How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore have the most successful musical in history written about him? If you've been alive in the last year, you've heard about Lin-Manuel Miranda's incredible musical, Hamilton. The show earned a record number of Tony awards and is sold out for months in every major city in which it is performed. So why all the hype? Does the show actually live up to its sky-high expectations? The answer, in my opinion, is YES. What makes this show so revolutionary?
1. The Music
Lin-Manuel Miranda spent 7 years writing the musical, so the soundtrack is just phenomenal. Mixing old-school Broadway tones with modern hip hop, the musical is something new. The track rises and falls and brings the audience with it. It swings from intense ballads like "Burn" and "Wait for It" to insane rap numbers like the "Cabinet Battles" and "Guns and Ships" where Lafayette raps an incredible 19 words in 3 seconds.
2. It's so Relevant
The themes in the show are still applicable to today, despite being based in the 18th century. Hamilton deals with countless social issues such as immigration, infidelity, and government gridlock. Yeah, that's not relevant at all. Miranda even described the show as "America then, told my America now."
3. The Complexity
Who's the bag guy? Is it Burr? Jefferson? Even Hamilton? Should Alexander be with Eliza or Angelica? Nothing in this show is clear cut. We're able to see the motives of almost every character. The plot thickens with every line, but we're never forced to muddle through.
4. History is Awesome!
I'm a nerd. I love historical accuracy. And while Miranda took a few liberties, the show is fairly accurate. I'll never forget my political science professor's face when she asked who wrote the Federalist Papers and I told her that, "John Jay got sick after writing 5. James Madison wrote 29. Hamilton wrote the other 51." This musical is an insanely fun way to keep up with history class.
5. It Serves as a Lesson
Because it's so relevant, Hamilton has been seen by several in the political sphere, including Dick Cheney, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama. The show has been described as transcending the political boundaries that have existed for so long. By reminding us where we come from, we can gain a new insight into today's issues.
Hamilton is the story of a young, scrappy, and hungry country and the men that created it. It's a patriotic history lesson with a beat we can all sing or rap along to. No matter your taste in music or politics, there's something in the show that you'll be able to get behind. At the very least, it's a cogent reminder that "History has its eyes on you."
