Bradford’s historic Alhambra Theatres is certainly doing its bit to kick off the city’s stint as UK City of Culture by booking the world’s hottest musical in for a long run.
I’ve always thought a hip-hop musical about Alexander Hamilton, one of the more obscure members of the Founding Fathers who delivered democracy to America, was a concept that shouldn’t really work, but, boy, did this powerful touring version of a theatrical juggernaut prove me very wrong.
If you think of the Founding Fathers as an intellectual boyband, then Hamilton born as a bastard into poverty in the Caribbean is the Jason Orange of the group. Quite why Lin-Manuel Miranda who wrote the book, lyrics and music picked him to be the star of his show isn’t that obvious, but the rise and fall of this Icarus of the revolutionary movement who probably should have been President Hamilton is a compelling one.
Sitting in the stalls as the actors spit out his words over some complex tunes you can’t help but muse that writing a show this good usually takes at least two hugely talented creatives, but Miranda did all this on his own. His real gift is to take a complex story of war and high-level politics from centuries ago, and keep it interesting for over two hours, which he does.
This is billed as a hip-hop musical, but the rapping is hardly Public Enemy or NWA, so it tends to the poppier of the medium, with some dollops of R & B thrown in mostly performed by the female performers, like on the soulful swing of The Schuyler Sisters as rich girls tour the New York slums.
This was a time when men ruled the world so there is plenty of testosterone on stage as they lay down their words on the powerful My Shot, where relative newcomer Marley Fenton sets out his stall as the quick thinking and fast talking Hamilton determined to make his mark as an orphan in this strange new world. Marley really captures the complexity of an incredibly gifted but difficult man who could start a fight in an empty room, and how his hubris finally cost him everything.
Billy Nevers shines as his nemesis Aaron Burr who is also an outsider, and his sweet vocals are top drawer throughout. KM Drew Boateng is a powerful vocalist as a duplicitous James Madison who hates Hamilton, and Ashley J. Daniels is amusing as strutting peacock Thomas Jefferson. Akmed Junior Khemalai brings a quiet dignity to warrior turned statesman George Washington who becomes Hamiltion’s surrogate father figure as they win the war, and his reading of the reflective One Last Time has real emotional intelligence.
Roshani Abbey was probably the weakest singer as Hamilton’s long suffering wife Eliza, but Charity Crisp’s Angelica Schuyler gives glorious voice to her secret love for Hamilton on a moving Its Quiet Downtown. Louis Maskell camps it up perfectly as a confused King George with every step around the stage perfectly measured, and his arch rendition of You’ll Be Back is hilarious.
Big shows like this live and die on their ensemble, and here a big group of talented singers and dancers rarely put a foot wrong making the most of the David Korins’ massive set that evokes early New York to nail Andy Blankenbuehler’s complex, street inspired choreography. Their work on the jazzy The Room Where It Happens is a classic example of how committed supporting performers can really elevate a show to greatness. As this is a sung through musical, special mention to Nevin Steinberg’s pin sharp sound design that makes sure the audience can keep up with a complicated storyline at every turn.
Hamilton works as a beautifully executed and performed musical but is also a really timely reminder that as an orange tyrant tries to trample all over the ideals of the Founding Fathers that a hard won democracy is always worth fighting for.
Hamilton is Bradford Alhambra until 15th March. To book www.bradford-theatres.co.uk or 01274 432000.
Reviewer: Paul Clarke
Reviewed: 31st January 2025
North West End UK Rating: