I'm a massive Leslie Odom fan, but upon watching the show live twice, and the movie version 3-4 times, I am becoming more convinced that the role of Burr is what makes the actor, not the other way around. Sometimes it is the Actor/Actress that makes the role (Idina Menzel in Wicked, Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark, etc.), and then there are roles who no matter who inhabits them, they will always be a star. Pseudolus in A Funny Thing comes to mind. Burr is written so well and the music so perfectly fits his personality, that the actors that have played the role are all great, its just to different degrees.
It’s been interesting to dive into the specifics of the American Revolution and bump it up against this show. -They dress up Milligan and imply he was a soldier, when he wasn’t. -The events of Stay Alive/Ten Duel Commandments were tagged as 1780 or later via A Winter’s Ball. The Battle of Monmouth happened in 1778. I’m sure there are many others.
You don’t want to go down this hole. -Hamilton resigned as treasury secretary two years before Washington left office. -Lafayette was a prisoner during the French Revolution and wasn’t out trying to free his people. His son stayed with the Hamilton family (and later Washington when he was out of office) -There were a shitload of Skylar kids and sons and they were massive slave owners
Huh? "A tailor spying on the British government, I take the measurements, information and then I smuggle it -- to my brother's Revolutionary covenant. I'm running with the Sons of Liberty and I'm loving it"
Yeah my Burr in Chicago (understudy while Brady had another obligation) left a lot to be desired. The role definitely did not make him. Anison was yours Joshua Henry? By all accounts he was amazing but he was moved to the tour by the time I went
I feel bad disagreeing because I think Leslie is awesome but Daveed and Renee are the best things in the show imo. They make the biggest and most noticeable difference between seeing it in Chicago a couple times and seeing the original cast on D+.
Fuck sakes, the vinyl pressing for the soundtrack is $350, when you can actually find it. Guess they haven't done any repressings yet. I'm this close to doing it...
I was more meaning the times where he was with Hamilton in Continental uniform doing military things.
I'd have to see other performances...as it stands, I could listen to Odom's version of Wait For It on repeat until the end of my life.
Again, this isn't a shot at Leslie Odom. He was/is amazing, and rightfully won the Tony. His performance on the album was absolutely flawless and his acting in the show was on point. I'm simply saying that there is a reason the actor that played Burr in the West End productionwon the Olivier Award too. And in every version I have seen, that role has been the superior of the two male leads. Guess I'm giving more credit to LMM for the development of the Burr character. I've seen a disappointing LaFayette/Jefferson and an underwhelming Angelica. And like I said with other roles, I've seen disappointing leads in other musicals. I have yet to see a disappointing Burr.
Lafayette was part of the revolutionary government but -surprise!- eventually got declared an enemy and thrown in jail. Btw if any of y'all have never heard the this American Life about his return to the USA in his old age, it's amazing. I was crying in my car the first time I heard it.
I try not to let history ruin it for me and In the story I made up in my head Hamilton turned down hot sister threesome sex and I hate him for it. Dumbass. Screw the economy go upstate for the summer with them.
His family when upstate to avoid pandemics that hit big cities like Philadelphia in the summers . When they were supposed to come home, he told them to stay for their safety... so he could keep Maria away from them. He and Eliza got yellow fever one year and survived it (obviously).
Having watched this a few times on Disney+ and listening to the soundtrack non-stop it’s hard for me to not come to the conclusion Alexander Hamilton is the bad guy in this play.
Think he's more of Shakespearean tragic figure imo. Guy who came from nothing, had (or could if had it all) and lost it due to his own arrogance. Largely forgotten in history up until the play as well
he wanted money and power and was literally willing to do anything and fuck over anyone to get it. At least from the play his motivation for war and revolution was to get rich, not out of some notion of freedom
He was almost removed for Harriet Tubman but she was switched to the $20 due to the popularity of the musical I doubt most people knew who he was except maybe for the dual...I def didn't know how close he was to Washington before then
Seems to me, that unlike love, death, and life, you two ARE discriminating between the sinners and the saints
I can’t think of a time I’ve seen it with someone else on the role that they’re particularly standout either. It seems like he wrote it knowing his own limitations and intentionally to let so many of the others shine.
He was the most underrated of the Founding Fathers. His plan for the Financial Systems help make America what it is today. Honestly more responsible for our Capitalist society today than anyone else. I don't think the play even mentions the War Bonds issue. IIRC, a lot of citizens sold their war bonds to speculators for $.20 on the dollar or so because they didn't think Washington and his Army would win the war. When the Colonies did end up winning, a lot of citizens said that the Federal Govt should get their money back from the speculators. Jefferson and I believe Madison agreed with them. Hamilton argued against it with Washington on both the grounds that the citizens should have had faith in him and his Army, and more importantly, they there were no "do overs" in our financial system. Luckily for us, Washington agreed with Hamilton. Of course, if you hate Capitalism politically, you probably are mad at Hamilton. But that form of economic system made our country what it is today.