In The Room Where It Happened

Hamilton: An American Musical

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Hollywood Pantages Theatre 

Los Angeles, CA

A few months ago, tickets went on sale for this event on a Sunday at 10:00 a.m.  I was singing in the choir for the 9:00 a.m. mass, and hoped that it would be a short one.  It was!  I pretty much raced home, got on my PC, my cell phone, and my laptop to be one of the thousands of people trying to purchase tickets.  Craziness happened, including my spotty internet being extra-irritatingly spotty, as well as other technological stuff.  I had a list of dates that I was available, and tried to get a ticket just for myself, as well as a block of three tickets in case Bro and V could join me.  Unfortunately, that block of three never happened, but the one ticket did, and I had a ticket reserved in the Orchestra section.  Whoo HOOOO!

Two weeks before the show, I took the Metro to see Blade Runner 2049, and the stop was across the street from the Pantages.  I was very excited when I saw the theatre and took this picture at that time.

The day finally came, and I tried to be calm all day long.  Work was busy, but I was distracted.  My co-worker told me that after we got off of work, she was trying to get my attention while I was in my car, but I was too busy on my Waze app trying to figure out how to get to my reserved parking by the Pantages to notice her.  My pre-paid parking was a block north of Capitol Records, which, I realized, was right behind the Pantages.  I never realized that before.  

Icon

I arrived before the doors opened, and got in line.  I was hoping to catch Ham4Ham, but I guess they only did that in LA on opening night when Lin-Manuel Miranda was here.  

Open, open, open!

So that just gave me lots of time to shop instead.  I bought lots of stuff, pondered on other stuff, and then bought a Hamilton MixTape CD.  If I get lucky enough to win another ticket, I'll buy something else. My seat was in row R of the orchestra.  I needed a selfie to share my delight with my friends, and decided to pose with my new Hamilton LA magnet.  

I love the play on the Hollywood sign!
But wait.  Why not a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star?
Or, you know, both?

The show started a few minutes late, probably due to this being LA.  The house was full.  The air was teeming with excitement.  Let's do this thing!

The Stage

The Stage at Intermission

• Ah, the roar of the crowd as the house lights dimmed!  
• Everyone.  EVERYONE was awesome in this cast.  I was floored by the multitude of talent, but it was certainly necessary for a production of this caliber.
• I didn't know that Aaron Burr was the narrator.  Joshua Henry brought humor and a human-ness to the part of the man whom would become despicable to many.  I did like that he regretted his actions in the end, wondering what ideas would have come to fruition if Hamilton had lived longer.
• Michael Luwoye was outstanding as Alexander Hamilton.  With so much recitative, there is a lot of room for error.  Yet he skillfully got all of those words out there with wonderful emotion.
• Loved that rewind to Angelica's view of what happened when the Schuyler Sisters met Alexander. Emmy Raver-Lampman's voice is as fierce as her hairstyle.
• Jordan Donica was hilarious as Thomas Jefferson and Lafayette.  I especially enjoyed the way he hair danced with his afro.
• Then Isaiah Johnson, as George Washington belts out his song in the second half, and I thought, "Wow.  He's amazing."
• Solea Pfeiffer, as Eliza, brought the drama and I cried along with her when Philip died.  I mean, who wouldn't? 
• Rory O'Malley was perfect as King George.  Perfectly funny, perfectly regal, perfectly insane.  La da da da da, da da da da dee da da dada da da daaa da dah!  I laughed at how thrilled he was that John Adams had taken office.
• After the show, the cast asked for donations to Broadway Cares, saying that they want to show NYC that LA is on a winning streak.  A cast member, a native Angeleno, was happy to announce that the Dodgers are going to the World Series!  A lot of us had been checking our phones at intermission, and a guy in front of me was wearing his Dodgers jersey under his suit jacket.
• I love this show.  I love that I'm having fun while learning history, like a really long version of Schoolhouse Rock. I love the music, and wish I could memorize every word so I could be some kind of history rap aficionado.  
• Thank you, Alexander and Eliza Hamilton, for everything you've contributed to this country.
• Thank you, Lin Manuel Miranda, for sharing your genius with the world.

