Hamilton: A Student's Perspective

"The greatest Broadway musical to ever have been made yet." "Hamilton is a masterpiece." "It is amazing." These are just a few reviews of the incredible musical that is Hamilton. So if you are searching for a great musical, you have come to the right place.

If you don't like music, you can stop reading this immediately. There's nearly no talking in this musical. It's mostly singing. The storyline is still easy to follow, even if there isn't much talking. Hamilton is about one of the founding fathers of America, Alexander Hamilton. His mother died when he was 11, and his father left them many years before. The musical is about his wife, Eliza Schuyler, and him. We know from the beginning who killed Alexander, which makes it even more interesting, as we watch the relationship between Hamilton and his friend, the person who killed him, flow and hit its ups and downs. Hamilton's story happened many years back but still is as memorable. 

“I knew about Alexander Hamilton as much as anyone did before I picked up Ron Chernow's incredible biography. I knew he was on our $10 bill in the States and died in a duel. You know you learned that in high school, and that was about it.”

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton took seven whole years to write. (2008-2015) It was a struggle to make, but most definitely worth it.

According to Mr. Miranda, he "Knew about Alexander Hamilton as much as anyone did before I picked up Ron Chernow's incredible biography. I knew he was on our $10 bill in the States and died in a duel. You know you learned that in high school, and that was about it." 

Miranda's statement demonstrates that anyone can make a lot if they follow their dreams, as Miranda did. Hamilton was his second piece. The first one was In the Heights. It talks about Usnavi, a New York bodega owner who dreams of a better life. Miranda wrote it in his college years. The actor of Alexander himself is Lin-Manuel Miranda, so not only did he write the musical, but he also acted as the lead. Of course, different casts are performing everywhere, but the original cast is also the one seen in the filmed version on Disney Plus. 

In my opinion, Hamilton is great; no doubt about that. However, not everybody likes it, so I sent a survey to middle school students in ZIS. One question was, "Did you like this musical?" Forty-six students replied. Of those forty-sixes, twenty-two people said they liked it, twenty-three had not seen it, and only one disliked it. Most people recommended the musical. Common sense media gives it five stars out of five and rates it 11+. Just a warning: there are a few swear words in the mix, so don't be surprised if you watch it and hear curse words. I had seen it on Disney Plus many times before, but I recently saw it live in London. Believe me when I say it was the most incredible night of my life. Hearing the music I had grown to know and love play blasting in my ears was glorious, and all the actors sang incredibly well. The first time I watched the musical, I did not like it as much as I do now. The more you watch it, the more you will adore it. Everything is so well thought out. It is a true chef-d'œuvre in the world of musicals, and Lin-Manuel Miranda is a genius. 

In conclusion, Hamilton is an incredible musical, and I recommend it to anyone who likes music. The more you watch or listen to it, the more tiny details you will find, making the whole musical seem even better. So do not judge it by the first time you watch it. It is not just a simple, ordinary musical but a true masterpiece. 

Olivia Relander