Hamilton Observations

[kclahar]

Hi all! I went to today's matinee of Hamilton, and I just wanted to share my thoughts on my experience. I got to the theatre at about 11:30 to wait in the cancellations line. There were about 12 people ahead of me. When ticketholders started arriving, a few of them were trying to sell their extra tickets at face value. One person who offered me a ticket had paid $375, another $300. Now, I understand that Hamilton is supposedly the musical of the decade, but those prices are way outside of my comfortable price range. I ended up getting standing room ticket for $40.

Now, about the show. I thought it was pretty good. Daniel B. and Michael L. did not disappoint, but the rest of the cast was a mixed bag. In my opinion, if theatergoers are shelling out top dollar for tickets, they deserve nothing less than top performances. I can not understand why a role that requires both singing and rapping would be given to a performer who does not have both of those skills. They need to do a better job with casting. I paid $40 to see the show, and I'm happy with that, but I feel bad for the people who shelled out hundreds of dollars. I couldn't possibly recommend the show at that price.

I just had to vent. I try not to be excessively negative, but considering how much people are paying to see this show, I had to say something.

[dramamama611]

How do you know those that paid ridiculous amounts weren't thrilled with what they saw? Different strokes.

Sorry you didn't love the show.

[kclahar]

Have you seen the show with the current cast?

[dramamama611]

Nope, I have no opinions on them. Saw it early in the run a few times, loved it. But not everyone did...or does.

[kclahar]

It's not the book, music, or lyrics that I'm taking issue with. I actually do like the material. I just felt that some of the performances were pretty lackluster.

[robskynyc]

kclahar said: "It's not the book, music, or lyrics that I'm taking issue with. I actually do like the material. I just felt that some of the performances were pretty lackluster. "

Say it... say her name... mand.... lol

[dramamama611]

Yes, I understood your post. However, your post was made in sympathy to those people that spent a large amount of money - after all, you only paid forty bucks. They may have loved it.

The tour is currently here in Boston. (Or just left) I've been fielding comments for a month how remarkable it is. Until I heard from a colleague that thought it was just meh...having seen the NY production a number of times. None of their opinions are wrong....just different. Your opinion shouldn't try to speak for anyone else.

[DottieD'Luscia]

@Drama611, the tour is in Boston until 11/18.

[dramamama611]

I thought it was still here...but thought if it had left, someone would have jumped all over the mistake.

I find I dont enjoy tours as much as bway, so dont have a tendency to pay close attention.

[Niles Silvers]

Next time cough up a few more shekels for better seats, and you won't be so grumpy.  

[kclahar]

Niles Silvers said: "Next time cough up a few more shekels for better seats, and you won't be so grumpy."

Lol!  Not my first time standing for a show.  I'm a notorious cheap ass.  Lol! Hell, I was seated for the second act.  Didn't change my opinion.  I

[yankeefan7]

I was very fortunate to see the OBC when I saw "Hamilton" and I will be seeing it again in London later this year. I think opinions of the quality of the cast will be different depending on the person as another poster pointed out. You were not impressed and that is fine, others may have thought they were fantastic. What in particular did you not like? 

[kclahar]

Well, I noticed that there were a couple of performers in the show who had roles that required rapping, who couldn't deliver lyrics rhythmically. As someone who grew up listening to a lot of hip-hop, and watching a lot of hip-hop performances, I can spot a poor performance pretty easily. I've been attending Broadway shows for just as long, so I know a thing or two about that also. All I am saying is that I think they can (and should) do a better job of casting, considering how much they are charging people. I mean, this is New York City- The birthplace of hip-hop. How hard can it be to find a performer who can do this right?

[dramamama611]

Because they have already tapped into a huge number of those performers from cast replacement and the tours?  Because not everyone that CAN do rap/hip hop can also dance and sing?   They have to make choices based on auditions and, if they can't get what they need, decide what weakness they are willing to accept.

It could have also been an off night  - or not.  But since you are continually vague in your assessment, it's hard to tell.  

 

Lastly, if you as knowledgeable as you say (not a judgement) remember: the vast majority of the rest of the audience is not.  

[Call_me_jorge]

I’m sure as the years keep going on we’ll see more actresses/actors who are graduating college with “trained in rapping” on their resumes because of Hamilton. It’s only a matter of time Mandy will be replaced. At least one can hope.

