This is a blog I didn’t think I’d write, because if I think back to a year and a half ago I didn’t “get” Hamilton. I tried, repeatedly, to listen to it, but something just wasn’t connecting. I think it was partly to do with my indifference to rap music, and my lack of knowledge about American history. Lots of my friends are huge fans, and would try in vain to get me to join the party, and the hype around it just seemed to drive me further away.

I remember vividly how annoyed I was when my choir announced when one of our songs for the term was going to be a Hamilton medley… I just couldn’t escape it!

Back in February, my good friend and PA Shelley tried one last valiant attempt to make it click, having recently seen it herself and loved it. She explained to me that it wouldn’t click until I listened to it in full, and just to give it another go as she reckoned I would at least appreciate parts of it musically as they sound more like the kind of musical theatre I know and enjoy.

I think “The Story of Tonight” was the point where my ears really started to prick up and I started thinking I could get on board. Then, “The Schuyler Sisters” happened. I was in awe of how Lin -Manuel could blend genres of music so easily and just loved its sass and hearing these strong women own the world. By the time “You’ll be Back” rolled around and Lin’s lyrics and the characterisation I had in mind had me in fits of hysterical laughter, I was sold. I went to bed that night to listen again and had wept at “It’s Quiet Uptown” and resolved to get my mouth round the rap sections of my favourite song (“Satisfied”)

A couple days after this, Shelley and I started talking about potentially going to see the show. We already had a show booked for a Saturday night in April, so we took a punt on applying for tickets for the Saturday evening, and the Friday as a backup choice. It was done completely on a whim and I wasn’t convinced at all we’d get tickets, but to my great surprise: we did, for the Friday night and were able to make a weekend of our theatre.

So what’s it like in The Room Where It Happens? I’m happily gorging on massive amounts of humble pie and have been ever since, because it’s pretty darn special. Sure, the speed of a lot of the lyrics is dizzying and you really have to concentrate to catch a lot of the humour and intricacies, but it really helps seeing the action unfold compared to the cast recording as it’s the way the cast interact and play off each other that gives you the way into the story and makes the politics accessible. I knew next to nothing about the figures we see, and came away wanting to educate myself more about the people and the period it depicts. As I’ve said before, I’m not a massive fan of hip hop and rap music, but Hamilton taught me a new appreciation for the genre, and is clever and funny doing it. The score also incorporates pop, soul, R &B alongside more traditional showtunes, and I’ve really come to admire the show (and Lin Manuel) for how easily and well it fuses that mixture of styles… “Say No To This” has since become another firm favourite song.

One of the things I loved most about the whole experience is Andy Blankenbuehler’s choreography: it’s so intricate and detailed, I especially loved “My Shot” and the rewind section of “Satisfied”. It works so well with Howell Binkley’s lighting, which is so evocative and powerful in itself and can completely change the tone of a scene just by a colour change!

There were a few familiar faces to me in the cast, but for the most part they were all new to me, and for that I’m incredibly grateful because they’re all massively talented and I can’t wait to continue supporting them, here and beyond; I felt so privileged as on our evening we got to see three alternates absolutely smash their roles.

Karl Queensborough was on for Hamilton, and did an absolutely wonderful job. He’s cheeky and charming, but it was also great to see him play the darker, more complex elements of the character. I liked being constantly left guessing about how I felt about him, because some of his choices and actions didn’t sit well with me, despite admiring his determination and work ethic.

Sharon Rose was on for Eliza, and was an absolute queen! She is sweet and sassy, and instills Eliza with great warmth and vulnerability that I loved, and her rendition of “Burn” sent shivers down my spine. She and Karl shared wonderful chemistry and watching the relationship between Alexander and Eliza grow and change throughout the course of the show was really emotional. I remember the anticipation to “It’s Quiet Uptown”- I thought to myself: “I won’t cry, I know what’s coming!”, but I was gravely mistaken: tears were shed. Throughout. Continually. I knew Sharon from her time with Beautiful and was so happy to see her again here. Hopefully I may get the opportunity to see her as Eliza again one day.

I was overjoyed to know Waylon Jacobs would be on for King George, as the last time I had seen him work in Memphis he was also the alternate and on for that time too! Watching him as King George, I was so thrilled and crying with laughter: his facial expressions and comic timing were incredible… so much so he actually made Sifiso Mazibuko (Burr) corpse, which made the delighted audience laugh all the more.

It was a mini Memphis reunion for me as alongside Waylon there’s Jason Pennycooke as Thomas Jefferson and Marquis de Lafayette, and he’s an absolute joy and scene stealer in both of his guises. There’s fantastic work too, from Tarinn Callender, who also doubles up as Hercules Mulligan and James Madison. Tarinn’s Hercules Mulligan is a force of nature: loud, bold and fun and he blew me away with his presence & swagger. Joining him is Cleve September who also doubles up as John Laurents and Phillip Hamilton, and he plays both with great warmth and charm… he’s especially adorable and convincing when Phillip is nine.

Sifiso Mazibuko plays Aaron Burr. Like with Karl’s take on Hamilton, I went through so many conflicting emotions about Burr during the show, and that’s a testament to Sifiso’s acting skill. I felt he had a really understated depth and spirit to Burr, he’s quiet and calm in a really endearing kind of way, and it’s really fun watching Sifiso play with the emotional dynamics as Burr wrestles with feeling increasingly antagonistic towards Hamilton. I’d love to return and hear him sing again, some of Burr’s songs were absolutely standout moments of the whole night for me.

It’s been a fair while since I last saw Dom Hartley- Harris onstage, and I’d forgotten how rich and powerful his voice is so it was an absolute pleasure to see him as George Washington; he’s got warmth and charisma by the bucketload. His interactions with Karl’s young and ambitious Hamilton were among my favourites as you got the sense he really wants him to learn and succeed, but also appreciates his wisdom and attitude.

In general the gents had most of my favourite scenes as I just enjoyed the banter and their harmonies in certain songs, but I cannot forget Allyson Ava Brown who’s absolutely stunning as Angelica Schuyler. Fiery and well read, Angelica loves her sister more than anything and puts her happiness above her own always. Allyson portrays all these elements of Angelica’s personality and her story with grace and likeable ease, and she was the character I felt a real affinity with.

Considering where I was a year and a half ago, Hamilton has certainly found it’s way really quickly and firmly under my skin, and I’m content for it to stay there. I hope next time I can stay and meet the cast and thank them in person for the amazing time I had. Until then, I have the honour to be their obedient servant, and return as soon as I can.