When Hamiltonfirst hit the Broadway stage in 2015, the musical theatre world was sent into a frenzy by the palpable ambition of creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.
For starters, it's a rapped and sung piece of historical fiction that retells the intricacies of the late 17th and early 18th-century American government. It focuses on Alexander Hamilton, the right-hand man of then-president George Washington during the country's war with the UK, who went on to found the country's first bank.
It also features other leading political names of that time, such as Thomas Jefferson and King George III – all seemingly resurrected in the bodies of pop, RnB and hip-hop artists. It strings together catchy verses packed with distilled historical references, making the period piece surprisingly accessible even to those who have no prior knowledge of the events themselves.
Lin-Manuel Miranda played the titular role in the original Broadway production. AP
Controversial material aside, the production proved bulletproof, earning it critical acclaim at the time, with 11 Tony Awards including Best Musical. With such success, it's no surprise that, almost nine years later, the show still resonates with audiences – such as the eager theatregoers who filled up Etihad Arena on the show's second night in Abu Dhabi.
The energy intensified by the minute before the show even started, fuelled even more by the sight of David Korin's Tony-nominated stage design. As the opening hip-hop number drops, it cements the notion that this is the sort of music I want to hear live over and over – even though I've had it on loop in my car for almost a decade and watched (and re-watched) the stage performance on Disney+.
It makes the controversies surrounding Miranda's sanitised account of American history easier to ignore as the show goes on. The musical, as it should, pays more diligence to the theatrical elements that make it a feast for the ears and the eyes, much less on it being a dogmatic archive of the past.
While the music numbers demand vast technical skills, the company in Abu Dhabi does not disappoint.
The titular role is played by Jason Arrow, who previously told The National his main challenge was carving his own niche for the character. From my vantage point, the American performer achieves his goal, from his “young, hungry and scrappy” vibe in My Shot down to his gripping demise in Hurricane. Unlike Miranda, who originally played the role, Arrow has a capable vocal range, adding more charm to his portrayal.
Jason Arrow is leading the cast of Hamilton's international tour. Photo: Hamilton Abu Dhabi
Opposite him is DeAundre' Woods who plays Hamilton's rival Aaron Burr with a more reticent approach to the character compared to Leslie Odom Jr's fervid depiction of the historical figure. This tenderness runs the risk of being too stale though, especially in some of the show's biggest numbers Wait For It and The Room Where It Happens, where a certain level of gusto is needed to hit a musical home run. Still, Woods's Burr is capable enough to land the proverbial plane successfully.
Rachel Ann Go's portrayal of Eliza Schuyler, Hamilton's scorned wife, is nuanced, delivering on the character's emotional depth and giving Phillipa Soo, the original Eliza, a run for her money.
Go joined the West End production in 2017. Reprising the role of Eliza, she appears more comfortable than other cast members singing and is equally as capable on the acting front. The actress navigates her character arc with fluidity and precision, from being lovestruck in Helpless, indignant in Burn and melancholic in It's Quiet Uptown (even though she doesn't sing here).
Rachelle Ann Go during a West End production of Hamilton. Photo: Hamilton West End
Darnell Abraham's George Washington is truly presidential, with the actor turning in the best vocal performance of the night in One Last Time. David Park, playing both Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, as well as Brent Hill, who gives life to King George III, provide the three-hour show's much-needed comic relief.
My point is – if you are anything like me, who's thoroughly attached to the original Broadway cast's performances, do not fret. The international touring company does a more-than-decent job of recreating the magic of the 2015 original production.
And if, like me, you have been waiting for years to see the show in the flesh, go grab a ticket, as the magic definitely has more gravitas live, from the stellar performances to the captivating music and the stagecraft.
Yes, the Disney+ version is a valid option, but there's really no better place to experience the best of Hamilton than in the room where, well, it actually happens.
Hamilton runs until February 11 at the Etihad Arena; tickets, from Dh180, are available at abu-dhabi.platinumlist.net
LILO & STITCH
Starring:Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023 More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE SQUAD
Omar Abdulrahman (Al Hilal), Ali Khaseif, Ali Mabkhout, Salem Rashed, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Zayed Al Ameri, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ahmed Barman, Ryan Yaslam, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Adel Al Hosani, Ali Hassan Saleh, Majed Suroor (Sharjah), Ahmed Khalil, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli), Hassan Al Muharrami, Fahad Al Dhahani (Bani Yas), Mohammed Al Shaker (Ajman)
Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner, Naby Keita, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Joe Gomez, Adrian, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, Andy Lonergan, Xherdan Shaqiri, Andy Robertson, Divock Origi, Curtis Jones, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Neco Williams
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
