Question about Hamilton for those who have seen it (SPOILERS)

[romain2]

Posted: 9/4/15 at 7:23pm

I want to at first thank everyone for taking the time to read this and respond.  People have been so helpful in the past.

I am seeing Hamilton this weekend (yay!!!) and I'm excited.  However, I do have sensitive ears and know that there are most probably gunshots in the musical.   I don't have problems with shouting or loud music cues or loud music, just gunshots.

Could someone please tell me when and where they happen?  Don't worry about spoilers, I operate better when I know when things occur.  Are they recorded or do they fire blanks?   I am sure that in the duel scene you are warned, ha.

Thanks so much.  I'm fine once I know when things happen.  I just don't like being startled. 

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 9/4/15 at 7:29pm

There are no loud gun shots in the show to the best of my recollection. They do the fateful duel very differently than you're probably imagining. I won't give it away because it won't hurt your ears. 

There are two duels earlier in the show as well but I don't recall audible gunshots there either. There are war scenes too, but again, I don't recall any real firing. (It's not like the Les Mis scenes at the barricades.)

Updated On: 9/4/15 at 07:29 PM

[Hellob]

Posted: 9/4/15 at 7:35pm

There are definitely gunshots. The scene when they are having the revolutionary battles in Act 1, 1 duel in Act 1, 2 in Act 2. But the battle scenes has the loudest and most number of booms. I can't remember the exact moments but all the Act 1 booms are after Washington enters the musical. I think they are recorded.  

Updated On: 9/4/15 at 07:35 PM

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 9/4/15 at 7:54pm

You will know when a gun is about to be shot, there's a literal countdown for it. I don't remember it being particularly loud.

[macnyc]

Posted: 9/4/15 at 8:11pm

In the Battle of Yorktown in Act 1, I believe there are several very deep sounds meant to be cannon shots. They sound like low, rumbling booms.

[Hellob]

Posted: 9/4/15 at 8:11pm

TotallyEffed said: "You will know when a gun is about to be shot, there's a literal countdown for it. I don't remember it being particularly loud.

 

I've gone 5x. There's more booms than the duels. Remember the battle that caused the duel in Act 1? That was loud and then the battle that Either Lafayette or Hamilton led? There are big booms then. 

 

[romain2]

Posted: 9/4/15 at 9:40pm

Thank you everyone for your answers!  So I'm gathering that the booms are recorded, and you can tell when most of the gunshots are coming.  That's cool--I've been to shows where there is hardly a warning and it's startling.  Thanks again!

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 9/4/15 at 9:44pm

I Guess I was so engrossed I didn't notice!  Sorry for leading you astray OP. 

[romain2]

Posted: 9/4/15 at 10:19pm

ChiTheaterFan, please, no worries!  I appreciate the fact that you took the time to answer.  It sounds to me like the sounds won't be that big of a deal in the play.  I can handle booms.  I recently saw a play that had over 50 gunshots in it so I think I'll be OK at Hamilton.  I just like to be prepared!

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 9/4/15 at 10:22pm

Totally Understand! I remember being very startled by Les Mis. It's definitely not at that level or I would've noticed. 

Updated On: 9/4/15 at 10:22 PM

[stevie3]

Posted: 9/4/15 at 11:37pm

don't want to kill your buzz but, I would pick another show to see. Its not what you will want it to be.walked out at intermission. Couldn't help it !!!

[BOM]

Posted: 9/4/15 at 11:45pm

Don't listen to stevie. Hamilton is the best musical of the last few years.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/5/15 at 12:01am

Most people love it. Hope you do, too!  

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 9/5/15 at 12:52am

Yeah I've seen it twice, am seeing it again on sunday, and have tickets to see it twice more. (I seem to be doing a quarterly thing. :))  so obviously it was everything I wanted it to be (and more). Hope you enjoy it as well!  Report back!

[romain2]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 3:38pm

Saw the show on Sunday night and loved it!  Fantastic from start to finish, with innovative staging and orchestrations.  Deserves the hype.  Glad I made the trip to see it (and an interesting double feature with King and I, which I saw Sunday afternoon).  : )  Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions.  The recorded sound effects went easy on my ears.

[Hellob]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 4:21pm

ChiTheaterFan said: "Yeah I've seen it twice, am seeing it again on sunday, and have tickets to see it twice more. (I seem to be doing a quarterly thing. :))  so obviously it was everything I wanted it to be (and more). Hope you enjoy it as well!  Report back!

The cool thing for me about going a bunch of times is picking a couple actors to focus on that would normally just fall into the story since they don't have huge roles. Last time, I focused on Ramos and Jones. He has a lot of swagger and presence compared to his fill in. Even his last scene in Act 2 doesn't come off cheesy like the other actor's did. I also think Jones as Maria brings more electricity to the stage in a few minutes than Eliza and Anjelica do. But those are 2 parts that are really great that might not stick in a one time viewing. 

