Photo credit: Company – HAMILTON National Tour- © Joan Marcus
From now until September 8, you can be in the room where it happens. Yes, Hamilton is back in St. Louis for the third time, by popular demand. The megahit musical became a cultural sensation when it debuted in 2015; the Fox Theatre played host to the touring company in 2018 and again in 2022. The musical has lost none of its power or relevancy since its premiere. The USA is bogged down in a particularly strange and dark election year, and we can use a reminder of the boldness, the shortcomings, and the one-of-a-kind characters of our founders.
Do you already know the story of “the ten-dollar founding father without a father?” If not, Hamilton will tell it like it’s never been told before. The musical’s first act follows young Alexander Hamilton (Tyler Fauntleroy) as he rises out of poverty on a Caribbean island and makes his way to New York. At King’s College he meets Aaron Burr (Jimmie Jeter); from that day forward, the men’s fates are hopelessly intertwined. Hamilton, a cultural outcast who rejected tradition and titles in favor of self-determination, finds common cause with the Patriots and joins the Revolutionary Army. He earns the trust of George Washington (A.D. Weaver) and the love of Eliza Schuyler (Lauren Mariasoosay), daughter of a revolutionary general and congressmen.
In the second act, Hamilton and his fellow revolutionaries offer their competing visions for a more perfect union. Hamilton becomes the first Secretary of the Treasury and immediately locks horns with fellow cabinet member (and soon-to-be Vice President) Thomas Jefferson (Jared Howelton). Hamilton navigates successes, scandals, and personal tragedy. As his journey comes to a close, he wonders “Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?”
This was my first time seeing the living legend that is Hamilton, and it did not disappoint. The dynamic score cleverly melds hip hop, R&B, balladry, and showtunes. It’s an audacious combo that few songwriters (save Lin-Manuel Miranda) could pull off. Sure, there are many thrilling songs about the Revolutionary War—but songs about banking policy? Hamilton can make even the most cynical observer into a gushing history nerd.
The comical “You’ll Be Back,” sung by King George III (Justin Matthew Sargent), sounds the most like a traditional showtune. King George is presented here as a campy, sneering villain; he reprises the song twice, taunting the young and scruffy revolutionaries with zingers like “You say / The price of my love’s not a price that you’re willing to pay / You cry / In your tea, which you hurl in the sea when you see me go by.”
On the flipside, you have soulful ballads like “Satisfied,” sung by Hamilton’s sister-in-law Angelica Schuyler (Marja Harmon). Angelica was once Hamilton’s lover and became a devoted friend and supporter after Eliza won his heart. Her stormy passion finds release in Ms. Harmon’s rich, powerful voice.
The choreography for Hamilton enlivens its ambitious score. From the halls of Congress to the battlefield, the performers propel the action with a mixture of ballet and hip hop dance. The dancers even invest mental tasks (like writing 51 essays) with excitement and urgency. This touring production also features the iconic bricks-and-scaffolding set design of the original Broadway run. It provides a minimalistic backdrop for the thrilling, imaginative storytelling that unfolds.
This touring production of Hamilton will play at the Fabulous Fox Theatre (527 N. Grand Blvd.) until Saturday, September 8. Curtains open at 7:30 PM every night; there are also weekend matinees at 2 PM. Ticket prices range from $39 to luxe $249. If you want the full experience, start saving those $10 bills. Visit https://www.fabulousfox.com/events/detail/hamilton for more details. | Rob Von Nordheim
