Man, Hamilton is non-stop

Emily Aysse, Staff Writer|April 6, 2016

Old Hamilton and New Hamilton

How much do you know about Alexander Hamilton? Did you know he was the bastard orphan, son of a Scotsman? Did you know he had a torrid affair? Did you know he rapped? Okay, the last one is probably not true but don’t tell that to Lin-Manuel Miranda, the writer of Hamilton: An American Musical. After taking a break from his previous hit In the Heights, Miranda found the 2004 biography Alexander Hamilton written by Ron Chernow in an airport. Inspired by his life and the drama that he experienced, Miranda began writing the lyrics and music to his production while still working on In the Heights. The musical first made an appearance on May 12, 2009, when he performed a rough draft of “Alexander Hamilton” at the White House Evening of Poetry, Music, and the Spoken Word. Six years later, in early 2015, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s completed Alexander Hamilton made its off-Broadway debut, and later that year, its Broadway debut: both winning many awards and having sold out shows (tickets range from $200-$1000, trust me I know…I’ve tried buying tickets, but the album is the story, so it’s okay). Lin-Manuel Miranda has started the modern revolution, by telling the history of how a young nation was built, through the eyes of one of the Founding Fathers who is not as recognized as he should be. Not only is Miranda telling Hamilton’s life through song, but also it’s through different genres of music, predominantly rap.

Now, the following paragraph is a plot summary of the entire musical, so if you are interested and don’t like spoilers, DO NOT READ IT, just go straight to the third paragraph!! Now for the summary: the first act is all about how Alexander Hamilton rose to fame. Hamilton was born in the Caribbean to a prostitute who slept with a Scotsman. After being abandoned by his father at ten years old, Hamilton and his mother became bedridden; however Hamilton got better, but his mother went quick. He then bounced from job to job and house to house, he eventually began working for his late mother’s landlord. “Alexander Hamilton”. After a hurricane destroyed his home, Hamilton was given donations that sent him to New York City where he met the prodigy of Princeton, Aaron Burr. While debating with Burr, Hamilton then meets John Laurence (the redcoats don’t want it with him); Marquis de Lafayette (the Lancelot of the revolutionary set); and Hercules Mulligan (he’s up in it, lovin’ it) “Aaron Burr, Sir”. Then we are introduced to the Schuyler Sisters, Angelica, Eliza, and PEGGY; these three girls are wealthy, but they desire an enlightened sort of mind “The Schuyler Sisters”. Before Alexander Hamilton meets his wife and the love of his life, we are introduced to King George– imagine Kristoff in a kid’s dress-up king’s outfit and the general, George Washington “You’ll be Back” and “Right Hand Man.” After meeting these two fascinating characters, we watch Eliza Schuyler become helpless as Hamilton writes his way into her heart and her sister’s heart “Helpless” and “Satisfied”. We learn that Burr also has his heart stolen by a British commander’s wife, but he’ll wait for her– unlike Hamilton”Wait for It”. Then, we are exposed to the illegal duel between John Laurens and Charles Lee– GW’s childish general who has a lying mouth “Stay Alive” and “Meet Me Inside.” George Washington, not wanting Hamilton dead, sends him home to discover that Eliza is pregnant with Hamilton’s son “That Would Be Enough.” While Hamilton is home, Marquis de Lafayette has gotten the French to help the revolution (with guns and ships and so the balance shifts) “Guns and Ships.” Lafayette helps bring Hamilton back into the war, and with the Battle of Yorktown turning the world upside down, America becomes its own country. Hamilton and Burr go back home and become next door neighbors, in a law firm that is. But then, the rivalry between the two is heightened when Hamilton is elected as a junior delegate of the constitutional convention. The first act ends with Hamilton being on top of the world despite leaving Eliza helpless as the Secretary of Treasury under Washington’s presidency “Non-Stop”.

