Hamilton in Dutch/German

[stockholm.tom]

Posted: 12/3/16 at 3:02am

Apparently Hamilton is spreading all over the world now. A London production will open in Autumn next year and a Dutch and/or German production is being prepared for opening in 2-3 years. Despite being an amazing show, I am really wondering how it will be perceived by Dutch and German audiences who do not have any affinity with American history.

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 12/3/16 at 4:37am

It's even more interesting to see if it will be translated - it probably will

[stockholm.tom]

Posted: 12/3/16 at 4:49am

Yes it will. A first translation has been made already which is now being adapted to fit better to the original purpose of the show.

http://www.musicaljournaal.nl/stage-entertainment-werkt-aan-nederlandse-versie-hamilton/

[Sam2]

Posted: 12/3/16 at 5:23am

The article states that they're casting rappers who then will be taught how to dance and act, since they won't have any theatrical experience. I'm a bit worried about how the translation of the lyrics will work out as well. Language is almost a character itself in the show. 

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 12/3/16 at 5:24am

If they can translate Shakespeare they will surely know how to translate Miranda

[Erzlump]

Posted: 12/3/16 at 6:26am

imeldasturn said: "If they can translate Shakespeare they will surely know how to translate Miranda

"

 

Translating Shakespeare and translating Musicals (especially one like Hamilton) are two very different beasts, especially since one is set to music and the other one isn't. They butchered Next to Normal in its german translation, completely offsetting the tone and feeling of the show.

Personally, I don't see a translation of Hamilton working and would be more than happy to see it performed in English, though I am sure the german audience would take to it. I'm not even sure Germans will take to Hamilton in general, it being a very American musical, although the themes of the show are of course universal. 

Updated On: 12/3/16 at 06:26 AM

[Dave28282]

Posted: 12/3/16 at 6:40am

The Dutch are generally very progressive in this business and have had top-notch productions of all the shows out there.

Also, they have a very good understanding of the history of all the continents.

Holland is actually sort of a small USA, a country divided into many "provincies" like states, but with a general government, showbizzworld etc. The general focus lies less on race there though, saying white boy or black boy is really not done in Holland, so the casting might be a bit more free and diverse.

 

Updated On: 12/3/16 at 06:40 AM

[Dave28282]

Posted: 12/3/16 at 6:44am

stockholm.tom said: " Despite being an amazing show, I am really wondering how it will be perceived by Dutch and German audiences who do not have any affinity with American history."

 

The Dutch (people from Holland) learn all about alexander hamilton, as well as the founding fathers of other countries in school. In fact, I think they know more about it than most Americans did before the show was produced.

 

Updated On: 12/3/16 at 06:44 AM

[trpguyy]

Posted: 12/3/16 at 7:08pm

I'd trust a random Dutchie off the street to recount any piece of American history more accurately than an average American. In English, too.

Updated On: 12/3/16 at 07:08 PM

[gypsy101]

Posted: 12/4/16 at 2:19am

Dave28282 said: "The general focus lies less on race there though, saying white boy or black boy is really not done in Holland, so the casting might be a bit more free and diverse."

 

1) it's pretty racist to say "white boy" or "black boy" in america as well

2) the casting of hamilton is super diverse so idk what show you've been hearing about

[Dave28282]

Posted: 12/4/16 at 6:45am

1. I am also talking about calling yourself that. Happens all the time. Or constantly saying, this or that is not usual to be done by a white person/black person, basically, any form of constant separation in daily life. Many people in America live by it.

2. I am not talking about deliberately making a cast 95% non-caucasian. Except for the crazy king. I am talking about real diversity. Where any role can be played by any race. Diverse. Not "taking back land or making a statement by casting on race". The rap scene in Europe is filled with every color.

Ps. To react on your last comment in some other thread, Holland is western Europe. Not eastern.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/4/16 at 8:52am

@Dave28282 you are spouting a lot of misinformation about both the Netherlands today and also the US. I'll let that pass. What I can't let pass is your redefining the word "diverse" to fit it into your misinformed perception of Hamilton. 