Have you found any parts like this in your extra views? 

"

 

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 5:58pm

Romaine I'm glad you enjoyed it!  I was there last night as well. I don't know if it just keeps getting better and better but last night everyone seemed on fire. I did actually pay attention to the sound effects and I guess I didn't notice them before because they're recorded and they didn't startle me. I'm very glad they weren't bothersome to you. 

 

Hellob, as a matter of fact when I was there I made a conscious effort to watch some of the ensemble dancers and more minor characters. I had never really noticed the dancer with the long brown hair and I found myself watching her in several numbers. Christopher Jackson was another I focused on more than I had previously. His performance has that calm power that I associate with George Washington--he is one that definitely seems to be getting even better. (Not that he wasn't great to begin with.). I still have a hard time not focusing on Leslie Odom Jr. whenever he's on stage though. He's just so so so good. The Room Where It Happened seemed even more dramatic last night and it really did stop the show. The audience just kept cheering. 

Updated On: 9/7/15 at 05:58 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 6:13pm

I made a boom in my pants when I saw Clive Owen sitting near me. Sorry if I ruined the Saturday night performance for anybody. 

[romain2]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 8:12pm

So fun that we were at the same performance ChiTheaterFan!  Side note:  Do you happen to know who was at our performance in the audience?  I heard applause in the mezzanine before the show started.  I was on the orchestra section and did not see who it was. 

I can imagine that Hamilton is worth re-visiting.  There is a LOT going on--in the lyrics, in the choreography and blocking, in the narrative.  I wish I lived in NYC and had more access to the show.  Definitely worth the trip!  : )

[Hellob]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 8:22pm

I've seen a bunch of celebs, too but the only who got me tripping was Susan Lucci last Friday. I was in bathroom washing hands and here she comes. The attendant was so happy and Lucci was so nice to her but not phony. After she left the attendant and I screamed (this was after the show, bathroom was nearly empty). She said she's seen so many stars in there but that was the only one who made her starstruck. I was so happy for the attendant.  

[Hellob]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 8:26pm

Chitown - I agree. Jackson and Hercules/madison (can't spell real name) were who I focused on 2nd time. After first viewing, I felt like LMM screwed his good friend by giving him a boring part compared to Odom/Diggs but on second viewing I realized the fact that he can remain low key is more powerful than I thought. It shows what a good actor he is bc many would hate that and be tempted to ham it up for attention. He doesn't. Also, I think his entry song is in the top 3-5 of the show. 

[Movidude742]

Posted: 9/9/15 at 8:53pm

there is another gunshot, earlier.  Hamilton is seated stage left and a soldier comes out stage right spinning his musket, and there is a recorded gunshot, with Ariana DuBose miming the path of the bullet.  But since it is a recording of a shot it is not as jarring as a stage blank going off in the room (where it happens)

[Crateful]

Posted: 9/9/15 at 11:22pm

I hate gunshots in musicals - hate, hate, hate.  There is nothing in Hamilton that bothered me, not in the least bit.  You'll be fine. :)

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 9/10/15 at 1:25am

romain2 said: "So fun that we were at the same performance ChiTheaterFan!  Side note:  Do you happen to know who was at our performance in the audience?  I heard applause in the mezzanine before the show started.  I was on the orchestra section and did not see who it was. 

 

I can imagine that Hamilton is worth re-visiting.  There is a LOT going on--in the lyrics, in the choreography and blocking, in the narrative.  I wish I lived in NYC and had more access to the show.  Definitely worth the trip!  : )

 

"

I saw them. It was a couple--man and woman. However, I was in row B and they were seated back in the row with the railing so they were quite a way from me. The man I didn't recognize but I heard someone say he was in the green mile in the scene where they throw poop--the crazy one. I don't remember that movie at all so it didn't help me. He may be more famous for something else but I couldn't see him well enough to be able to tell. The woman I recognized but haven't been able to place--and it's driving me nuts!  She is a very pretty thin blonde but that doesn't narrow it down. 

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 9/10/15 at 1:28am

Hellob said: "Chitown - I agree. Jackson and Hercules/madison (can't spell real name) were who I focused on 2nd time. After first viewing, I felt like LMM screwed his good friend by giving him a boring part compared to Odom/Diggs but on second viewing I realized the fact that he can remain low key is more powerful than I thought. It shows what a good actor he is bc many would hate that and be tempted to ham it up for attention. He doesn't. Also, I think his entry song is in the top 3-5 of the show. 

 

"

Yeah I think Jackson is the perfect Washington and he wouldn't be right for any other roles. I can't spell Mulligan/Madison's name either but he goes by Oak on Twitter. I love the scene when he comes busting out from the back as the spy. He really has the most dramatic contrast between his two characters as well.