HAMILTON THE MUSICAL MANCHESTER REVIEW
MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE
WEDNESDAY 17TH JANUARY @ 2.30PM
***** 5/5
Since November, Hamilton has been debuting its UK tour in Manchester and it was about time that I went to see it. Off I went on a day trip to one of my favourite cities. After stuffing my face at the Pizza Hut buffet, it was time to head over to the Palace Theatre. Here’s my Hamilton the Musical Manchester review.
PRE-SHOW THOUGHTS
It’s been a couple of years since I’ve seen Hamilton on stage. However, I’ve watched the Disney+ filmed Broadway version at least once a quarter since its release. I also listen to the soundtrack monthly. It’s my ultimate hype album! As soon as I saw that Hamilton was touring, I knew I had to see it somewhere. Manchester was the nearest date to me for now but I’m hoping to see it in Bradford from January 2025 too. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a long show but it’s always a phenomenal performance, regardless of who’s in the cast.
THE CAST
Of course, this cast was no exception and each one of them pulled their weight and more. As much as there are main characters, I’ve always thought it was more of an ensemble piece because most are on stage 90% of the time.
Shaq Taylor as Alexander Hamilton is a stellar piece of casting. Hamilton as a character is pretty unlikeable at some points of the show but Taylor makes it so hard to dislike him! He had the most gorgeous tone to his voice and I, for one, cannot wait to see his theatre career flourish.
Sam Oladeinde as Aaron Burr is a standout in this cast of stars. My main issue with Hamilton is that the lyrics are so fast because it’s rapping that I struggle to understand them often. Oladeinde has the clearest annunciation and crystal-clear vocals. Again, he’s meant to be the villain but he has such charisma!
THE SUPPORTING CAST
KM Drew Boateng (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison), DeAngelo Jones (John Laurens/Philip Hamilton) and Billy Nevers (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson) are the ultimate trio. I wish they got to dance a little more too because all three can move! I’ve always loved the way the trio seem to genuinely be the best of friends, just like their characters. Nevers was another star but I’ve loved him since his Legally Blonde starring role (Courtney, TAKE YOUR BREAK). I’m always so thrilled when he gets a leading role!
Aisha Jawando as Angelica Schuyler commanded the stage whenever she was on it, with sass and fire. Her vocals were as slick as always but for some reason, we were struggling to hear her up in the grand tier. Maya Britto’s Eliza was a force, with some of the most powerful vocals of the entire show. Her rendition of Burn had me very close to tears, which is a skill in itself.
Casting Daniel Boys as King George is inspired casting. I’ve always said this is my dream role because you’re only needed for a handful of songs whereas every other character in Hamilton is on stage for practically the whole show!
THE MUSIC
Of course, the soundtrack is always the highlight of any Hamilton show. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s score is so witty and so unlike anything else in the theatre world. I’ve always enjoyed that it’s a mixture of rap/hip-hop style but it still incorporates traditional musical theatre, especially through King George and Eliza. The songs really do tell the story. In fact, you don’t really need to see the show if you just listen to the soundtrack to know what’s going on. However, I’d still recommend seeing it on stage. The songs really do come to life!
THE PRODUCTION
Imagine my surprise when I saw the revolve on stage! I genuinely wondered how they’d do the shows without it but I have to say that I was thrilled to see it. I’ve always thought it was used incredibly well and think lots of shows could do something similar! The simplicity of the rest of the set allows the cast’s performances to really shine but they also act as prop movers throughout scenes.
I’ve always loved the contrasting colours of the costuming, especially with the ensemble wearing all cream. The richer characters get to wear expensive-looking jewel tones and the regular folk wear darker shades. My favourite outfit will always be Maria’s red dress because it’s so fitting for that number.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Whilst Hamilton isn’t a show I could see regularly, seeing it once every so often makes it an even better treat. Every single detail of this show is meticulously thought through. I’m so glad that it’s been given a large budget for the tour. Oftentimes, UK tours feel a little sub-par due to budget restraints (not the cast’s talents). However, Hamilton is exactly the same as it is in the West End. I’ll be sure to catch it on another tour stop next year.
If you enjoyed my Hamilton the Musical Manchester review, you can find my other reviews here. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter and Instagram too where I share the BTS of my stagey trips.