[kclahar]

Call_me_jorge said: "I’m sure as the years keep going on we’ll see more actresses/actors who are graduating college with “trained in rapping” on their resumes because of Hamilton. It’s only a matter of time Mandy will be replaced. At least one can hope."

I really hope so.  I love what this piece has done for the world of musical theatre.  I think a lot of people who go to see Hamilton, have never listened to this much hip hop in their lives.  Either because they've had a negative opinion of the artform or because it just wasn't a part of the culture when they were growing up.  I think this piece has and will continue to change hearts and minds, if it maintains good standards.  

[dramamama611]

I love Hamilton....still cant find any other rap or hip hop that I can tolerate. And I've tried.

[kclahar]

dramamama611 said: "I love Hamilton....still cant find any other rap or hip hop that I can tolerate. And I've tried.

"

Try:

1)DeLaSoul

2)Digable Planets

3)Arrested Development

4)The Roots (They've been Jimmy Fallon's house band for years.)

 

You can find them on Spotify.  Ignore the hip hop that is promoted by the mainstream media.  There is so much more out there than that garbage.

[IloveNYC2]

the thing is to find artists that can sing and rap will be very hard .

[yankeefan7]

"I really hope so.  I love what this piece has done for the world of musical theatre.  I think a lot of people who go to see Hamilton, have never listened to this much hip hop in their lives.  Either because they've had a negative opinion of the artform or because it just wasn't a part of the culture when they were growing up.  I think this piece has and will continue to change hearts and minds, if it maintains good standards.  "

Just curious if you don't think a bunch of people who liked "In The Heights" have gone to see "Hamilton".

[dramamama611]

IloveNYC2 said: "the thing is to find artists that can sing and rap will be very hard ."

 

 

And act.  And dance.   

 

[Pan_Am_L-1011]

I saw it in London in June and paid 200 Pounds. It was absolutely worth it and absolutely the best show I have ever seen, hands down.

I wish those idiots on Broadway would allow what they do in London. There's no scalping that way. I check ticketmaster for weeks and suddenly 8 seats in a row opened up and I snapped up two of them. I'd easily pay $200 to see it again. There's so much garbage on Broadway I'd rather pay $400 to see Hamilton again than $400 to see 10 other shows at $40 each.

[kclahar]

Pan_Am_L-1011 said: "I saw it in London in June and paid 200 Pounds. It was absolutely worth it and absolutely the best show I have ever seen, hands down.

I wish those idiots on Broadway would allow what they do in London. There's no scalping that way. I check ticketmaster for weeks and suddenly 8 seats in a row opened up and I snapped up two of them. I'd easily pay $200 to see it again. There's so much garbage on Broadway I'd rather pay $400 to see Hamilton again than $400 to see 10 other shows at $40 each."

I’ve heard that the London cast is pretty good though.  I’ve also heard good things about the Chicago cast.  I might have to check it out, next time I travel to either city.  

 

Also, there are some gems on Broadway too.  Come From Away hasn’t opened in London ( It will soon ).  That show is definitely worth the price of admission IMO.

[Rainah]

Unfortunately, the system used in london (paperless ticketing) is illegal in new york so it's not an option for them. Hamilton has certainly been at the forefront of all the anti-scalping measures lately though, they're pretty passionate about it. 

I've been pretty uniformly delighted in the cast members who have been unknowns. It's clear there ARE people out there, and with a property as hot as Hamilton they're lining up for the chance. What they need to stop doing is casting from Lin's address book, that's where the hit and miss has come in. Looking at all of the actors who I've found lacking, they've pretty much all had previous ties to Lin through other works of his. There's been gems there too, including a large portion of the OBC and Karen Olivo's Angelica. But there's also been Mandy, Seth, etc. 

 

[Mike66]

kclahar said: "Pan_Am_L-1011 said: "I saw it in London in June and paid 200 Pounds. It was absolutely worth it and absolutely the best show I have ever seen, hands down.

I wish those idiots on Broadway would allow what they do in London. There's no scalping that way. I check ticketmaster for weeks and suddenly 8 seats in a row opened up and I snapped up two of them. I'd easily pay $200 to see it again.

 

200 POUNDS and 200 DOLLARS.  Not the same.