At this point, it won’t come as earth-shaking news to hear that “Hamilton” is a stirring, groundbreaking piece of musical theater. But despite its Pulitzer Prize, 11 Tony Awards, Grammy Award, Olivier Award and all-round reputation as the hottest Broadway show in memory, that’s no guarantee that the filmed version of “Hamilton” -- which makes its streaming debut on Disney Plus on July 3 -- will necessarily work as watch-from-home entertainment.
Happily, the version of “Hamilton” that comes to small screens just in time for the July 4 holiday weekend exuberantly conveys the essence of what has made the show a generation-spanning phenomenon. Edited together from performances filmed both before live audiences and between shows in June of 2016, this is a “Hamilton” that captures the brilliant stagecraft that made the live shows thrilling, while also bringing the cameras in for close-ups of members of the extraordinary original Broadway cast.
(How to watch “Hamilton” on Disney Plus: UPDATE: You can watch Hamilton, and more from the Disney library, on Disney+ for $6.99 a month. For more choices, you can also get a package that includes Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ for $12.99 a month.)
“Hamilton,” which is coming to Disney Plus a year earlier than the theatrical release that was originally planned, offers viewers staying home to help slow the spread of the coronavirus the best of both worlds. We witness the energy of a live show, while also experiencing intimate looks at indelible performances.
Show creator Lin-Manuel Miranda is passionate and electrifying as Alexander Hamilton, the immigrant orphan who became a key voice in creating American democracy, becoming the right-hand man of America’s first president, George Washington, and serving as the first Secretary of the Treasury.
As Aaron Burr, the political rival who ultimately faced off with Hamilton in a deadly duel, Leslie Odom, Jr., is effortlessly charismatic and far more complex than the easily classifiable villain Burr might have been. As Eliza Hamilton, Phillipa Soo is heartbreaking and strong as she contends with her husband’s mistakes, and Renée Elise Goldsberry is equally compelling as Eliza’s sister, Angelica Schuyler, who subjugates her own attraction to Hamilton for the sake of her sibling.
For all the gravity of its subject, “Hamilton” leaves room for humor, in the tossed-off anachronisms of the lyrics (“Give us a verse, drop some knowledge”), and wittily stylized performances by Daveed Diggs in the dual roles of Marquis de Lafayette and a Thomas Jefferson who’s an arrogant dandy, and Jonathan Groff as the red satin breeches-sporting King George, who imperiously can’t fathom why these upstarts want to split from England (“I will kill your friends and family to remind you of my love”).
The show has already been widely hailed for the way that Miranda, who wrote the book, lyrics and music, expertly blends a story of America’s founding fathers with modern culture, creating an intoxicating mixture of hip hop, pop and traditional musical theater.
The original Broadway production of "Hamilton" comes to Disney Plus streaming service on July 3. (Photo: Courtesy of Disney Plus)
The eloquent work of the cast members, many of whom are people of color, also blows away any trace of stuffiness and stereotypes. Miranda and his costars are bursting with talent, and seeing founding fathers portrayed by Black and brown performers has never felt more relevant to the present moment, as the country grapples with a legacy of racism, police brutality against African Americans and how historical figures such as Jefferson and Washington should be regarded.
Admittedly, it’s not the highest of bars, but “Hamilton” is also head and shoulders above the recent batch of musicals adapted for TV. Thomas Kail, who directed the original “Hamilton,” also handles directing duties for the film, and he does it well.
It might be faint praise, but Kail also directed “Grease Live!,” which aired on Fox in January 2016. Though hardly perfect, “Grease Live!' was one of the more lively musical-to-TV projects, and was an improvement over such inert forerunners as “The Sound of Music Live!” and “Peter Pan.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Phillipa Soo in "Hamilton," the musical theater phenomenon that streams on Disney Plus starting July 3. (Photo: Courtesy of Disney Plus)
The “Hamilton” that will stream on Disney Plus also makes it part of a long, honorable tradition in allowing theatrical productions to be accessible for viewers who can’t afford to see the Broadway original, or any of the touring versions – back when theatergoers could actually gather for such things, of course.
In brief introductions filmed remotely, Miranda and Kail talk about sharing “Hamilton” with viewers at a time when we can’t gather, but we’re thinking long and hard about what America is. With its characters talking of revolution and rebellion, and debating what America should look like, “Hamilton” feels both like a a classic, and a report from the front lines of contemporary life.
“Hamilton” is available to stream beginning at midnight (PT) Friday, July 3 on Disney Plus. Go to the website https://www.disneyplus.com/ to sign up. Disney Plus is $6.99 a month; for $12.99, you can subscribe to a package that includes Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus.
More of our coverage:
-- Kristi Turnquist
kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist
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