Watching a 2 hour and 40-minute nonstop musical would have sounded like my nightmare. Yet, it is exactly this style of storytelling, and the choice of music, that makes Hamilton such an enjoyable and endearing experience. Over the Fourth of July weekend, I watched the outstanding Broadway production not once but three times! 

The musical was filmed and released on Disney+ just in time for the Fourth. And this year, Independence Day felt different for me and my family, more than it ever has before. Needless to say, 2020 has been an eye-opening year about all the social and racial justice work that still must be done. Instead of barbecuing, what I ended up doing for the holiday could be considered an amazing American action: learning about history in a fun and creative way! I watched an immensely talented multicultural cast, sing about the ideas and actions that sparked a revolution.

The Parallels of A Premise 

The musical begins in 1776, centering how America was a colony fed up with a distant and out of touch ruler (King George III) and wanted to make some changes. This basic premise is what we learn in school as well. Now, enter the full-fledged life-story of Alexander Hamilton—an immigrant (once called a “Creole Bastard” by the second president, John Adams) from the Caribbean. Through an insatiable desire to learn and spread ideas, Hamilton cements himself as a Founding Father. 

By zeroing in on one person’s life, we’re able to view a pivotal moment in history that became the foundation of the country we know today. Our country isn’t perfect and Hamilton, the musical and the character, knows this. The performance was filmed in 2016 and it still feels incredibly timely. I couldn’t help but see the parallels of the Black Lives Matters movement and the revolutionary discussions taking place in the first half of the production.

The main ideas present throughout the show are: what will you be about and what will you do with the time you have in the world? Will you take action or never truly speak your mind until someone tells you it’s okay? 

If there’s anything political about the show Hamilton, its thesis is: everything good or bad that was present at the founding, at the birth of this country, are still present. The fights we had then are the fights we have now.” – Lin-Manuel Miranda, in a recent video with WIRED.

Instead of feeling disappointed at this thought, I feel the stirring of anticipation. I feel the misgivings, abuse, and racism that have contradicted the ideals of this country, are finally being addressed—one way or another. Watching Hamilton, I experienced awe at seeing men of color stand together at the third pivotal song in the show, knowing this likely hadn’t been done before. I felt pride that the significant contribution of Black American creative genius in music and dance is the main reason this musical works at all. And, I also felt thankful that people who need to see this production now have a much easier way to do so.

The Imaginative Production

Watching Black and Brown actors wholeheartedly bring to life figures in our history was like a positive jolt to my system. I loved the musical because it brought to life what I’d learned in textbooks and it shared so much more. Learning about history in grade-school made events feel like they happened in a linear timeline. Hamilton brings in the complexities of key people as well as historical events. It shows insight into how many people shared ideas, orchestrated a revolution, and then shifted roles in order to self-govern a nation. 

The high-caliber talent of all the actors could be seen and heard. Since the set mostly consists of an open stage and props but no major set designs, the acting is all we truly have to imagine this time-period. I cannot stress enough how much everyone delivered in order to make this possible. Actors Anthony Ramos and Daveed Diggs played duel roles exceptionally well. Lin Manuel Miranda himself played Hamilton fiercely. Renée Elise Goldsberry utterly shined as Angelica Schuyler. And on multiple occasions, Lesile Odom Jr. stole the show as the envious Aaron Burr (he and Daveed arguably played my favorite characters!)

The first half had to be my favorite part. The songs were so up-tempo and gripping as they introduced the characters in “Aaron Burr, Sir” before moving seamlessly into Hamilton’s standout song, “My Shot,” which echoes throughout the show and describes the shifting atmosphere of New York in the late 1700s. What really struck me about the story was how they paralleled Alexander Hamilton’s life with Aaron Burr, which is established in two songs above. We see them as youths, fundamentally different in how they think and act in the world. Hamilton uses his voice singing, ‘I’m not throwing away my shot. I’m just like my country, young scrappy and hungry” while also writing and learning to propel himself ahead. Meanwhile, Burr bides his time and never truly takes a stand and tries to urge everyone else not to rock the boat too much. Throughout, Burr is a primary narrator and as such we see his jealously toward Hamilton build and mount; we know his mind and understand him as he transforms into the “villain” of the story.

Yet, what I absolutely adored was Daveed Diggs’s portrayal of Thoma Jefferson in the second half of the show. He is so pompous, elitist, and funny that it helps to shatter the illusion of decorum around this Founding Father. Just from his egotistical behavior, we’re able to see and somewhat grasp Jefferson’s contradictory nature. Though he was one of the main people declaring “all men were created equal” and encouraging America’s fight for freedom, he 1.) didn’t fight in the revolutionary war and 2.) he continued to be a slaveowner of 607 people (I’ll encourage you to read up on his highly controversial behavior yourselves, *hint: Sally Hemmings). I adored how during one of the presidential cabinet meetings, a.k.a a rap battle, Hamilton takes a jab at Jefferson and his deeds at his plantation in Monticello.

Hamilton’s Everlasting Significance

Watching Hamilton is a perfect reminder of how galvanizing a critical mass of people together, and sharing visions of what a better world might look like, can create a ripple effect of change. That is if strategic action is taken and people agree to pool their expertise and resources together. One song that nailed this idea is “The Schuyler Sisters,” it’s lead by oldest sister Angelica Schuyler who’s “looking for a mind at work.” She and her sisters are excited to be where the action is and have conversions about the coming revolution. Angelica wants to seize this moment, her ambition and wit are so powerful to witness. 

Additionally, the play is highly aware of the contradictions of certain power players like Thomas Jefferson. It’s aware that change is messy and asserting ideals doesn’t mean you can live up to them without critical actions and planning taking place. 

Hamilton hit home for me that our country knows what injustice looks like and what our response to injustice has been—we’ve fought for our rights on multiple occasions. Maybe seeing the Founding Fathers and hearing the talk of abolitionists from men and women of color will unconfuse anyone still wondering about where Black Americans get the zeal to call for antiracism in America. Maybe they’ll understand that we’re calling for this country to finally live up to its ideals. If they still don’t get, I don’t really care. 

Final Thoughts

You won’t regret seeing Hamilton if you haven’t already done so. No one will judge if you start a Disney+ free trial just to encounter this story. You’ll find so many gems of inspiration! Hamilton’s life was transformed by the power of education. His passion for writing got him wherever he needed to be. Following his death, his wife Elizabeth Schulyer made sure to imprint his and her own legacy into the fabric of history by sharing their stories and living a purposeful life as well — that’s inspirational enough for me.

Needless to say, I finally got the hype around Hamilton! What was your favorite part of the show?

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Best,

Kai 😀