Believe it or not, it’s been almost two years since we first learned that the national tour of “Hamilton,” would be coming to Seattle.
How much anticipation was there in town for the critically acclaimed production?
Tickets first went on sale on a Monday morning in November, and by the next afternoon, they were gone.
Well, almost.
If you don’t have tickets yet, a small number are released each day at stgpresents.org and at the box office, or you can try your hand at the lottery for the chance to buy one or two of 40 available orchestra seats, offered at $10 apiece.
It may seem like a lot of work to see a show, and it’s enough to make you wonder, “Is it really worth it?”
Make no mistake; you’re going to want to be in the room where it happens.
The tour-de-force musical about a lesser-known founding father — or at least, he was lesser known before Lin-Manuel Miranda took up his tale — doesn’t disappoint, with a standout cast that shines as it delivers a fast-paced lyrical barrage.
This is the introduction to revolutionary America you’d wish you had gotten growing up.
It all starts with our leading man, as Joseph Morales deftly plays the namesake with a presence that evolves as the show progresses. From the start, he exudes pride and passion, which builds up to air of invincibility at his peak. It feels as if nothing can stop him, and that’s no easy task when your audience already knows how the story ends.
At least, the hope is that you know how his story ends. Read a book, people.
Nik Walker is a convincing foil as Aaron Burr, a mix of conniving, cunning, and just enough fleeting warmth to make him a sympathetic figure as well. He may say he’s the villain in our history, but history is never that simple.
Where the show truly stands out is in the characters that circle the periphery of that duo. Kyle Scatliffe commanded the stage every time he entered, as both Lafayette and Jefferson, while Elijah Malcomb had skillful turns as John Laurens and later Hamilton’s son Phillip.
Shoba Narayan brought devastating emotion and strong vocals to boot as Eliza Hamilton, and Jon Patrick Walker makes the most of his limited moments as King George with an impeccable comedic display.
Though Marcus Choi plays George Washington with a wanting subtlety for most of the show, his closing performance of, “One More Time,” was delivered with such ardor and spirit that you’re left wanting to give him another term in office right then and there.
All the while, the cast performs on a perfectly understated set with pinpoint choreography — the duels deserve mention in this regard — and backed by an ensemble that stands to earn lead roles of their own after taking on their task with such precision.
The only thing that may have detracted from the production didn’t fall on the cast or direction, but rather the acoustics of the Paramount, which may leave you straining to make out some of the repartee. But even that’s of minor detriment to the show. There are no glaring flaws here.
It would be easy for the sheer amount of activity and detail packed into two hours and 45 minutes — with a 15-minute intermission — to come off as busy. But it all works in perfect harmony.
Yes, it’s cliché to say, but you truly don’t want to throw away your shot to see this show before it moves on.
To enter the lottery for Hamilton tickets — we wish you luck in your endeavor — go to www.hamiltonmusical.com/lottery/.