilst the eponymous Hamilton ends his first solo number with his fist in the air, his rival, Burr, ends his break-through song (The Room Where it Happens) pointing confidently to the ground, subtly highlighting contrasting characters and ambitions through movement.
The actors could not have been better cast. Lin Manuel Miranda (writer, lyricist and actor) hits the audience with powerfully articulated wordplay in syncopated rhythms. Whilst, at times, this dense and fast-driving patter can be difficult to follow along for those who haven't immersed themselves in the music before, you have to appreciate the rhythmic artistry. Daveed Digs and Johnathon Groff provide outstanding supporting performances with highly stylised characters, humour and finesse. Meanwhile the Schuyler sisters bring an alternative sense of emotion and delicacy to juxtapose the charged masculinity of male counterparts.
The set and costumes enhance the experience, once again adding subtleties for the audience. The stage revolves around a double circular turntable, with the inner ring rotating anti-clockwise. This allows characters to travel backwards, symbolising flashbacks and memories; or forwards, representing their ambitions and plans for the future.
You might be thinking, 'this all sounds great, so what's the problem?' Well, in the time of the Black Lives Matter movement, issues surrounding the show's representation of certain characters have risen. Lines such as "we'll never be free until we end slavery" and "immigrants, we get the job done" highlight Miranda's aim to enhance themes of pro-immigration and anti-colonialism. However, the show fails to reference the number of main characters who were, in fact, slave traders, such as George Washington, and even Hamilton himself. The fact that 'real-life' black figures like Aaron Burr were never allowed in 'the room where it happened' due to their race isn't recognised and is instead romanticised as ambitious and heroic.
So, it is worth a watch? I'd say a definite yes, if not for the history lesson then for the artistry; but in the knowledge that representations are not entirely accurate. We can't always pick and choose parts of history that are most pleasing, but we can educate ourselves, and perhaps a show like this is exactly what's needed to bring that conversation to the table. Overall, Hamilton is an exciting and engaging piece, offering thrilling libretto and choreography that deserves all the hype it's received.
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