Above the Atrium, the Center for Student Involvement advertised to students the upcoming events the student faculty would mandate. Top of the list was the Broadway play “Hamilton” in the Richard Rodgers Theatre.
As someone who’s somewhat inexperienced with theater but eager to indulge, the opportunity to attend was unshakeable. The play was registered to perform Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. and had ended approximately around 10 p.m., with the Coach bus escorting attendees to and from the theater.
Stepping into the auditorium, I could not help but feel mesmerized as I attempted to find my seat, causing me to trip up the stairs. The auditorium’s decor was beautiful as it lightened up the room with its gold layout spread across.
The fact that the crew’s vocals flowed throughout the auditorium and did not bounce off the walls as few vocals would usually, rendered their voices soul searching.
As I laid my eyes on the set while everyone was gathering themselves for the start of the play, I analyzed the backspaces, two pairs of wooden stairs and a few ropes dangling beside each other.
The play depicts Alexander Hamilton, played by Trey Curtis, rising up from being a Caribbean orphan to fighting for legacy under George Washington’s authorization. He constantly bickers with the rest of the crew such as Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr and so forth, ensuring he does not throw away his shot at leveling a sort of power in the government.
Everyone’s attire in the play contributed to their performance incredibly well. Costume designs and apparel are often underrated when it comes to the overall performance, but personally it is one of the first aspects I take notice of. The costumes had brightened up each character somehow, providing more insight on who’s really performing.
Everyone’s aesthetic matched their role perfectly, whether it was thanks to their performance skills or their radiating enthusiasm. The dancers’ set was marked off appropriately, with the sort of nude unitard giving them some sort of leverage with the complicated moves. They carried themselves maturely yet so obviously in a witty way to engage the audience. Everyone was in sync and it provided an additional feeling of union in the auditorium.
Seated high in row J, I had access to admiring the circle spin technique on the stage floor. It was usually used for creating a whimsical spin on the play, specifically the choreography and certain rising actions. I was so intrigued by the spin, and it made me like the play even more.
Knowing Hamilton consisted of songs brought music to my heart when I purchased the tickets. The fact that the crew’s vocals flowed throughout the auditorium and did not bounce off the walls as few vocals would usually, rendered their voices soul searching.
Angelica Schuyler, played by Jennie Harney-Fleming, had one of the most beautiful voices. I sat in awe every time she sang due to how simple yet alluring she was. Her sister, Eliza Hamilton, played by Stephanie Jae Park, rendered the room somewhat pitiful for her character, due to Park’s expressiveness.
One of my favorite scenes in the play was what appeared to be a rap battle between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, played by Kyle Scatliffe. Modernity intertwined with history captures the concepts generously. The two founding fathers’ limb movements were witty and evoked much laughter from the audience. A favorite everyone shared was King George’s infantilism.
Lastly, what was refreshing about the play was that the crew consisted of minorities. Compared to the first play I’ve attended which I felt instituted a sort of microaggression towards African Americans, this cast’s inclusivity allowed me to genuinely grasp the everlasting effort history has made in regards to minority and specifically Black representation.
Watching this, I felt I was sent back in time yet also enjoying the present moment.
5/5 stars
rsaadeld@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @hamiltonmusical, Instagram
