“How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence impoverished in squalor, grow up to be a hero and a scholar?”
One might think that the aforementioned lyrics could be the introduction to a classic cliche story that can be found in any fairytale book at the local library.
Everyone is familiar with the storyline of a lowly, socially unacceptable individual growing up to achieve something extraordinary and becoming a legend.
However, none of those dusty library books are nearly as remarkable as Hamilton.
Created by Lin-Manuel Miranda and coming to London in December, Hamilton submerges the audience into two hours of stunning and dazzling musical performances that depict the life of the U.S. First Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton.
The musical chronicles his rise from his humble beginnings as a student, to a soldier in the Continental Army during the American Revolution and finally to his position as the Secretary of Treasury.
Unlike various other musicals such as Kinky Boots or Jersey Boys, Hamilton embraces the genre of rap.
Beautifully written and performed, the music in Hamilton accurately depicts personality traits such as Aaron Burr’s desire for power and control (Wait For It) to Alexander Hamilton’s expertise with words to gain the favor among his peers (My Shot).
But more so, the music tells a story that resonates within the heart of every American.
Coming from the Caribbean, Hamilton came to America in search of a new life after his village was destroyed by a hurricane.
Like Hamilton, fellow immigrants held a burning passion to leave their less than desirable situation in order to begin a new life in a new world.
They may have been young and scrappy, but they were hungry and that is all they really needed to make the best of their situation and thrive, becoming a part of something bigger than themselves.
Hamilton exemplifies this mindset of grinding through hardships and working one’s way to the top.
But more so, Hamilton provides a firm undertone for how immigrants created the solid foundation on which America stands today.
Diversity and opportunity hold a lot of weight in American society and Hamilton is a great way for Londoners to experience this and the multicultural society constantly present in America.
Immigrants. We get the job done.
Yeahhh! We get the job done!