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Hamilton. I went yesterday.
This is the huge success on stage - first in America; now here. Sold out months ahead. Stalls seats 880 quid.
It is brilliant but I didn’t enjoy it. Why? Because I hate “sung through” shows and there are no hits in it. I didn’t like Les Mis but forgave it, as there are two or three fantastic smash hits in it. Book of Mormon has no hits, but the music is so accurate and appropriate.
On the other hand - Hamilton has superb singing, dancing and choreography. Brilliant cast. Highly original yet strangely old fashioned - just because they rap or hip hop “I want to go to the toilet” doesn’t change my loathing of “sung through”. I accept and delight bursting into song during speeches or action; I don’t like it all the way though (Opera - ditto).
My fault. The audience loved it (irritating whooping throughout). I didn’t.
Ah yes; she and Neil became friends when we shared a mutual dislike of Max Clifford and they came to visit me in prison to discuss the ghastly man's behaviour.
I hate musicals where they just sing the conversation "I'm going to the pub and will get a kebab on the way home".
My favourites are Grease and Sweet Charity, great songs and feel good stories.
I only forgave Les Mis when he burst into Bring Him Home and you could have heard a pin drop. That one four minute sequence made the entire evening worthwhile for me. But then I am a hit singles queen.