What don’t I know about Hamilton that I should?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a book called Hamilton: The Revolution which is about the creation of the musical. If you're interested in the many references the musical makes, or how the songs got written, and stagecraft details like "the bullet" role (someone posted above about watching the dancer who is "the bullet" -- watch that cast member throughout the whole play to see a lot else going on too) -- then you would be interested in that book. It's in some libraries. Lots of pictures and lyrics but it does pick apart the lyrics to show you what Miranda was thinking as he wrote the songs.

Getting the musical out of Miranda's head and onto the stage was a very interesting process if you're into musicals at all. If you like "Hamilton" like I do, you owe a lot to director Thomas Kail and musical director Alex Lacamoire, who have worked with Miranda for a long time, and who were crucial to keeping Miranda on track. This isn't me saying so--Miranda is always quick to credit Kail, Lacamoire and choreographer Andy Blankebuehler with making the musical a reality.

Loved the book you mention about the creation of the musical.

I had not seen Hamilton in the theater, but then saw it on Disney Plus in July. I was blown away! So I read the book about the musical, and then I read the Ron Chernow book Hamilton. (I listened to it on Audible.)

I am blown away by the genius of Lin Manuel Miranda. The whole concept is brilliant, and then to make such awesome songs and raps. It appeals to all ages. (I am 50.)

In terms of interesting facts about Hamilton, I found it sad that Eliza Hamilton outlived her husband by 40-50 years. The family had no money, as Hamilton had always been so principled and never sought out money (even though he was a very hard worker). He had waived a military pension because he was advocating for it (as a policy matter) in Congress. But after he died, Eliza appealed to Congress to see if she could get a survivor benefit on his military pension, and Congress granted it.

Also, it was interesting that famous Americans could come and visit her house on H Street near the White House. Among her prized possessions was a small gift that Martha Washington had given her. (George Washington was kind of like Hamilton's mentor.)

[Anonymous]

While there are a lot of liberties taken to move the story along, a lot of what was in letters between the characters is incorporated. Like Hamilton did call Eliza "best of wives and best of women" and there was correspondence on whether a misplaced comma indicated something more romantic.

Hamilton and Peggy were very close confidants.

If you watch closely, there are nods to the potential of Hamilton and Laurens being lovers, i.e. "Laurens I like you a lot" and looks between the two actors.

While the musical shows Hamilton raring to go after learning of Laurens death, in actuality he was devastated and inactive in the immediate aftermath.

LMM went to a NESCAC college (Wesleyan) and Hamilton was a founding trustee of a different NESCAC college (Hamilton) though he never set foot on campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that great. I know, I’m the only one but still it’s not that great.

I am generally the person who sees something years after the rest of the world and finds that it doesn't live up to the hype.

Hamilton is incredibly clever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that great. I know, I’m the only one but still it’s not that great.

I am generally the person who sees something years after the rest of the world and finds that it doesn't live up to the hype.

Hamilton is incredibly clever.

+1

I was a "late adopter" and decided to read the Chernow book first to have background. Even if you don't care for the musical aspects, the lyrics are brilliant. The more I read about it and learned about the many layers LMM wove together (various music genres) the more impressed I was.

[Anonymous]

The number of words per sec/minute was referenced on another Hamilton thread and included a fascinating video which, of course, I can't find. But, I did find this on Google that talks about it. Basically, because rap has more words per sec/minute, artists can pack a lot more in a lot more quickly. If Hamilton had been paced like a typical Broadway show, it would have be hours longer than it is.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/hamilton-is-the-very-model-of-a-modern-fast-paced-musical/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that great. I know, I’m the only one but still it’s not that great.

You are not alone. Hated it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that great. I know, I’m the only one but still it’s not that great.

It’s a decent work of art. It’s just that guilty rich white liberals created a stratospheric and undeserved level of hype around it.

The expert critique offered by users of DCUM. Unless you tell us why exactly you think it's "not that great" as eloquently as Miranda wrote the musical, respectfully STFU.

Yeah, okay. Time to take your meds, sweetie.

OK, sweetie. But you still haven't offered a single reason as to why "it's not so great."

DP. The PP owes you no explanation whatsoever. S/he didn’t like it, end of story. Why are Hamilton fans so rabid and defensive?

[Anonymous]

I saw this for the first time on New Year's Day. I enjoyed it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that great. I know, I’m the only one but still it’s not that great.

It’s a decent work of art. It’s just that guilty rich white liberals created a stratospheric and undeserved level of hype around it.

The expert critique offered by users of DCUM. Unless you tell us why exactly you think it's "not that great" as eloquently as Miranda wrote the musical, respectfully STFU.

Yeah, okay. Time to take your meds, sweetie.

OK, sweetie. But you still haven't offered a single reason as to why "it's not so great."

DP. The PP owes you no explanation whatsoever. S/he didn’t like it, end of story. Why are Hamilton fans so rabid and defensive?

Of course it’s fine to not like it. I enjoy opera generally, but I’m not a Wagner fan. That’s different from saying the work is objectively “not great.”

[Anonymous]

Yes, the book about the making of the musical is wonderful! I got it for my "Hamilton" buff and we've both read and reread it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that great. I know, I’m the only one but still it’s not that great.

It’s a decent work of art. It’s just that guilty rich white liberals created a stratospheric and undeserved level of hype around it.

The expert critique offered by users of DCUM. Unless you tell us why exactly you think it's "not that great" as eloquently as Miranda wrote the musical, respectfully STFU.

Yeah, okay. Time to take your meds, sweetie.

OK, sweetie. But you still haven't offered a single reason as to why "it's not so great."

DP. The PP owes you no explanation whatsoever. S/he didn’t like it, end of story. Why are Hamilton fans so rabid and defensive?

Because of the sheer ludicrousness of saying Hamilton is “not that great.” That position is as absurd as saying “Trump isn’t that bad as President.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all fascinating. Keep in coming. I LOVED Hamilton on Disney plus.

Read the book. Dont be lazy

You're an idiot

[Anonymous]

It’s headache inducing. Lin Manuel Miranda is way over his head as a performer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that great. I know, I’m the only one but still it’s not that great.

You are not alone. Hated it.

The only thing cooler than being a fan is being someone who hated it.

[Anonymous]

Aaron Burr was an interesting, complicated guy. His grandfather was Jonathan Edwards, which is a tough legacy to saddle any kid with. In some ways, he was more modern than others of his generation. As a PP above pointed out, he gave his daughter an excellent, rigorous education that was unusual for girls at that time. He also openly campaigned for office in a way that was considered unseemly at the time but would be normal to us.

He deeply loved his first wife, who was married to a British officer when they met, but he also slept around. A lot. He was shattered when she died.

The whole Burr conspiracy out west was weird, and historians don't entirely agree about Burr's intentions.

Forgotten Founder is a pretty good biography of Burr. It's well researched, even if I don't agree with all of the author's conclusions.