Nobody Cares About Dad

Anticipation hung in the air like a well-rehearsed overture as I eagerly awaited the arrival of Hamilton to the grand stage of Manchester. Having been enchanted by Lin Manuel Miranda’s masterpiece on Disney, I had built up expectations taller than the Empire State Building. The original show, with its all-star cast hitting every note and dance step with military precision, had set a theatrical bar so high it practically needed its own oxygen supply.

As the curtain rose in Manchester, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of trepidation, like someone attempting to recreate a gourmet meal after Gordon Ramsay himself had cooked it. Burr, King George, and Hamilton—the trio of titans that had left an indelible mark on my memory from the Disney rendition.

Midway through the performance, my partner and I exchanged a glance, a silent communication that spoke volumes. It was the kind of look that said, “We both know this isn’t quite hitting the high notes of the original.” The applause echoed through the theater, but in our unspoken dialogue, there lingered the acknowledgment that the magic of the first performance had cast a shadow over this one.

It’s a bit like eating the world’s best chocolate cake and then attempting to enjoy a store-bought version; sure, it’s still cake, but it’s hard not to compare it to the decadent masterpiece that came before.

Now, don’t get me wrong, the Manchester rendition of Hamilton wasn’t bad by any means. The cast delivered a commendable performance, but it was akin to chasing the ghost of a theatrical masterpiece. The bar had been set impossibly high, and despite the admirable efforts of the cast, the echo of the original brilliance lingered in the theater like a theatrical specter.

In the end, my overall review isn’t a thumbs-down but rather a gentle reminder that sometimes, the first taste of theatrical brilliance can be both a blessing and a curse. As I left the theater, I couldn’t help but reflect on the delicate dance between high expectations and the reality of live performances. Hamilton in Manchester may not have eclipsed its Disney predecessor, but it’s a testament to the enduring power of Lin Manuel Miranda’s creation that even a shadow of its brilliance is enough to make the experience memorable.