By Louise Rugendyke
It is said history is written by the victors, but what about musicals? When Lin-Manuel Miranda picked up Ron Chernow’s book Alexander Hamilton before he went on holiday in 2008, he thought he was getting an interesting beach read. Little did Miranda know, he was about to change not only his life, but Hamilton’s life as well, by writing the Pulitzer Prize-winning, Tony Award-scooping, Broadway-busting musical Hamilton. “I knew that he was on our $10 bill in the States and I knew that he died in a duel,” Miranda told CNBC in 2017. “You learn that in high school and that was about it.”
While many of the characters in the musical are well-known to US audiences, anyone else with no more than a passing knowledge of US history may struggle sorting fact from fiction. Miranda has not followed a strict historical timeline, with many events and character histories shuffled around or altered for storytelling purposes. Ahead of the show’s opening in Melbourne, here’s a rough guide to the real-life history of Hamilton and its larger-than-life characters.
Alexander Hamilton
I probably shouldn’t brag, but dang, I amaze and astonish.
Jason Arrow as Alexander Hamilton.Credit:Daniel Boud
Who is he: One of seven Founding Fathers of the United States, Hamilton helped draft the Constitution and was the first secretary of the treasury. He was also the chief architect of the American financial system and one half of one of the first sex scandals to shock US politics.
What you should know before seeing the show: “Alexander Hamilton was the only [Founding Father] born in the Caribbean and he didn’t know a soul when he arrived in the North American colonies as a teenager,” says Chernow. “This gave him the opportunity, as he invented the country, to reinvent himself. He rose to the top of American society through the sheer force of his wit and intelligence and ambition.”
How would you describe him? “He’s incredibly intelligent,” says Jason Arrow, who plays Hamilton in the musical. “He knows what’s happening around him every minute. He’s also blinded by his ambition. [In the song Burn] Angelica describes him as Icarus. So when I’m thinking about him, I always think of Icarus or someone who will run over everything in his way to get to the end goal. He’s definitely a steamroller.”
Would you be friends with him? “Probably not,” says Arrow, laughing. “I’d have to think about it. [In the show], you never really get the benefit of seeing him in a natural setting, like just hanging out. We don’t really know what he’s like when he’s outside of a high-pressure situation.”
Hardest thing about playing him on stage: “Switching my brain off, and not thinking about what I’m doing,” says Arrow. “That’s actually quite difficult for me. If someone on stage is adding to the scene and I catch a word, sometimes it gets stuck in my head and the word almost comes out of my mouth. It’s really quite full-on. It’s a huge mental game.”
What you should Google after the show: Hamilton’s relationship with John Laurens (played by Marty Alix). “They were very, very, very close. Extremely close,” says Arrow. So close, in fact, that there’s a great seam of speculation about them being lovers. In his 1978 biography The Young Hamilton, historian James T. Flexner described Hamilton as being “overwhelmed with passionate emotions” towards Laurens. However, Chernow believes it is impossible to say “with any certainty” if there was a romantic relationship. Either way, it makes a good rabbit hole (especially if you can find the bit about Hamilton boasting about the size of his, er, nose).
Aaron Burr
Now I’m the villain in your history.
Lyndon Watts as Aaron Burr.Credit:Daniel Boud
Who is he: A former New York senator and US vice-president who became infamous because of his fatal duel with Hamilton.
What’s the difference between Burr and Hamilton? “Perhaps the easiest way is to say that we associate Burr with politics and Hamilton with policy,” says Chernow. “While Hamilton emerged as a central figure in enacting the Constitution and forging the federal government, Burr was more of a political opportunist. It can be hard to pin down his precise views on even some of the most vital issues of the day.”
Does Burr get a rough deal in the musical? “It depends on what version of Burr we’re talking about,” says Lyndon Watts, who plays Burr. “The musical version of Burr, he gets a lot of love. He does very well at appealing to the audience’s compassion and empathy. But in real life, these men are definitely not as glamorous and impressive as the stage version. If you look into the history, it gets pretty dark. It’s a lot less fun than The Room Where It Happens [one of the songs from the show], I can tell you that.”
