This review was written by a TeenTix KC teen who is learning about arts journalism through the Press Corps, which provides teens with training and tools to respond to their arts experiences. TeenTix KC seeks to engage teens in the arts and amplify their voices. This may be the first time this teen has publicly expressed their opinion about an arts experience. Thank you for reading and supporting this teen’s development as an arts journalist.
On the Fourth of July, looking up at the fireworks, you feel a boom throughout your body and almost an ache in your chest. This is an ache of emotion and empathy for the real people who went through this story. Watching Hamilton from the Broadway in KC series you can feel so many emotions as if you’re in the story itself. That’s why this iconic musical is a firework.
At Hamilton, I felt truly immersed in every sense. The lights look as if they are dancing with the actors and I felt a shock wave in my chest with the music and smelled the smoke of the gun fights. Every part is designed to immerse you in the story of Alexander Hamilton.
As someone who has loved Hamilton since it came out, it was nothing like I expected, watching it in real time. There were so many things I hadn’t noticed before and so many things I felt because of the power of music and sound.
The first thing I noticed from the very beginning was the lighting. The different shapes and patterns of light danced alongside the actors. It was almost as if Howell Brinkley, the lighting designer, danced as well. Yet this could not have been achieved without the set (by David Korins) which included mismatched brick patterns that, with different lighting, portrayed different patterns and shapes. The lighting helps create the setting but outstanding ensemble members like Miriam Ali, Philip Deceus and Haley Doring truly helped us see a bigger picture through the choreography (by Andy Lankenbuehler). The characters do this by performing stunts and tasks in certain places which help Alexander perform his role.
Even though the actors played their roles beautifully, there were a couple of actors I felt would be better suited for a different character based on their voices and acting style. Tyler Fauntleroy was great as Hamilton but seemed more suited for Lafayette. His silliness and acting style were more like Lafayette’s sarcasm and attitude rather than Alexander’s more serious and determined personality. Yet from the beginning, Fauntleroy was able to show how Alexander was determined to make something of himself, and we also saw that in his son. Though we do see this determination (like father like son), we also see an immature side of Philip (Nathan Haydel) who seemed almost overly naive and uncontrollable rather than how he was raised and taught by his mother.
We can also see many similarities between the father and son, such as determination and humor. Philip stood up for his father, showing determination, and in the end, both died in the same spot. We can also see differences in morals. Alexander saw nothing wrong when Burr confessed to seeing a married woman and he also did the same himself. In the end, his morals were his downfall. Surprisingly, Angelica (Marja Harmon) had openly liked Alexander from the beginning, saying they should “share him,” and she wanted to “take a bite of him.” Yet Alexander held back from her. We can see how, during the 1800’s, even though the time was more traditional, there were still scandals throughout the government. In the end, the final scandal we see is Aaron Burr (Jimmie J.J. Jeter) betraying Alexander and shooting him. During this time, the song “The World was Wide Enough for Both of us,” Alexander’s seven minutes of his best memories played, and he sees all the people in his life who supported him before the tragic ending of his death.
Hamilton makes such an impact not only physically through acoustic shock waves but also emotionally. We are left with so many feelings and questions we must answer, but overall we are left with examples and inspiration for a legacy, as well as ways we can be better and problems we can avoid. Lessons we learn from the past are examples for our future.
Reviewed by TeenTix KC Press Corps member Abby Foster
TeenTix KC is a KC Studio initiative building a brighter future for our region by empowering young people to take an active role in shaping their arts community as audience members, critics, influencers, advocates, patrons and leaders. Any 13-19 year-old can become a TeenTix KC member by downloading a free pass which enables them to buy $5 tickets to participating arts venues across metro KC. Teens are encouraged to become critics and influencers by writing reviews and creating reels about the arts they experience using their TeenTix KC passes.