[mar6411]

Posted: 12/4/16 at 8:58am

Dave28282 formerly posted as Dave19 so there is a long history of his views to review.

[Dave28282]

Posted: 12/4/16 at 7:40pm

HogansHero said: "@Dave28282 you are spouting a lot of misinformation about both the Netherlands today and also the US. I'll let that pass. What I can't let pass is your redefining the word "diverse" to fit it into your misinformed perception of Hamilton. 

 

"

I know exacty what I am talking about and what keeps the problem intact.

And about the word, diverse, that should by no means mean "excluding" a certain race.

[Dave28282]

Posted: 12/4/16 at 7:41pm

mar6411 said: "Dave28282 formerly posted as Dave19 so there is a long history of his views to review."

Please do so. It all starts with seeing people, not color.

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/4/16 at 7:47pm

@Dave28282,  I'm not engaging with you now that your cover has been blown.

[DivaProf]

Posted: 12/4/16 at 7:55pm

I also don't know that non-whites in the Netherlands would agree with some of these characterizations.  Race relations there differ from those in the US, but are by no means perfect.  There is an entire movement against "Zwarte Pete" ("Black Pete" in the Netherlands.  Just to present another perspective on these issues .

[gypsy101]

Posted: 12/5/16 at 12:29am

idk when i claimed which side of Europe the netherlands were in but i apologize if i did and offended you

[Dave28282]

Posted: 12/5/16 at 5:04am

HogansHero said: "@Dave28282,  I'm not engaging with you now that your cover has been blown.

 

"

I hope this post was meant to be sarcastic. If not, I feel sorry for you.

I have been open about my name for months and I am not ashamed for my fight against racism.

[Dave28282]

Posted: 12/5/16 at 5:08am

DivaProf said: " There is an entire movement against "Zwarte Pete" ("Black Pete" in the Netherlands.  .

 

"

A centuries old cultural heritage is up for discussion. That is a whole different story than comparing modern black people to slaves in each and every situation. Or separate them on a daily basis in every day language.

[Dave28282]

Posted: 12/5/16 at 5:13am

gypsy101 said: "idk when i claimed which side of Europe the netherlands were in but i apologize if i did and offended you

 

"

Apologies accepted. But I just wanted to help you with some knowledge. Because I am never offended. Being offended is a matter of choice. I am the kind of person you can say anything to.

One can be offended by the whole world and like to erase everything that does not suit him/her, but that's not how it works.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/5/16 at 11:33am

Dave28282 said: "I hope this post was meant to be sarcastic. If not, I feel sorry for you.

I have been open about my name for months and I am not ashamed for my fight against racism."

No sarcasm; I don't pay a lot of attention to people's names and changes. As to the rest, the lady doth protest too much, methinks.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 12/5/16 at 1:20pm

 

Translating Shakespeare and translating Musicals (especially one like Hamilton) are two very different beasts, especially since one is set to music and the other one isn't.

Shakespeare doesn't have a beat in his plays?   Damn.  I've been teaching it wrong all these years. 
 

 

 


"

 

 

[Quasi]

Posted: 12/5/16 at 3:04pm

I can't see it in Germany. Germans expect other shows with a lof of eyecandy. The German and the Dutch musical market and with it Stage Entertainment are not doing very well for years and they hope to get it right with that show. I doubt that such an American show will work in German with the typical high ticket prices of Stage Entertainment. I've read postings from people who's first idea after hearing Hamilton was the driver of Formula 1. Although the Germans have a good general knowledge about world history they don't know much about the founding fathers of the USA: Washington, Franklin, Lincoln are names they possibly know but Hamilton...

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/5/16 at 5:05pm

Quasi, I think you underappreciate the phenomenon that is Hamilton. In my trips to Europe this year, the first thing people wanted to know when they find out I am from new York (at least prior to the election) is if I have seen Hamilton. And these are not theatre people. When I was in Amsterdam in January, at least 4 people wanted to know about it.