Happiness

DLR LotD 10/14/17

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Saturday, October 14, 2017

"Are those skeletons pole dancing?" -- Justin, on Buena Vista Street

Do Paper Dolls Dream of Origami Sheep?

A few weeks ago, my friends and I bought tickets for "Blade Runner 2049".  Due to a technical glitch, I ended up with a reserved seat in the same row as them, but not next to them.  I thought that I had seen the original movie a long time ago, but recorded a showing on SyFy so I could refresh my memory.  Well, that was a good idea because it turned out that I had never seen the film.  I hadn't really been concentrating when I watched it this time either because I had a bunch of questions. So I watched it again on Wednesday night, read some imdb stuff, and finally felt ready to see the new movie.  

On that day, I didn't see them in the lobby when they said they were there.  Thinking that perhaps I had bought a ticket for a totally different show, I sat down in my seat, ate my hot dog, and contemplated how I would get home (my friend was going to drive me home since I took the Metro to Hollywood after work).  Then they realized that I was in the Cinerama Dome lobby, and they were in the main lobby of the Arclight. They entered the Dome, and all was better.  While I was talking to them at their seats, the guy in the seat next to mine moved my water bottle to the other cup holder so he could manspread and be THAT guy.  The ticket taker had told me to "get comfortable, it's a 3-hour movie", so I was not really looking forward to sitting by the guy, but he turned out to be OK.  At least he didn't read the opening setup OUT LOUD like the gal in back of me.  At first, I gave her the benefit of the doubt, like maybe she was reading to someone who couldn't see the words well, but no, she started to narrate, and I turned around and shot her a look.  She quieted down, probably because I wasn't the only one that shot her a look at that moment.  Anyway, my thoughts about the movie...

• Love that the opening shot is an eye.
• Hi, EJO!
• Robin Wright!  Hi, Princess Buttercup!  I like that she's being given roles where she portrays strong women, and wish that she could have kicked some butt here like she did in "Wonder Woman".
• It's 30 years later, and I'm still a little worried that the replicants existed in 2019, which is only 2 years from today.  Technology moves so quickly these days.  Could it still happen? And 32 years from now, why does LA look like that?  Ick.
• That LAPD building is HUGE.
• That dog stood so still at first that I thought he was stuffed.  That's my kind of dog, though, because he drinks whiskey.
• Is there a male version of Joi?  I didn't see any ads with a male.  
• Speaking of ads, are Sony and Peugeot not worried about that "Blade Runner curse"?
• That scene with Joi getting physical through a human was creepy.  It reminded me of the scene in "Her", except this one kept going.
• At one point, I realized that Gosling looks a little similar to Joseph Fiennes, probably due to the shape of their faces. Fitting that Joi named him "Joe", then.
• I kept wondering if K was going to ask, "Are you my dad?"
• Harrison Ford can still kick ass and take names.  It probably hurts more now than it did 30 years ago, but still.  I loved the part of an interview with Gosling saying that it's not as great as you think when you're in a movie fight with your hero, because when they hit you, it still hurts.  Yes, APPARENTLY, Harrison actually hit Ryan at one point.  Oops!
• Where was that hotel/casino where Deckard was hiding out?  Was that Vegas?  What was up with those huge statues?
• "Her eyes were green."
• That car looks like a DeLorean.  Do all the cops get DeLoreans in the future?  And why did K get to keep his after he turned in his badge and weapon?  Or was that his own car?
• While K was looking at the DNA codes with the letters A C G and T, I thought of the movie "Gattaca" and realized the title's relation to the subject matter of that film.  Mind blown.  I want to see that again.
• I think I need this film score.
• Whenever K went near one of the pianos, I wondered if he was going to save jazz again.
• Why is she crying when she's sees his memory? (later on: "ohhhhh....")
• Why you gotta kill her the day she was born, Wallace?  Meanie. 
• "Sometimes to love someone, you've got to be a stranger."

That (almost) 3 hours went by pretty quickly.  I enjoyed this film, and I'm glad I saw what was the "Final Cut" version of the original film.  Great sequel, looking forward to seeing it again someday.  

DLR LotD 10/07/17

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Saturday, October 7, 2017

"This flight is brought to you by Darth Vader Insurance.  You know, for when Sith Happens." -- CM Jacob, at Star Tours