Don’t let dumb woke criticism keep you from seeing legendary ‘Hamilton’ in Fort Worth
The legendary musical “Hamilton” is in Fort Worth for the next couple weeks. You better go see it before left-wing mobs manage to cancel it.
When “Hamilton,” the hip-hop-meets-theater about little-known immigrant Founding Father Alexander Hamilton hit Broadway in 2015, it took the world by storm, raking in $30 million in advance ticket sales before its opening night.
The show, which combines R&B, pop and show-tunes to tell the story of how Hamilton went from bastard to a crucial Founding Father, received 16 Tony nominations and won 11 awards, including best musical.
In a week in November 2016, it grossed $3.3 million, breaking Broadway records. The musical received the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for drama. To say it was a hit is an understatement.
But when “Hamilton” became available on Disney+ in 2020 during the heart of the pandemic, it took a hit. With it available to the masses, some cynical viewers took cheap shots about the show’s “near erasure” of slavery.
It’s true, slavery is mentioned only in passing, but that’s not the show’s focus. (Also, did people just realize the Founding Fathers were slave owners? Hello, History 101.)
Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda acknowledged the criticism and responded with grace and class, neither complaining nor caving:
Still, the fact that some would openly criticize one of the most incredible Broadway shows in recent memory demonstrates that nothing — especially related to our nation’s founding — escapes woke criticism. It was especially odd, though, consider that Miranda’s original “Hamilton” cast utilized non-white actors to play men and women who were obviously white in real life.
“It goes to prove you can never be woke enough.” Miranda Davis, a New York Post, columnist told Fox News in 2020. “You cannot appease these cultural revolutionaries.”
Still, the fact that the show has some flaws or has received criticism doesn’t mean it should be ignored. “Hamilton” is at Bass Hall starting Jan. 18. The North American touring cast will perform, and you should go see it.
In fact, you should be ready to marvel not just at the incredible artistic endeavor Miranda takes his audience through but the way “Hamilton” encapsulates how difficult it was to make this country not a moment “but a movement” for democracy and freedom.
Inspired by Ron Chernow’s 2004 biography of Hamilton, Miranda framed the show around his friendship and rivalry with Aaron Burr, who eventually became vice president, but not before killing Hamilton in an old-fashioned duel.
But that’s the least interesting aspect. In a true artistic endeavor, Miranda created an entire show in songs with lyrics that not only tells the story of Hamilton, the immigrant who was as skilled leading men into battle as he was writing the Federalist Papers, but of how hard a group of expatriates had to work to break free from tyranny and turn the U.S. into a functioning democracy.
If the show doesn’t make you marvel at the Founding Fathers’ genius, despite their flaws, and truly become a lover of our nation’s history, well, as Hamilton in the musical would say — you’re throwing away your shot.
This story was originally published January 18, 2022 at 1:58 PM.
