The curtains open one final time at ‘Hamilton’ tonight, and one more delighted audience will experience the show in all its pain and glory. 145,000 attendees have been witness to the award-winning musical at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre in Dublin’s Docklands.
The Tony winning musical was created by Lin Manuel Miranda and quickly became a worldwide phenomenon . The show praised the founding fathers while also celebrating the melting pot of America, and did exceptionally well with audiences.
Because, the show seems awfully niche when you boil it down. A rap musical about the American Revolution and the foundation of the United States as an independent nation doesn’t appeal to everyone. Yet, the praise from audiences coming out of the show says otherwise.
‘Hamilton’ is something I feel very attached to. I first learned the song ‘The Schuyler Sisters’ in a singing class back when I was 13 years old. I honestly thought it was a bit strange at first – founding fathers and revolution, I was very confused! That night I listened to some of the soundtrack for the first time.
Then I listened to it again…
And again and again.
It took me a few days to get to Act II because I just kept starting from the beginning so I could listen to the same song I just heard in awe. ‘Hamilton’ became a strange comfort for me as I transitioned into secondary school. It kept me company as I did more homework than I ever thought possible and when I took the bus home alone for the first time.
I had the opportunity to see ‘Hamilton’ on the West End in the summer of 2019. By this point, I had watched about twenty different bootlegs and had become very good at finding which particular ‘slime videos’ actually held an illegal recording of the show. The time finally came for me to see the show and I just didn’t appreciate it. I felt almost too cool for it or something. And I regretted it fiercely. Seeing ‘Hamilton’ now, at 20 years old and a lifetime away from my thirteen year old self, I enjoyed every single second.
I won’t brag, but I absolutely will. Myself and my lovely Mum sat second row and I gazed up at the fabulous cast with wonder in my eyes. The cast was exemplary, though I was so familiar with the original Broadway cast album that I found myself almost shocked when anyone changed a single word. The number one benefit of sitting so close was the proximity to the orchestra. They were incredible, sitting beneath the stage. During one of my favourite moments in the entire show, the dance break in ‘Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)’, I could feel the drums. I was totally immersed and I have goosebumps just recalling the memory.
I spoke with a number of my friends and asked them for a simple one-liner on the show. Some followed the brief. However most didn’t “throw away their shot” to reference a song or two (see what I did there!) and one came back with a poetic soliloquy full of love and devotion. I think it might even be a little too personal to share!
Euan Batt, UCD student and someone I’ve spoken to about Hamilton at length with in all of our Leaving Cert history classes said: “Brilliantly captures the magic of the Broadway original, whilst making clever modifications to suit the skilled cast.”
Sophie Henry, DCU student was first in with the punny answer: “We’ll be back to see it again. I can’t wait for it to come back to the Bord Gais.” Lauren Joyce gave a wonderful reply: “A historical tale turned to an outstanding piece of entertainment, Hamilton is engaging for all ages.” I certainly saw far more kids than I expected to. I didn’t think they’d be so interested in American history!
Craig Doyle, ever the English student and not to be one upped said: “Lin Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, a masterpiece which has had its praises sung by people much more elegant with their words than I, continues to stand the test of time almost a decade after its opening on Broadway, and his work remains an inspiration for anyone who wants to pick up their pen and write like they’re running out of time.” I suppose I did say one sentence!
Back to the song lyrics, DCU student Adam Hayes said: “Hamilton certainly didn’t throw away its shot to impress”. Our wonderful Deputy Editor Leonor Selas do Amaral said simply: “They blew us all away!”
One other surprising thread that I did not pick up on was revealed to me by Michael Murphy, DCU Jazz student. While I may have expected some sort of music related insight to be revealed to me by Michael, I was blown away by what he had to say: “The guy from the IKEA ad played Hamilton and that made it ten times better.” And Ailish Connor, our satire editor backed Michael up saying: “Well done to the guy from the IKEA ads.” Just in case I still didn’t quite believe it. Insane.
Sarah Duff, DCU Communications student spoke for us all saying: “It made me laugh, it made me cry and everything in between. I really enjoyed it.” And I know it made her cry, I’ve seen photographic evidence. Another Comms student Grace Collins called the musical a “new classic that managed to add its own flair” and she called us all out saying the vocals would “put your shower concerts to shame”.
Anna Doyle, student at Trinity College was blown away by the ensemble. “The cast were incredible but I have to say the ensemble were phenomenal. They really made the show.” Though, Anna had to admit that she thought the cast on the West End were a “slightly higher calibre”. Sophie King however, disagreed. “Better than the cast that I saw in London”, she said. Sophie was the only one who told me she went to the stage door after the how, and said the cast was so kind. “There’s a reason it was sold out. What a good show!”
Caragh Malone, someone who was also in that singing class way back when said: “The sheer experience of seeing this musical live has changed me”.
The only consistent issue I heard was in the sound. The further back, the less the lyrics could be heard. Craig argued however, it wasn’t a sound problem but a lack of diction from some of the actors. “I knew the words so I knew what they were saying but at times you couldn’t exactly make out what they were saying”. Craig was willing to forgive it however as “there’s so much you get to see as opposed to when you’re up close.”
To circle back, or reprise I should say, the show was phenomenal. And what a treat to have a show so prestigious come to Dublin. I was in 6th year when we booked the tickets but I’m now a little devastated that the time has passed. The cast were exemplary, the chorus incredible and the atmosphere in the room one of pure, distilled joy! When they do come back, which I can only hope, I will be seated to watch revolution unravel yet again. And I certainly won’t take it for granted like before. Maybe I’ll sit further back and take it all in, it’s not like I don’t know every word anyway.
Or maybe not, because the best part about sitting second row is making direct, unwavering eye-contact with Thomas Jefferson during ‘What’d I Miss’ and simply beaming!