The story of Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s founding fathers, was not generally told. Then in the early 2000s, a book was published by Ron Chernow, telling this founding father’s story. In 2015 Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical based on Chernow’s book, Hamilton, debuted and made waves in the musical theater industry. Recently, I went to the L.A. showing of Hamilton at the Pantages, and it was definitely a show worth watching.
Even from the farthest seat, you could see the actors on stage perfectly well, they were all in sync and told their stories with gusto. Their voices boomed throughout the theater, making the experience truly magical. The first scene in Hamilton really set the bar high for the rest of the night. Blaine Krauss, who played Alexander Hamilton, came on stage with confidence and determination. Not only in the first scene, but for the rest of the musical, Krauss had everyone in awe as he told his story of hardship, love, and revolution. In addition, Kameron Richardson, playing George Washington, took the attention off everyone else as he made his way down the stairs on stage. His dominant voice gave the impression of a fatherly, but stern and stoic, general who’s fighting for his country’s freedom.
Simon Longnight, who played both Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, has the amazing ability to rap and sing incredibly fast, while pretending to have a French accent as Lafayette. Halfway through the musical he changed roles, and became the cocky and intelligent Thomas Jefferson. Aaron Burr, played by Deon’te Goodman, was basically the narrator for this show, and he helped tell Hamilton’s accomplishments. He was Alexander Hamilton’s longtime friend and nemesis, who later took Hamilton’s life in a duel. He perfectly took the role as someone who envied and looked up to Hamilton, yet resented him at the same time.
Paul Louis Lessard, who portrayed King George III, had a humorous and kingly demeanor that added some light-hearted amusement to the musical. Kendyl Sayuri Yokoyama, who portrayed Eliza, Hamilton’s wife, did an amazing job of making Eliza a person who had many faces - lovesick, motherly, mad, happy, and sad. She had a powerful voice that proved its worth in the heartbreaking and maddening song “Burn.” Angelica, Eliza’s sister, played by Lencia Kebede, had a beautiful voice that took over the show during “Satisfied,” as she told her side of the story.
Overall, Hamilton is a musical like no other, it had moments where it made me, and everyone else, cry and laugh. It told Alexander Hamilton’s story in a phenomenal way, and the next time it plays at the Pantages, I would highly recommend watching it.
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