After much anticipation, Broadway musical Hamilton finally graced the stage at Marina Bay Sands’ Sands theatre. The emotional and action-packed musical blew audiences away with incredible vocal performances, choreography, and music that redefines the genre of musical theatre. It’s no wonder Hamilton has won multiple awards, including the Pulitzer Prize as well as Tony, Grammy, and Oliver Awards.
The musical follows the American founding father, Alexander Hamilton, as he fights for American independence and then navigates the political world of the newly independent nation.
Hamilton is not your typical musical theatre production. Instead of keeping to conventional styles of music, the score by Lin-Manuel Miranda is a thrilling blend of hip-hop, rap, ballads and jazz.
With energetic numbers and action-packed scenes, the musical is a feat in itself. However, the international touring cast of Hamilton executed it with perfection. Jason Arrow’s Hamilton is endearing and passionate, with an almost boyish quality to him. Arrow’s onstage chemistry with DeAundre’ Woods, who plays Aaron Burr, places Burr and Hamilton’s relationship right at the heart of the show. Woods’ nuanced portrayal gave a new insight into the motives of the character; by the end of the musical, I found myself feeling sympathetic towards him.
While the musical is primarily about Hamilton and his political activities, some of the most iconic and well-loved songs are tracks like “Satisfied” and “Schuyler Sisters” which feature Hamilton’s wife Eliza Schuyler (Rachelle Ann Go) and her sisters, Angelica (Akinda Edmond) and Peggy (Elandrah Eramiha).
Go’s sweet-like-honey vocals capture Eliza’s love for Hamilton in every song, and audiences are treated to a performance of “Burn” so devastating that it was almost painful to watch.
While Eliza is arguably the most sympathetic of the characters, it is Edmond’s interpretation of Angelica that is uniquely heartbreaking. As the quick-witted older sister, Angelica is typically pragmatic and unwaveringly strong. Edmond’s “Satisfied” showcases a more vulnerable side of the character, one who possesses strength, love and pain.
Ultimately, it is the entire cast that made the musical an impressive feat. The most exciting songs in the musical feature the ensemble cast heavily. The choreography by Andy Blanken Buehler is one of the most unique aspects of the musical; smooth, precise and swift movements give the pieces a dynamic feel and will have your eyes glued to the stage.
Although many of us have listened to the Hamilton soundtrack multiple times over, hearing the live instruments is a vastly different experience. It was thrilling to hear the live blend of drums, piano, and violins, amongst other instruments, bringing music director Alex Lacamoire’s musical vision to life. Watching the musical in-person also gave me a new appreciation for the set designer David Korin and lighting designer Howell Binkley’s creativity and talent – the revolving stage and the lighting effectively created an immersive and engaging atmosphere.
To watch Hamilton is to experience intense excitement, loss, pain, and joy in a 170-minute production.
Hamilton is playing at Marina Bay Sands’ Sands Theatre from now till Jun 9. Tickets are available at Marina Bay Sands ticketing and Sistic.
Text by Beverly Anne Devakishen.
