Hamilton Does Kansas City!

 

by Pa Rock

Proud Grandpa

The Music Hall Theatre at the Kansas City Convention Center seats just north of 2,300 people, and as far as I could determine, the only two empty seats in the entire venue last night were the two just in front of my granddaughter, Olive, and myself, a fact which made our commanding aerial view of the stage even more stunning.  Kansas City turned out in full, joyous force to watch the traveling regional production of Lin-Manuel Miranda's marvelous hit musical, "Hamilton.," which is being staged at the Music Hall nightly from March 21 through April 2.  

The play, a historical retelling of the American Revolution and the daunting prospect of forming an actual functioning government after the war had been won, was viewed from the primary perspective of George Washington's most influential cabinet member, Alexander Hamilton, our country's first Secretary of the Treasury and the person who created the structure for financing the nation that was so refined and complex that when Thomas Jefferson became President he could not figure out a way to return the pursestrings to the states.

The beautifully staged work also featured perspectives on the infancy of the United States of America from Hamilton's wife and son, as well as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Aaron Burr, the Marquis de Lafayette, and even Britain's King George, III.  The play was based on the book, "Alexander Hamilton," by Ron Chernow. 

But "Hamilton" is so much more than just a recitation of history.  The music - clever rhymes and lyrics set to bold beats - raged through the audience like electric current loosed from freshly severed power lines, and provided the passion that brought the story to life.  The show was loud and so, too, were the people in every section of the enormous theatre - loud, exuberant, and at times almost raucous.

Years ago I saw Lin-Manuel Miranda's earlier hit Broadway musical, "In the Heights," on Broadway with the playwright and composer himself in the lead role.  It was a great play, but "Hamilton" is better.

There is not enough high praise floating through my my old gray head this morning to adequately describe this show, but suffice it to know that Olive loved it - and so did Pa Rock!