Why Kinky Boots might be better than Hamilton

ATTENED Hamilton, the musical, in Melbourne last night, admittedly late to the party. It premiered in New York in 2015 and opened in Melbourne earlier this year.

But suffice to say I didn’t “join the revolution”.

It’s not about me though. Almost without exception, members of the audience, who paid anything from $150 to $250 a pop, screamed and applauded like they were at a rock concert.

Especially those in the stalls. They loved it.

The critics love it too. Hamilton has been an awards’ juggernaut winning 11 Tonys and even a Pulitzer Prize and that’s just for starters.

They loved the light hip-hop delivery and seemed to be on the edge of their seats anticipating the next hit.

And you don’t have to wait long for a tune that even the uninitiated can recognise.

So, was Hamilton a real dude?

You betcha he was.

Not a US President, like his fellow founding fathers Washington, Adams, and Jefferson. Apparently, infidelity robbed him of the highest office. These days it seems to be a prerequisite.

But he did just about everything else on behalf of the new nation from playing a leading role in the American Revolutionary War to having a strong hand in the writing of the constitution, re-establishing trade with England, founding the financial system and even starting up the New York Post.

He abhorred slavery and might have done more to roll it back sooner in the south if he wasn’t shot in a duel in 1804.

But his role in history was consigned to the wastepaper bin until Lin-Manuel Miranda came along and wrote Hamilton. So good on him. Now everyone knows his name, Alexander Hamilton, and what he did.

Theirs is a violent history though. The gun culture is deeply rooted.

Makes you think we should do our own story only tell the truth this time.

There were redeeming features to the show though, not the least being the nod to NAIDOC Week at the curtain and a call for support for two indigenous welfare services. You can donate to VACCA - Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency at http://vacca.giveeasy.org/crisis.

The guy who swung into the King George III role (was it Julian Kuo) was a delight, a relief. They should write him another number.

WAAPA graduate, Jason Arrow, who plays Hamilton is very good too. A slightly tubby, believable looking politician type of guy who can nonetheless belt out a tune and move exceptionally well. Looks like a pretty good kisser too. He’s good.

But you couldn’t hear half of what most of the others were saying, especially the actor who played Angelica Schuyler, strong on form and style, but low on diction. Pity.

The lighting and sets are good too. So is the music. Clear and uncluttered.

Largely gratuitous use of two revolves though. Most of the time they weren’t going anywhere.

What’s clear however is that they do some damn, good productions back here in South Gippsland and Bass Coast, by comparison, Lyric’s production of Kinky Boots right now in Leongatha is a case in point. Here’s a related article you might be interested in: https://www.sgst.com.au/local-business-and-tourism/a-kinky-night-out

The verdict: Hamilton is worth seeing but the prices are pretty steep.