OnStage: The brutal truth is that if you're an actual musical theatre fan, there's nothing Hamilton can do any better because it's a near perfect show. From the basic to the inner details, it's just about flawless. While some musicals barely have one memorable song(seriously, sing me something from Light in the Piazza), Hamilton has at least 10. It's arrangements and orchestrations are innovative and some of the most creative choices I've heard. Its' story arc both inspires and breaks your heart within a single act. And do I really have to mention the lyric work? I find it sad that some out there don't realize the genius stroke of performing words of protest written by patriots in a style of music that was founded in rebellion.
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I certainly don't think that a Broadway show can be overexposed, just on the basis that Broadway shows don't get any exposure in the first place. What I think I'm more annoyed with people discussing is the ticket prices. People have suddenly come upon the idea that Hamilton itself is responsible for it's high ticket prices, which is simply just not true. The fact of the matter is that the tickets that come directly from the venue are around the same price as any other show on Broadway. The nicer tickets are going to be around $150, with tickets going down in to the low $60's-$70's. The problem with this is that ticket resellers buy up all of the available tickets immediately, selling them at 12 times the original prices because of how high the demand is for the tickets. Sure, this only allows the rich and powerful to see a show about the empowerment of the poor, but Hamilton is certainly not to blame.
This article hits the nail on the head about this show. I too was skeptical about the show before I had listened to it. And I was actually asking myself one of the questions that the author of this article asked, “So where does the hate come from?”. I had thought about and I was trying to figure out why I didn’t want to listen to the album or want to like the show. The conclusion I came to was that I thought it the hype about the show would pass and I would have been right about it, but then I listened to it. And I began to think about the first two reminders the author lists. The author only argues two shows have impacted, I would have to argue that there have been more than that. Also, the second reminder they list is so true. Regardless of the critical reception of the show, Hamilton deserves merit because it is teaching kids to enjoy American history.
Okay, my issues with this article stem right from the title. Can you actually hate hamilton? Yes, I can, because I am a human being capable of forging my own opinion. Hamilton is not the objective best piece of media that cannot be hated by anyone just because it is Hamilton, and as such, hyperbolizing it will get us nowhere. Exposure is important, and Hamilton has permeated just about every facet of our culture, all the way from school theatre competitions to the white house. I, like Ben, was skeptical before listening to it. But I am still skeptical after listening to it. The beat structures are typical, the lyricism repetitive and not blazing any trails not already blazed by In the Heights. I do think the show manages an effect blend of style on a scale that most musicals can only aspire to, but I don't think that something can be the best of anything based solely on doing a couple things better. Rent hasn't hit our generation the way it has generations past, and the same goes for the producers. Broadway is destined to be a passing fad, even though the concept of theatre isn't. As long as shows are commercial, there will always be a wall between the audience and the material that it is difficult to cross over. I would like to be in the room when that happens.
This article discusses something that has become one of my biggest pet peeves over the years. I can not stand when people dislike something simply because of its success or popularity. I am not saying that that is the only reason anyone could ever dislike Hamilton, but I think for theatre fans, that is one of the main reasons people actually have. I, like most people, was very skeptical when I saw the show. I saw it in previews on Broadway, and had already been hyped up so much for me as the best show ever to grace a Broadway stage. When people ask me about Hamilton, they almost ask me if it lives up to the hype, and honestly, it did for me, but it might not for everyone. As the author says, Hamilton is about as close to perfect as musical theatre can be, but I understand that not everyone likes the same things or cares about the same things when viewing theatre. I think the hype surrounding Hamilton makes virtually everyone come into the show much more critical than they normally would be, but that is not a bad thing by any means. When people (like my mother, specifically) come in expecting to be blown away, but being immensely doubtful about the show's ability to do that, and the show still blows their mind, that makes the national Hamilton obsession grow in strength.
This article is written kind of strangely. I really thought it would be a longer and more in depth article about the different aspects of Hamilton, but all it did was essentially debunk anyone who doesn't like Hamilton. So, I will now provide two counterpoints.
1). Yes, there are people who do not like Hamilton. I am not one of them, but I know several. Yes, it is possible to simply not enjoy rap music. Does that mean Hamilton is bad? No, and anyone who says Hamilton is bad because it has rap music is dumb. But it is totally possible to dislike what many call a "masterpiece". I really really dislike Rent. Everyone I know LOVES Rent. People have opinions, and when someone has an opinion, especially about something like music, they are not "wrong".
2). Yes, my main problem with Hamilton has been how it was received. And the part I didn't like about how it is received is essentially the first half of the article. Stop calling Hamilton the Sistine Chapel. Stop implying that racism in theater is over because we have one very successful non-white show. Stop praising Hamilton but ignoring the economic disparity of those who are and aren't going to see it. Stop putting Hamilton on a pedestal, devoid of criticism.
I have more minor criticisms of Hamilton, but none that were addressed in this article, and I think I've actually posted about them on the blog before. I really like the music from Hamilton, and I think it is doing very good things for theater. But it is not the musical of our generation, it is not perfect, anything can be improved. Nothing is sacred, and we should be okay talking about that.
If there is one phrase that immediately drives me up the wall its “a real _______ fan.” Yes, I do really like Hamilton and I would give a lot of things up to be able to see it. I think it has great music and the small clips I’ve seen of the show were fantastic. But that doesn’t mean I consider that every real musical theatre fan objectively has to agree with me. I don’t like the pedestal Hamilton has been put on, while I do think Hamilton is a great work of art I think it’s way too early to be calling it the Sistine Chapel of our generation. And even then I’m sure there were some art fans who when Michelangelo finished the Sistine Chapel were like “Wow, that’s an impressive feat, but it’s not really my kind of art.” That’s not called not being a really art fan, that’s called having your own opinion. Some people the other day were talking about whether for not they considered themselves “theater kids”, and one of the defining factors was whether or not they liked Hamilton. Hamilton should not a basis for inclusion. It’s just a musical, a really good musical in my personal opinion, but other people are allowed to not like it and still be “real musical theatre fans.” I mean, I’ve never understood why the Mona Lisa was that big a deal.
It's interesting to see how whenever a large production, movie, art piece, etc comes out, there is always some form of backlash. I guess it has to do with the defensive and kind of narcissistic nature of humans? We don't always want to admit that a really well done and important show is THAT great. Which is pretty interesting. However, if I were to complain about Hamilton's reception it would focus on the idea that Hamilton is completely eradicating racism in theater. Of course that isn't true, and as much as I'd like for Hamilton to be the end of casting prejudice and the "end of theater racism" it can't be. Either way, I think the most interesting part of Hamilton's reception has been the immediate backlash as well as the immediate die-hard fans. The show is important, extremely timely and well-done and it should be recognized as so in my opinion.
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