Experiencing ‘Hamilton’ Through ‘Hamilfilm’

Written by Zeke Perez Jr.

“Here comes the (musical)! Ladies and gentlemen! The moment you’ve been waiting for! The pride of (Disney Plus)!” Hamilton!
 
The long-awaited arrival of “Hamilfilm” is finally here, as the debut of the stage production recording of of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton landed on Disney Plus on July 3rd, pushed up from its originally scheduled Fall 2021 date. 
 
There isn’t much new I can offer as far as a critical review of the acclaimed musical. Its popularity, praise, box office records, and awards are well documented, as are its critiques. The show has been lauded for its writing, choreography, performances, and impact. It has also seen criticism for its historical inaccuracies and artistic liberties, from the small (substituting characters into various historical events for the sake of the story’s tensions) to the egregious (romanticizing the stance of Alexander Hamilton and other Founding Fathers on slavery, labeling them as progressive abolitionists and glancing over their slaveholding histories). Instead, I hope to talk about the access the show affords through the soundtrack, the stage version, and now Hamilfilm. 
 
The Album
Hamilton is a very accessible musical thanks to the soundtrack alone. For many (if not most), their introduction to Hamilton came from the official album via NPR or Spotify. The album, a recording of the original Broadway cast, was released in September 2015, during the height of the show’s first on-Broadway run that same year. 
 
Since Hamilton is a sung-through musical with no dialogue to transition between songs, the listener can gain a complete understanding of the story without seeing the show. Other musicals do not always afford this benefit; they must be seen on stage or in film to fill in the blanks.
 
The writing in Hamilton is detailed and the performances are fast-paced. Having access to the album serves as a fantastic introduction to the show because it gets better with each playthrough. Listeners can begin to pick up on the intricacies of the story and its characters, and discover Easter eggs in the form of references to rap hits and other Broadway shows. The show’s format in addition to the early and widespread release of the album satisfied the desire of those hoping to join in on the show’s buzz and fanned the wildfire of its popularity. 
 
The Stage
With its vast popularity and its limited in comparison tour schedule, the stage show is a much harder to come by experience, even as the Hamilton stage show was built on increasing access. The show prioritizes student tickets and is innovative in its approach to ticket lotteries. Through the “Ham4Ham” lottery program, front-row and other exclusive tickets were made available daily for each show for just $10 (entry to Hamilton for one crisp Hamilton). Miranda hosted short performances during these in-person lottery drawings, giving all entrants the chance to see snippets of the show. Hamilton also became a front-runner in the online lottery process, establishing online drawings in early 2016. 
 
I was extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to see Hamilton in person during its Denver stop in the second national tour. Even after listening to the soundtrack religiously, I was elated to see how much is added to the experience through the performance. 

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​One of the biggest takeaways is witnessing how impressive the stagework and choreography is. Having a wide view of the stage provides a sense of the magnitude of the production. The stage is set up with two concentric circles at the center that move during various songs and key moments. The stage almost works as a character itself as it plays with time and space, especially in songs like “Rewind” and in the various duels. The importance of the stage honestly comes through even more in-person than it does in Hamilfilm. 
 
Several other bonuses await viewers of the live show. Most obviously, the characters are brought to life in a whole new way through their mannerisms and small visual cues. For instance, King George steals the show with his aggressive yet jubilant behavior, both during the musical and before the performance even starts (in character as the PA announcer welcoming patrons to their seats and warning them not to speak or use cell phones). Most notably might be a certain interlude that Miranda intentionally left off of the soundtrack, saved only for those seeing the full performance (you’ll know it when you see it). 
 
While the stage show may continue to get more accessible the more it tours and the longer it has been out, there is no overstating the value of its widespread release in the form of Hamilfilm. 
 
Hamilfilm
Where seeing the Hamilton production gives you the full picture by introducing you to the characters in more detail, the stage, and the choreography, Hamilfilm is the icing on the cake. It provides much of what the in-person experience does, plus it reunites you with the original Broadway cast. Frequent listeners of the soundtrack may grow familiar with every line and with the nuance or tone with which each is delivered. It is a treat to not only put a face to a voice, but to observe the minute changes in delivery between the album and the stage performance. 
 
The film attempts to deliver on the specific intricacies of the live performance. You get King George’s theater demands before the show, you get a built in one-minute countdown for intermission, and you get a curtain call at the end. You get crowd reactions, with laughter and applause throughout. As best as it can, the film tries to transport you from your couch to the theater. 
 
The filmed version avoids many expansive shots, instead opting for more of a sense of intimacy with eye-level shots of the actors. The tighter camera angles do make it hard to take in all of the wonderfully talented background ensemble during the first watch with so much going on. While additional wide angles or aerial shots of the stage in motion may have been nice, Hamilfilm takes advantage of the camera work and allows for a focus on subtle connections and emotions shared in some of the gripping interpersonal scenes.
 
In all, Hamilfilm provides something for everyone. It’s an opportunity for first time viewers to see what the excitement is about without having to wait for a tour and buy a ticket. It allows people to relive the magical moment they had the chance to see it in person. It connects fans of the soundtrack with the voices that brought them joy over the years. It gives us an excuse to cry for a solid 30 minutes (or more...).  It allows more people the chance to experience an important piece of musical theater. 
 
The Outro
It seems rare to see a play or musical in this form. Save for those that are adapted into more Hollywood-esque versions, there aren’t many accessible recordings of stage shows. Hamilfilm makes a strong case that more musicals and theatrical performances should be given a widespread release. While it’s hard to reproduce the word-for-word and note-for-note familiarity of a well-loved album or the experience of taking in a live theater performance, the Hamilton film does an excellent job of replicating both. Hamilton is a show that warrants, and deserves, several viewings or several listens. With Hamilfilm now on Disney Plus, many more will be able to get that experience.

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