– By Cate Marquis –
The multiple-Tony Award winning “Hamilton” returns to the Fabulous Fox stage, with an excellent touring cast and all the energy, hit tunes and Founding Father history than have won it millions of fans. And those fans packed the Fox on opening night for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s acclaimed, multiple award-winning show, adding to even more excitement to the evening on opening night.
Playwright/composer Lin-Manuel Miranda was inspired by Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography of the Caribbean-born Alexander Hamilton, who then was one of the lesser-known Founding Father, although not any more. Miranda wrote the book, lyrics and music for “Hamilton,” with a score blending hip-hop, rock, jazz, R&B, pop and Broadway, and also starred in the original hit Broadway production. The story of a young, ambitious, orphan immigrant in New York City has resonated with modern audiences. The Tony Awards-winning show created a phenomenon and made Alexander Hamilton a kind of star, and the show on Broadway was sold out for months. Once it began tours, including an early on at the Fox, not even the pandemic could stop it for long.
“Hamilton” musically recounts Alexander Hamilton’s life, his humble beginnings and many accomplishments, including writing most of the Federalist Papers and setting up the federal banking system. The musical starts with the eager young Hamilton’s (Tyler Fauntleroy) arrival in New York where he quickly befriends of Aaron Burr (Jimmie “JJ” Jeter), already part of an inner circle of American revolutionaries but a much more caution person that the bold Hamilton.
Burr introduces Hamilton to a host of other American revolutionaries including the Marquis de Lafayette (Jared Howelton). Also quickly on the scene are the fabulous Schuyler sisters, Angelica (Maria Harmon), Peggy (Lily Soto) and Eliza (Lauren Mariasoosay), who becomes Hamilton’s wife.
The musical follows events before and during the Revolutionary War in Act 1 and post-war as the young country finds its footing in Act 2. The musical is packed with famous names like Lafayette and George Washington (A.D. Weaver), and some actors play one role in the first act and another in the second act, as is the case for Jared Howelton, playing Lafayette in Act 1 and Thomas Jefferson in Act 2, and Kai Thomani Tshikosi, who is fellow revolutionary Hercules Mulligan in Act 1 and Founding Father James Madison in Act 2. Comic relief is provided by King George III, delightfully played by Justin Matthew Sargent.
On opening night, “Hamilton” began with a rousing tune, “Alexander Hamilton,” sung by young Hamilton (Tyler Fauntleroy) and the ensemble, introducing the ambitious young man and recounting his unlikely personal history. That number is followed quickly by Hamilton’s stirring hip-hop “My Shot” describing his ambitions to do something that matters for the budding country.
This is a splendid production and cast, actually stronger than the touring one that last visited the Fox. The acoustics at the Fox can be tricky, and many a show has suffered from muddy sounding lyrics, critically important in a show with hip-hop tunes where the clear enunciation of lightning-fast lyrics are crucial for the audience. On opening night, the first song struggled with that a bit, but things quickly were on track by the second song.
The three principle leads, Tyler Fauntleroy as Hamilton, Jimmie “JJ” Jeter as Burr, and Lauren Mariasoosay as Eliza are all excellent as both singers and actors. All voices were good but the powerhouse voice belongs to A.D. Weaver as George Washington, whom Hamilton serves under during the Revolutionary War. Another showy voice, along with a very athletic performance is Jared Howelton as both Lafayette and Jefferson.
This show features numerous songs that have gone on to become hits. Some catchy ones are the King’s comic lament, ’60s pop song “You’ll Be Back,” Burr’s energetic anthem “The Room Where It Happens,” and Jefferson’s and Madison’s sly “Washington on Your Side,” all very well done.
The two-level set with moving staircases, designed by David Korins, is back, and remains the perfect frame for this dramatic story, almost part of the cast.
All in all, this production and the cast of this wonderful show are outstanding, making seeing this a must-see, even if you have seen “Hamilton” before.
“Hamilton” is on stage at the Fabulous Fox through September 6.
© Cate Marquis