So, what happened? Three years after the fatal duel with Hamilton, Burr was indicted for treason in 1807 when he attempted to annex parts of Texas and the Louisiana Purchase. Although he was acquitted, people burnt effigies of his likeness and he legged it to Europe, where he attempted to raise money for another coup. When he finally returned to the US, Burr changed his name to avoid creditors, ripped off his second wife and then died penniless in a boarding house.
Who would you be friends with: Hamilton or Burr? “Oh god, neither,” says Watts. “They’re both intolerable. Where’s Eliza? Is she around?”
Hardest thing about playing him on stage: “The restrictive nature of the costumes,” says Watts. “These men were all upper class, so it’s all the refinery, with beautiful detail. But they weren’t trying to be comfortable, they were just trying to look fly as hell. I like things a little breezier.”
What you should Google after the show: A defence of Burr. Was he really so bad? Miranda has defended him on Twitter, saying Burr was “an ardent feminist” and that much is true. Burr was a big believer in equal rights for women and taught his daughter Theodosia to read and write by the time she was three.
Eliza Hamilton
I have never been the type to try and grab the spotlight.
Chloe Zuel as Eliza Hamilton.Credit:Daniel Boud
Who is she: The wife of Hamilton, Elizabeth Schuyler was the second of eight children born into privilege – her father was a military general and her mother came from a wealthy society family. Although she had little formal education beyond tutors, Eliza was instrumental in protecting and promoting Hamilton’s legacy.
How would you describe her? “The first word that comes to mind for Eliza is resilient,” says Chloe Zuel, who plays her in the show. “She’s resilient, powerful and strong, and she represents love and forgiveness and acceptance. She teaches me something every night when I have to forgive Hamilton.”
How did Hamilton describe her? “She is a good-hearted girl who, I am sure, will never play the termagant,” Hamilton wrote to his friend Laurens in 1780. “Though not a genius, she has good sense enough to be agreeable, and though not a beauty she has fine black eyes, is rather handsome, and has every other requisite of the exterior to make a lover happy.”
There’s a lot of chat that Eliza is the real hero of Hamilton. What’s that about? “Before my biography and the musical came out, Eliza Hamilton was a complete blank in American history,” says Chernow. “Whereas she is now regarded as a full-fledged Founding Mother. The musical is chock full of great but flawed figures and yet Eliza, with her purity and goodness, stands out among them.”
What you should Google after the show: How many children Eliza and Hamilton had. Although the musical only focuses on their second-eldest child Philip (played by Marty Alix), the couple actually had eight children. Eliza was also a co-founder of New York City’s first private orphanage in 1806, which still operates today as the child welfare organisation Graham Windham.
Angelica Schuyler
You want a revolution? I want a revelation.
Akina Edmonds as Angelica Schuyler.Credit:Daniel Boud
Who is she? The eldest of the Schuyler sisters. Angelica was a socialite who married British businessman John Barker Church.
How would you describe her? “Angelica is a beautiful mix between thick-skinned and soft-hearted, strength and grace,” says Akina Edmonds, who plays her. “The three sisters don’t get as much stage time as the men, but their presence doesn’t need to be constant for them to make a big impact.”
Did Angelica really have an affair with Hamilton or is that just good storytelling? “To spice things up in the musical, Angelica is single when she meets Hamilton,” says Chernow. “Whereas, in reality, she was already married. The show, quite rightly, leaves some mystery hanging in the air as to whether they were romantically involved or merely flirtatious and that mirrors the historical uncertainty.”
Uh, but what about the letters? You can read some of the letters between Angelica and Hamilton on the US National Archives website. This one, sent by Hamilton to Angelica in 1787, is worthy of some side-eye: “I seldom write to a lady without fancying the relation of lover and mistress. It has a very inspiring effect.”