The second act begins with Thomas Jefferson going home. Before this flamboyant character can put his bags down in Monticello, he is needed up in New York City, which is where the capital is at the time and is greeted by a distressed James Madison. Madison is in a huff because Hamilton wants to present a government controlled banking system, which the South is strongly against. In the “Cabinet Battle #1” -it’s a freestyle rap battle)-Jefferson and Hamilton argue over Hamilton’s plan to assume state debts, despite Jefferson saying that the (South has it made in the shade.) Hamilton then throws the issue of slavery into Thomas’ face and he does not appreciate this. Washington then breaks up the battle and pulls Hamilton saying that he does not have the votes and that Hamilton must compromise with Jefferson. Then the audience is whisked away to the Hamilton household where we are introduced to nine-year old Philip. He learns French and practices piano with his mother while Alexander writes to Angelica, who is leaving in London now. Eliza begs Alexander to take a break and go to a vacation in upper New York and even Angelica comes to New York for the summer. However, even though Angelica went all that way, Alexander is determined to get his plan through Congress “Take A Break”. But, summer in the city…there’s someone under stress and someone looking pretty…Alexander Hamilton meets Mariah Reynolds. He sleeps with Mariah Reynolds despite repeated lyrics saying (say no to this.) About a month after their affair begins, James Reynolds–her HUSBAND–sends a blackmail letter to Hamilton saying that if he pays Reynolds, then the affair can continue without Hamilton’s wife knowing “Say No To This.” Without knowing when the affair stopped, the audience shifts its attention to the “Room Where It Happens.” This Room is where Jefferson and Hamilton sit down and compromise: Hamilton gets complete financial control and Jefferson gets the capital in the South. Because he wasn’t invited, Burr retaliates by beating Hamilton’s father, Philip Schuyler, in a Senate election. Burr says that Hamilton is loved in Wall Street, but in upper New York, he is undesirable “Schuyler Defeated.” We are rushed towards yet another cabinet battle between Hamilton and Jefferson; only this time it is over whether the newly created United States will go to French aid. Jefferson (being the francophile that he is) says that they should fight, but Hamilton (being the logical little rapper that he is) says they are still too fragile to fight “Cabinet Battle #2.” Washington sides with Hamilton, which makes Jefferson and Madison lament about not having Washington on their side. What they aren’t aware of is Washington is not running for president again “Washington On Your Side” “One Last Time.” Then we enter the Adams Administration. King George knows him as the little guy he met in 1785. Jefferson is his Vice President, and since he is a conniving little twit suited in a pink outfit, Jefferson waits for the ruin of Hamilton. Jefferson and Madison and Burr make Hamilton’s position realize that they know what they know- they think he has embezzled “We Know.”Terrified that his entire legacy of being the starter of the current American financial system, Hamilton confesses to the affair on his own “Hurricane” and “The Reynolds Pamphlet”. Eliza obviously heart broke does not know how to continue with being apart of history; and then, we are introduced to Philip, the Hamilton’s 19 year old son, who is caught in a duel and dies due to blood loss “Burn” “Blow Us All Away” “Stay Alive (Reprise)”. After the unimaginable event of losing their child, Alexander and Eliza reconcile and she forgives him…then politics get in the way again “It’s Quiet Uptown.” After putting Hamilton gives his support to Thomas Jefferson’s campaign (even though they fought on like 75 different fronts), Burr accuses Hamilton of voting for Jefferson only to oppose Burr and tells him that they will settle with a duel “The Elections of 1800” “Your obedient servant.” When they meet at dawn, Burr is in the mindset that Hamilton is there to kill, when in fact he is not. Hamilton points his gun to the sky, but wait, Burr hits him right in between his ribs “The World Was Wide Enough.” The musical ends with Jefferson and Madison finally giving Alexander Hamilton the credit he deserved; and, Eliza, she laments about wishing she had more time to do what Hamilton could have done “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story”. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is Alexander Hamilton: An American Musical.

Despite summarizing the entire musical, I still could never do it justice. Lin-Manuel Miranda summed one of the Founding Fathers life into a two and a half hour musical. Miranda’s ability to create lyrics that move a person from joy, to excitement, to tears is astounding. I highly recommend at least listening to the music, the nice thing is if you don’t like it, turn it off. However, at least try to listen to the first song, who knows…you just might like it.

Act I: