Tips on how best to prepare for Hamilton?
I'm taking my wife to see
Hamilton in London in 1 1/2 weeks, and I was wondering if people here had any tips on how best to prepare in order to enjoy the show. I'm thinking especially about the following issues: language isn't a problem for either of us, but my wife's hearing comprehension isn't always perfect for acoustic reasons and we always watch films with subtitles, as she gets frustrated if she misses even small things. Then there's the fact that neither of us really knows all that much about the historical background - and while my wife loves musicals, she doesn't really know the musical style of
Hamilton's songs.
A friend's suggested that she read a synopsis of the first half or so, as she doesn't want to spoil the whole thing, and to listen to some of the songs.
Is there anything else people here would recommend? Anything along the lines of "I would've enjoyed the show more if I'd only done X or known Y beforehand..."?
"Nothing is gonna save us forever but a lot of things can save us today." - Night in the Woods
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I have a similar problem and need subtitles often, but the story is helped along by the actors and the set and costumes and so forth, so it’s easier to understand what’s going on even if you can’t get the lyrics
The story is basically centered on the founding the United States through the revolutionary war and its difficult early years attempting to become a real country with a functioning government and economy. I don’t really consider spoilable for that reason (but no spoilers here), but it’s told through the perspective of Alexander Hamilton, an orphaned immigrant who was by all accounts a genius and was instrumental in developing a lot of economic concepts we take for granted. He was also a bit of an arrogant dick.
That’s really all you need to know - also I would be surprised if the theater didn’t have some kind of hearing aid for hearing impaired people, I would ask about it if it’s a big concern
"Nothing is gonna save us forever but a lot of things can save us today." - Night in the Woods
This means you can listen to the original cast recording on Spotify or the like, in order, and get the full story.
The lyrics are also available online here: https://genius.com/artists/Original-broadway-cast-of-hamilton
Including annotations, many of which were provided by Miranda himself. (I believe those are the ones highlighted in green?) They can provide the historical context or musical inspiration he used to write them.
"Nothing is gonna save us forever but a lot of things can save us today." - Night in the Woods
"Nothing is gonna save us forever but a lot of things can save us today." - Night in the Woods
Yeah i think there's literally only 1 scene that isn't in the official cast recording, because they put no music in it for effect. I didn't even know I was missing it because it's a complete story even without it.
Go in expecting not to catch every little sentence. You'll enjoy it more.
Most of the quicker rapping numbers are in the first half, and there isn't a lot there to spoil.
Thanks a lot to everyone for their replies!
"Nothing is gonna save us forever but a lot of things can save us today." - Night in the Woods
Steam: Elvenshae // PSN: Elvenshae // WotC: Elvenshae
Wilds of Aladrion: [https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/comment/43159014/#Comment_43159014]Ellandryn[/url]
"Nothing is gonna save us forever but a lot of things can save us today." - Night in the Woods
What a great show.
Steam: Elvenshae // PSN: Elvenshae // WotC: Elvenshae
Wilds of Aladrion: [https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/comment/43159014/#Comment_43159014]Ellandryn[/url]