What’s the hardest thing about playing her? “Angelica has the longest train [on her dress] because she’s the oldest and she gets the longest everything, which is beautiful to see, however beautiful to work with is another story,” says Edmonds. “The dresses become your scene partner, you have to make space for them. So, if Angelica is coming through, you need to make space for three other people. To wrangle the thing is like herding cats.”
What you should Google after the show: Angelica. The small village in Allegany County, New York, was named after Angelica Schuyler by her eldest son, Philip. The town was apparently designed to reflect Paris, where Angelica lived for a time, and it’s now home to 3 Bums Pizza Angelica.
What about Peggy (the third sister)? Don’t worry about Peggy. She married her distant cousin Stephen Van Rensselaer III, who in 2011 was named by Business Insider as the 10th richest American of all time (adjusted for inflation, of course).
George Washington
Ladies and gentlemen! Here comes the general!
Matu Ngaropo as George Washington.Credit:Daniel Boud
Who is he? The pride of Mount Vernon, Washington is a Founding Father of the US and was the nation’s first president after he commanded the Patriot forces to victory in the American Revolutionary War.
How would you describe him? “George Washington is the father of a nation,” says Matu Ngaropo, who plays him in the show. “That’s kind of it in a nutshell. He was the guy they looked to at the time to lead everybody into the new free world.”
What was the relationship between Washington and Hamilton like? “With his quick and agile pen, Hamilton was immensely valuable as Washington’s military secretary during the war,” says Chernow. “At the same time, he was headstrong and ambitious and desperately yearned for a field command, leading to unavoidable tension with Washington, who didn’t wish to let him go.”
Hardest thing about playing him? “The sword,” says Ngaropo. “It’s like having a tail. There is a revolving [stage], there are a million people dancing around in giant skirts and my main focus is, ‘Where’s the sword?’ Is it catching on anyone? Am I hitting anyone?’”
Size does matter. At 188 centimetres, Washington is the sixth tallest US president. (Abraham Lincoln is the tallest at 193 centimetres.) “The last three roles I’ve played have all been statesmen,” says Ngaropo. “I think it’s the height, but I’m not that tall. I’m only six-foot-two.” That’s 188 centimetres, putting Ngaropo on par with Washington and well above the shortest US president, James Madison (163 centimetres), who is played by Shaka Cook in the show.
What you should Google after the show. George Washington’s famously bad teeth. When he was elected president in 1789, Washington only had one real tooth left. There are four pairs of his dentures preserved and they contain a mixture of animal teeth (hippopotamus, walrus, elephant ivory, cow and horse), human teeth, plus lead, brass, silver, gold and small wooden pegs.
Marquis de Lafayette
I came from afar just to say “Bonsoir!”
Victory Ndukwe as Marquis de Lafayette.Credit:Daniel Boud
Who is he? A French noble who decided, aged 19, he wanted renown as a soldier. He travelled to the US and was appointed major-general and fought with the American colonists against the British in the American Revolutionary War. He returned to France and essentially did the same there, becoming wildly popular for his role in the French Revolution.
How would you describe him? “He’s a hero of two worlds,” says Victory Ndukwe. “The contributions he’s made to American history and French history are amazing, astronomical.”
Did Hamilton and Lafayette really meet in a bar? Probably not. Lafayette was not a member of the Sons of Liberty, as referenced in the song My Shot, and met Hamilton through George Washington, with whom Lafayette was very close.
Lafayette has a lot of swagger in Hamilton. Is he the sexiest character? “He’s gotta be,” says Ndukwe. “He’s out there. He’s top five, for sure.”
Hardest thing about playing him? “I have to climb up and down those stairs so many times. It is so annoying,” says Ndukwe. “I don’t think you guys understand. I’m probably up and down those stairs around, maybe, 35 times a show. By Saturday, I’m dragging my legs around like lead blocks.”
