Just reporting back about the Hamilton performance: Absolutely outstanding! Now I get what all the fuss was about. I would gladly pay to see this again.
I am not a fan of rap or hip-hop, so wasn't sure what to expect. This production was spot-on with its delivery of a lot of words, in exact precision with the musical score. The primary stage set was simple but diverse, with action areas emphasized through lighting, and a clever turntable floor that moved actors around without them having to walk. Cast was invested in their timing, and I didn't see where anyone missed a vocal cue. Singing voices were quite excellent, characterizations were quite specific to the individual, and the message was easily understood and appreciated. Not only did I take away an interesting interpreted version of early American History, I also saw the human side of the people who played such a big part in the American story. There were a few standouts in the cast, notably the part of Thomas Jefferson, and most especially the part of Eliza, Alexander Hamilton's wife.
I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this was not what I expected at all. My experience with this musical form is the aggressive "street rap" stuff, with excessive profanity and pounding beatbox tempo noise. In Hamilton, there was nothing like that. The delivery style was in the genre, with a staccato delivery of tight, rhyming lyrics, but it wasn't hard to follow the storyline at all. The one caveat: Pay attention, and listen closely, because they say a LOT of words in a very fast style. The performance was nearly three hours long, and went by very quickly. When it was over, I wanted to see and hear more.
For anyone questioning whether to see this show, I'd highly recommend it. Suspend your disbelief and preconceived ideas of how it is/was. Let the story give you its message. I was very surprised, and highly entertained. It was very, very good.
I am looking forward to seeing the movie next year, with the original Broadway cast. If this was that good with a touring cast, I can't imagine how it would be with the actors who started it all, especially Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the show.
Very, very good stuff.
Dave