"Hamilton" Takes London's West End by Storm

 

After a problem-plagued delay, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony-winning phenomenon “Hamilton” opened Thursday night on London’s West End at the historic Victoria Palace Theatre (Victoria Street, London SW1E 5EA) in Westminster, located in the shadow of the newly-renovated Victoria Station.
Lead producer is Broadway’s Tony-winning Jeffrey Seller, with original director Thomas Kail helming.
The musical has been in previews since December 6, a slight rescheduling because of ongoing exterior construction. Performances have been met with pandemonium response from audiences. The musical is shaping up to be a bloody triumph, no doubt with a Royal Command Performance in its future.
The excitement of a London “Hamilton” has been building since the opening on Broadway in August 2015. The box office is booking through June 2018, when you might expect the new block of tickets to be a bit more expensive.

Starring in the acclaimed musical is Jamael Westman as Hamilton (with Ash Hunter in the role at certain performances). Co-starring are Allado (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds), Rachelle Ann Go (Eliza Hamilton), Tarinn Callender (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison), Michael Jibson (King George), Rachel John (Angelica Schuyler), Jason Pennycooke (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), Cleve September (John Laurens/Philip Hamilton), Giles Terera (Aaron Burr), and Obioma Ugoala (George Washington). Featured is an ensemble of 19.
Andy Blankenbuehler returns to choreograph. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Alex Lacamoire. The musical is based on “Alexander Hamilton” by history biographer Ron Chernow.
Previews were delayed two weeks, or 16 performances, because of construction delays, including roof reconstruction, concerns over an ancient underground tunnel the theatre is built over, and city licenses and ordinances.
Some 16,000 ticket holders were affected. Seller and Sir Cameron issued apologies for the inconvenience, which did little to assuage anger and disappointment and, in some cases, money down the drain for those with discounted preview tickets as well as the lot flying in to be at the first performance and the announced opening. Not to mention some who paid £2,800 (over $3,700) or more on the ticket resale market in spite of some safeguards the producers and Ticketmaster put into place.
“We are extremely sorry to disappoint patrons who we know expended time, effort and valuable resources to purchase tickets for our first performances,” said Seller. “But they will be given priority so that they can be reseated as early as possible.”
Miranda also expressed regrets: “I share the frustration of everyone who has to get re-seated. This was an unprecedented renovation of the Victoria Palace. I’m anxious to see it and get to know the British cast.”

On a lighter note, he told the Telegraph, “I’m anxious to see how the comedic portrayal of King George III [the monarch who lost the American colonies] is received, especially since the theatre is in close by Buckingham Palace. He’s a favorite with every actor, every rapper. There’s something about the character that has him become an audience surrogate.”
He added he didn’t think that detailing another country’s history would be an impediment to enjoying the musical.
Lest anyone doesn’t know, Miranda’s musical, with its score of hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and traditional theatre, tells the story of one of America’s “founding fathers,” a man born out of wedlock in the West Indies. After the death of his mother and abandonment by his father, he was sponsored to travel to the New World for his education at King’s College [Columbia University]. When his study was interrupted by the British occupation, he joined a militia and was soon promoted captain. He came to the attention of Revolutionary War commander George Washington, to whom he became senior aide.

After the War, Hamilton shaped many of the foundations of the United States – including our Constitution and Treasury. He was often at odds with Thomas Jefferson and Jefferson’s vice president, Aaron Burr. Ultimately, the latter conflict led to a duel in which Hamilton was mortally wounded.
“Hamilton” captured 11 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. The musical is still running strong at Broadway’s Richard Rogers, as well as in Chicago, and on tour.
Official box office prices are £37.50, £57.50 and £89.50, with premium seating at £137.50 and £200. Performances are Monday – Saturday at 7.30 p.m. and Thursday and Saturday at 2.30 p.m. For more information, visit www.hamiltonthemusical.co.uk.

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Ellis Nassour is an Ole Miss alum and noted arts journalist and author who recently donated an ever-growing exhibition of performing arts history to the University of Mississippi. He is the author of the best-selling Patsy Cline biography, Honky Tonk Angel, as well as the hit musical revue, Always, Patsy Cline. He can be reached at ENassour@aol.com.