By Graham Hiley. Photos by Danny Kaan.
If you’ve never seen Hamilton then you really do need to be in the Room Where It Happens.
If you have already seen this magnificent musical, You’ll be Back.
And if you have been living under a rock and have no idea why there is so much hype about Lin-Manuel Miranda’s masterpiece, then don’t throw away Your Shot during its six-week run at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre.
And don’t be put off by the subject matter or that the music – very loosely – is classed as rap.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t think I would like it. I hate rap and the story of a Founding Father shaping the future of America didn’t really appeal.
BUT this Broadway smash is breathtakingly brilliant. Far from being conventional rap, it is more like machine gun fire dialogue set against catchy music which has just the right volume to allow the fiendishly clever lyrics to dominate and delight.
It is almost impossible to imagine how the cast even begin to remember the lines as they weave a hypnotic spell. And it is just as difficult to take it all in on one viewing.
This was my third time and this was every bit as good as the two performances I saw in London.
Inevitably some touring productions are sometimes scaled back for provincial theatres. Not this. Not in any way.
The Mayflower Theatre’s cavernous stage lent itself perfectly to the set which was an exact replica of that in the West End complete with the integral turntable which is such a key part of the production.
And the cast is right on a par with their peers. Marley Fenton struck just the right tone as Alexander Hamilton while Louis Maskell was brilliantly quirky as King George, even throwing in a subtle Donald Trump impression to provide much-needed light relief.
Chasity Crisp’s portrayal of Angelica Schuyler was all the more remarkable as she has also performed the role in Hamburg – in German!
But in many ways the star was Billy Nevers as Aaron Burr who could have been the title character as this is as much his story as Hamilton’s.
With his strong stage presence and superb singing, Nevers gives the role a more sympathetic edge than there is in the London production, bringing out the pathos of what was once a friendship.
The audience know the ending right from the very first song but Thomas Kail’s production is so immersive that they are still willing a different outcome as the inevitable looms ever nearer.
Andy Blankenbuehler’s flawless choreography adds to the pace and power of the piece which is relentless, receiving a raucous reaction from the audience after each successive big number.
The well-deserved standing ovation at the end was not just a tribute to the incredibly high levels of the performance and production but also a recognition that we are lucky to have one of the all-time great musicals on our own doorstep. You Can’t Say No To This.
Hamilton runs at the Mayflower Theatre until April 26 with tickets inevitably selling fast. They are on sale at mayflower.org.uk or 02380 711811.
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