To start things off, it is important to address that I am simply not a theater expert. It can be argued that I am a movie expert, but the minute you remove the silver screen and put me in front of a stage, I lose a bit of that edge.
That is not to dissuade theater as an art form, the preparation and dedication actors and actresses put into it is simply stunning. But for someone like me who is not in the know of the incarnates of theater, for a play to grasp me and make me want to see more of this medium, it has to do something right. For me, that play is “Hamilton.”
While some could argue that on the technical side it is lacking in sweeping set pieces, that simplicity works to its benefit. A lot of moving parts are distracting for the average audience go-er. Look at a play with a similar fanbase, “Dear Evan Hansen,” with a wall of text messages and emails ever-present. This might be technically breathtaking, but it is really distracting.
In a medium where big personalities and gestures keep the audience engaged, having this big wall in the way is lessening that impact because nobody knows where to look. This is a problem fixed by the simplicity of the “Hamilton” set design. You can focus a lot more on these performances.
And honestly, what performances they are! Hamilton definitely has an all-star cast, something that cannot be denied no matter who you are. That cast performs each song with such heart that it automatically becomes iconic. “The room where it happens,” “ My Shot,” and “Guns and Ships” are just the tip of the iceberg of the great songs found in this play. Each one is an earworm that you find humming in day to day life.
Those songs weave a narrative that, while not 100% historically accurate, is still engaging from beginning to end. A story of an underdog triumphing and gaining notoriety. After gaining that notoriety, we see his fame lead to his untimely demise.
It is a human story that grips on the heart strings from beginning to end. That human element is what makes it so intriguing to the viewers, seeing these seemingly legendary untouchable figures be so normal and go through these emotions, it is intriguing on a great level.
Accessibility is also what makes it so strong. Disney+ making “Hamilton” available to its subscribers has made it more popular which is completely deserved for the reasons mentioned.
People argue that it is “overrated,” but is being overrated necessarily bad? It only means that something is extremely popular. Most of the time something to be considered overrated, is just people being contrarian to seem like they have a different opinion from the crowd.
For something to be this popular, it means that it is generally good, and that is the case for “Hamilton.”
From the music to the acting to the storyline, “Hamilton” is a joy from beginning to end no matter how “overrated” it seems to be.
Even if you are not a theatre person, you are likely to have heard or seen “Hamilton,” a musical by Lin Manuel Miranda surrounding the life of Alexander Hamilton. It has gained massive popularity after being published on Disney+, and many people have fallen in love with it. But to any person who knows more shows than “Hamilton,” the show displays nothing amazing about theatre.
In the theatre world (which I have been in for over a decade), “Hamilton” is often considered the ‘gateway drug’ to theatre. Its accessibility has made it easy to watch, and its catchy music made many people love the show.
Dig a little deeper into the world on theatre, and “Hamilton” does not excel in any area. It does not have jaw-dropping set pieces and lighting like “Beetlejuice,” it does not have the complex story and emotion of “Bare,” and it does not have the soaring soundtrack and characters of “The Clockmaker’s Daughter.”
Hamilton absolutely has an all-star cast, and while Lin Manuel Miranda is a great songwriter no doubt, his voice is nowhere near the best theatre has to offer. This becomes clear as soon as you listen to shows with Matt Doyle or Ramin Karimloo.
While Miranda is a good songwriter, many of the songs in “Hamilton” blend together and often sound much too similar. Just look at another one of Miranda’s works, “In The Heights,” a beautiful show with a similar musical style that achieves what “Hamilton” cannot.
The technical execution of “Hamilton” lacks the wow-factor that so many other shows have. The set mainly contains scaffolding and a piece of the stage which rotates, a less than stellar design that really does not aid to tell the story or create many interesting stage pictures. While the lighting is effective, it does not have any looks that take your breath away.
Another issue is the time period accuracy. The lackluster set, modern musical style, and the casting and ways the characters are portrayed quickly take me out of the world of the show, breaking immersion. It feels like a musical set in the 1700s written in modern times, and that is simply poor writing.
So why is it so popular? Simple: It is one of the few musicals that is so easy to watch. Disney+ is one of the most popular streaming platforms, and when the show was published, people watched it and began to love the show because it is one of the only shows they have seen. But go see a different show like one of the ones I have mentioned, and then watch “Hamilton.” That comparison is night and day.
With lack of a compelling story, music that blends together, poor time period accuracy with the writing, and tech that is extremely uninteresting, “Hamilton” is a less than stellar show that has gained popularity due to many people choosing not to explore the world of theatre to a greater extent. I challenge you to even just listen to or see a good show, and you may realize that there are so many more, amazing shows out there that are not given the recognition they deserve.
A few of my favorites are “Hairspray,” “The Lightning Thief,” “The Clockmaker’s Daughter,” “Bare,” “36 Questions,” “Once,” “In The Heights,” “The Mad Ones,” “Treason,” and “Beetlejuice.” Take a listen and discover that there is so much more to this art form.