What you should Google after the show. Did Lafayette create the French flag? Yes and no. In 1789, Lafayette was in charge of the National Guard and he added “royal white” to the militia’s blue and red cockade (the circular ribbon pinned to their chest), creating a tricolore. However, it took five more years for the flag to be set into law, including advice from the painter Jacques-Louis David that the blue should be flown closest to the pole.
Thomas Jefferson
Can you get us out of the mess we’re in?
Victory Ndukwe as Thomas Jefferson.Credit:Daniel Boud
Who is he? The third president of the US, a Founding Father and author of the Declaration of Independence.
How would you describe him? “Jefferson was a patriot,” says Ndukwe, who does double duty by playing Jefferson in the show’s second act. “And he was very fervent on civil liberties. Liberty of the individual was very important to him.”
What was the main beef between Hamilton and Jefferson? “Jefferson saw Hamilton as a little petulant child,” says Ndukwe. “But you know, Hamilton was just the homie that’s a little bit awkward.” To put it simply, Hamilton wanted to strengthen the central government and the presidency, while Jefferson believed this too closely replicated the monarchical system the US had just freed itself from. Jefferson was all about the property-owning farmers controlling their destiny.
That sounds vaguely familiar to today’s politics. Kind of. While Jefferson and his offsider James Madison (played by Shaka Cook) were all about freedom of the individual, they also created one of the first political parties (the Democratic Republican Party) while Hamilton created the Federalist Party.
For someone who was all about individual freedoms, didn’t Jefferson own slaves? Correct. He owned more than 600 slaves, making him the US president with the largest number of slaves, followed by George Washington. Hamilton’s history with slavery is a little murky. Chernow has described him as an “uncompromising abolitionist” but there is evidence in his account books that he paid his father-in-law $250 for “[two] Negro servants purchased by him for me”.
What you should Google after the show. Mac’n’cheese. In the five years Jefferson spent in France, first as a trade commissioner then as minister, he became a foodie. He popularised eating ice-cream in the US and one of the earliest recipes for mac’n’cheese is in his hand. It wasn’t always a hit, with one guest in 1802 describing the “pie called macaroni” as tasting “very strong, and not agreeable”.
King George III
I will kill your friends and family to remind you of my love.
Brent Hill as King George III.Credit:Daniel Boud
Who is he? The King of England. The first of the Hanoverian monarchs to be born in England and the first to speak English as his first language. Famous for losing the American colonies, going mad and granting the Royal Society £4000 for navigating the Pacific to discover Terra Australis Incognita.
How would you describe him? “He is someone who is not told no a lot,” says Brent Hill, who plays him in the show. “There was also a lot of science in his education. And one thing that he was able to do was to correctly mark the transit of Venus across the sun and correctly predict it in the coming years. To me, that was like, ‘OK, this guy is quite meticulous and well planned.’ He could probably look at a chessboard and see several moves ahead.”
So, he wasn’t as buffoonish as he’s presented in the show? “The musical, admittedly, has a lot of fun with King George III,” says Chernow. “He is given three brilliantly satirical songs, all of them show-stoppers. His royal highness is the sole character who appears alone onstage, so I guess there is that touch of deference to the king.”
What’s the hardest thing about playing him? “There is truth to the saying, ‘Heavy [is the head that] wears the crown’,” says Hill. “Our crown is lighter than past productions, but it’s still relatively heavy. It gives the neck muscles quite a workout.”
What you should Google after the show. King George and the vampire disease.
Hang on, what? “There are a few different theories on it,” says Hill. “Upon his death, they found some arsenic in his hair, chemically. Was it in his face paint or in something he ate? There are other theories about him having porphyria or hypomania. Porphyria is quite cool because it literally comes from a Greek word meaning purple. So that can be purple blood, some kind of sensitivity to daylight or bouts of psychosis.”
I thought all English monarchs died from syphilis? “I don’t know,” says Hill, laughing. “Maybe. It was very popular at the time.”
Hamilton is at Her Majesty’s Theatre from March 15.
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