“Hamilton” is NOT Throwing Away It’s Shot!
****I saw Hamilton on Broadway and have seen it again many times since including it’s first extended stay in Chicago.
And still…from the first pounding drumbeat to the final, emotion charged notes, Hamilton’s Angelica tour (as it is called; each tour gets a name for identification) at Chicago’s CIBC Theatre is a breathtaking reminder of why this show changed musical theatre forever; I don’t say that lightly.
The production is as sharp, crisp, emotionally charged, and visually dynamic as any version that preceded it, and yet it feels even more alive, fresh and new.
Every member of the cast delivers big time. Each principal brings a personal interpretation different from the original cast, but they all honor Lin-Manuel Miranda’s original concept. Tyler Fauntleroy’s Alexander Hamilton is played with intellect and urgency; every verse feels like a man racing time itself, a man who can’t “wait for it, wait for it.” Jimmy “JJ” Jeter’s Aaron Burr shows a cool restraint which slowly cracks over the course of the show, shifting to a near boiling frustration that provides his rivalry with Hamilton it’s emotional arc. And a shout out to the amazing Schuyler sisters who are particular standouts: Angelica (Marja Harmon) shows a poise and wit that hit with precision, while Amanda Simone Lee’s Eliza exhibits a powerfully quiet strength which lifts the production into some of it’s most impactful and beautiful moments; just try not to cry during “It’s Quiet Uptown.”
And what to say about A. D. Weaver’s George Washington (watch my interview with A.D. Weaver, at Curtain Call Chicago on YouTube at Curtain Call Chicago, or www.curtaincallchicago.com.) Weaver’s performance choices are commanding and vocally rich. His is an original interpretation with a different sense of warmth and empathy than previous Washingtons….it seems grounded in an emotional vulnerability and understanding. We get a strong sense of Washington’s humanity; just watch and listen carefully to “History Has Its Eyes on You” and “One Last Time.” There is an authority clearly adjacent to a sense of burden.
Vocally, this company achieves perfection. The classic rapid-fire verses have clarity and a freshly felt bite, even more so with immortal lines like, “immigrants, we get the job done,” which once again in these times brings the audience to a roaring cheer. The harmonies are rich and clean, and the big ensemble moments fill the CIBC with a chilling wall of sound. It’s hard not to watch every member of this cast as they dance with a crisp precision in every turn, lift and gesture that would make even the legendary Bob Fosse jealous. The score, as Hamilton fans know, moves seamlessly from hip-hop to R&B and impressively shifts to those soaring traditional musical theatre numbers, reminding us just how ingenious this score is as it interweaves musical styles together without ever feeling gimmicky.
What remains astonishing is how cohesive the staging, choreography, set and lighting design still feel more than 10 years after the show’s debut. Thank goodness the revolving stage is still used and is a hallmark in the telling of this story.
Beyond the technical excellence, what keeps Hamilton in our hearts and souls is what matters most: its heart. When the final moments arrive, the theatre is utterly silent and still. We in the audience get to live for a moment in that delicate space where history, art, and political reflection collide.
In Chicago, a city with a rich theatre tradition, this Angelica tour doesn’t just live up to the Hamilton legacy—it earns its own place in it. Yes, it’s worth the hype, the ticket price and your time. This is a must-see event that will leave you in your emotions long after you step back into reality. In short, if you loved the original Broadway cast (if only through the cast recording), the Angelica tour is a different but equally powerful take on Miranda’s brilliant blueprint of history. Indeed, History has its eyes on us!
Hamilton Plays at the CIBC Theatre thru April 26th with performances as follows:
Box Office: BIC ( any of theirs)
Running Time: 2hrs, 45mins; one intermission
Tickets can be purchased at: www.BroadwayinChicago.com
To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Hamilton”
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