primeideal (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
primeideal) wrote2020-07-04 01:14 pm
primeideal) wrote2020-07-04 01:14 pm
Entry tags:
Hamilton
Yes, yes, I caved and bought Disney+ for a month or two even after they broke Star Wars, I'm a hypocrite. Or I just really like musicals.
A few thoughts on things I noticed, some specific to this production, some not:
-Some of the criticism I've seen is how Eliza and Angelica can be boiled down to stereotypes; there's the Sweet Feminine One, and the Smart Sexy One. (See also, Galinda and Elphaba.) However, when we're introduced to them the very first time, it seems as if Peggy might actually be a major character. She's the goody two-shoes, well-behaving one ("Daddy said to be home by sundown"), Angelica is the rebel, and Eliza is pulled in between. So in some sense, we see her change from being more like Peggy to more like Angelica over the course of the story.
-Washington is sometimes portrayed holding a sword, but in "Right Hand Man" when he recruits Hamilton, he signifies it by handing Hamilton a quill to write with. "The pen is mightier than the sword," but also foreshadowing how Hamilton will help Washington write the Farewell Address that became one of the major achievements for them both.
-"believe me, these young men don't speak for me"--Washington is the moderate Virginian/Southerner who's like "yeah, Hamilton and Laurens are military geniuses, I definitely need them to win this war, but...they are a little too much at times." Sort of interesting considering how he's being viewed now.
-Dear Theodosia is, at first glance, a nice song about parents' dreams for their children--"You will come of age with our young nation. We'll bleed and fight for you, we'll make it right for you. If we lay a strong enough foundation, we'll pass it onto you, we'll give the world to you..." Hamilton and Burr fought hard for independence so their children would grow up in a somewhat more free society. And as Hamilton admits in "Nonstop," the Constitution isn't perfect yet, but it's a starting point. Except, both Hamilton and Burr outlive their children. D: What is that supposed to tell us about the democratic experiment?
-"Hamilton wrote THE OTHER 51" this seems to anger Burr on a personal level.
-Eliza wails and screams when Phillip dies. (Also, when you can't skip over it, the whole Phillip/"It's Quiet Uptown" plotline is so sad.)
-Burr does a fistpump when the voters sing "when you could get a beer with him." Like, yessss, W. Bush coalition unlocked.
--
In other news, I have a lot of feelings about the Three-Body sequels, but I'm not sure if I can or want to write them up. But I might go watch something silly now to rinse my brain palette.
A few thoughts on things I noticed, some specific to this production, some not:
-Some of the criticism I've seen is how Eliza and Angelica can be boiled down to stereotypes; there's the Sweet Feminine One, and the Smart Sexy One. (See also, Galinda and Elphaba.) However, when we're introduced to them the very first time, it seems as if Peggy might actually be a major character. She's the goody two-shoes, well-behaving one ("Daddy said to be home by sundown"), Angelica is the rebel, and Eliza is pulled in between. So in some sense, we see her change from being more like Peggy to more like Angelica over the course of the story.
-Washington is sometimes portrayed holding a sword, but in "Right Hand Man" when he recruits Hamilton, he signifies it by handing Hamilton a quill to write with. "The pen is mightier than the sword," but also foreshadowing how Hamilton will help Washington write the Farewell Address that became one of the major achievements for them both.
-"believe me, these young men don't speak for me"--Washington is the moderate Virginian/Southerner who's like "yeah, Hamilton and Laurens are military geniuses, I definitely need them to win this war, but...they are a little too much at times." Sort of interesting considering how he's being viewed now.
-Dear Theodosia is, at first glance, a nice song about parents' dreams for their children--"You will come of age with our young nation. We'll bleed and fight for you, we'll make it right for you. If we lay a strong enough foundation, we'll pass it onto you, we'll give the world to you..." Hamilton and Burr fought hard for independence so their children would grow up in a somewhat more free society. And as Hamilton admits in "Nonstop," the Constitution isn't perfect yet, but it's a starting point. Except, both Hamilton and Burr outlive their children. D: What is that supposed to tell us about the democratic experiment?
-"Hamilton wrote THE OTHER 51" this seems to anger Burr on a personal level.
-The lyrics of "Washington on Your Side" are very well-done. Take a close look at who says what: Jefferson and Madison are actually criticizing Hamilton's policies (the central bank/assuming debts); Burr just talks about "look in his eyes," "somebody has to stand up to his mouth." (In other words, "talk less.") This is the perfect illustration of "Jefferson has beliefs, Burr has none," but it's subtle.
-The king is hilarious, he has pouty lips during his first song. Then when the aide comes on to whisper "John Adams" and he echoes it back in disbelief, she is giggling helplessly. And then he basically sings along with Burr during the intro to "The Adams Administration"!
-We see George Eacker "up in his box" watching a play within a play--Shakespearean trope.-Eliza wails and screams when Phillip dies. (Also, when you can't skip over it, the whole Phillip/"It's Quiet Uptown" plotline is so sad.)
-Burr does a fistpump when the voters sing "when you could get a beer with him." Like, yessss, W. Bush coalition unlocked.
--
In other news, I have a lot of feelings about the Three-Body sequels, but I'm not sure if I can or want to write them up. But I might go watch something silly now to rinse my brain palette.