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| Hamilton this afternoon: Miguel Cervantes, brilliant. | |
| Last Edit: Delvino 07:49 pm EDT 10/06/21 | |
| Posted by: Delvino 07:48 pm EDT 10/06/21 | |
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| I was given a ticket last night, and raced off this afternoon, surprised and delighted. I've seen both Javier and Lin (fans of both), but can report that my favorite Alexander is the current one: Miguel Cervantes. This is a remarkably agile singing actor, his ability to serve the score's rap demands and old school musical theater material rendering the most seamless vocal performance. When he gets to "Hurricane," it's a new layered revealed. Emotionally, it's also the most complex of the three. In his mid-forties, Cervantes plays the first act as a livewire shot from a cannon, tightly coiled and loosened in spurts (the most full throttle take on Yorktown). He uses his comedy chops to find youthful bravado, and then an older, more centered gravitas to make the story's dark turns deeply affecting. He's played it 1200 time, per Playbill, yet in the reminted reboot, makes the role feel new. After studying the Disney performance in close-up, I thought I had nothing new to learn about the character but Cervantes finds a new pulse. Anyone seeing this newly rehearsed iteration is in for a great ride. With the coolly elegant Jin Ha as a sophisticated Burr, the show is superb shape. | |
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| re: Hamilton this afternoon: Miguel Cervantes, brilliant. | |
| Posted by: ChicagoDRO 02:14 pm EDT 10/07/21 | |
| In reply to: Hamilton this afternoon: Miguel Cervantes, brilliant. - Delvino 07:48 pm EDT 10/06/21 | |
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| I agree! I saw him 5 times in Chicago. | |
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| re: Hamilton this afternoon: Miguel Cervantes, brilliant. | |
| Posted by: Kjisgroovy 09:43 am EDT 10/07/21 | |
| In reply to: Hamilton this afternoon: Miguel Cervantes, brilliant. - Delvino 07:48 pm EDT 10/06/21 | |
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| I thought Miguel Cervantes, Joshua Henry, Karen Olivo, Alexander Gemnigani, Jose Ramos, and Wallace Smith of the Chicago cast were all VASTLY superior to their original cast counterparts... who were already pretty extraordinary. I'm glad Cervantes considers to be fantastic. I bet he's only grown in the role. |
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| re: Hamilton this afternoon: Miguel Cervantes, brilliant. | |
| Last Edit: Delvino 07:33 am EDT 10/08/21 | |
| Posted by: Delvino 07:31 am EDT 10/08/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Hamilton this afternoon: Miguel Cervantes, brilliant. - Kjisgroovy 09:43 am EDT 10/07/21 | |
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| Miranda's performance of the title role -- recorded for the ages -- is a unique synergy that captures the intended style in the show's creative DNA. I take nothing away from his disciplined work. His thrilling rapping, in particular, is probably the standard for the show. But Cervantes illustrates how rich and complex the part is, freely interpreted, removed from Lin's voice. Cervantes gets inside Alexander's arrogant insouciance, a young man (more) aware of his charisma and prowess. Traits Lin explored, to be fair. But starting bolder, less boyishly vulnerable, Cervantes brings more recognizable shape to the arc of the show, growing, evolving, aging scene by scene. By the middle of the second act, the youthful glee is stripped away and a tortured man makes a series of fatal mistakes. To me, it's just a fuller reading of the character's response to complex obstacles in his path, his inability to correct flaws, and resulting tragic outcome. | |
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| re: Hamilton this afternoon: Miguel Cervantes, brilliant. | |
| Posted by: dottie20 10:19 am EDT 10/07/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Hamilton this afternoon: Miguel Cervantes, brilliant. - Kjisgroovy 09:43 am EDT 10/07/21 | |
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| I'd like to add Chris Lee (Lafayette/Jefferson) to this list as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the Chicago production, and specifically made the trip when Josh Henry was announced as Burr. I'm glad I bought 2 sets of tickets to make the trip worth my while! | |
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| re: Hamilton this afternoon: Miguel Cervantes, brilliant. | |
| Posted by: Kjisgroovy 11:23 am EDT 10/07/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Hamilton this afternoon: Miguel Cervantes, brilliant. - dottie20 10:19 am EDT 10/07/21 | |
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| I thought he was terrific! A totally different vibe and energy but... Daveed Diggs is hard to top in that role. | |
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| re: Hamilton this afternoon: Miguel Cervantes, brilliant. | |
| Last Edit: Chromolume 08:09 pm EDT 10/06/21 | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 08:09 pm EDT 10/06/21 | |
| In reply to: Hamilton this afternoon: Miguel Cervantes, brilliant. - Delvino 07:48 pm EDT 10/06/21 | |
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| I've known Miguel for a long time - we did Forever Plaid together in Boston back in 2004, and among his other wonderful Boston performances was an inspired Edgar in Bat Boy. I am so thrilled he's landed this role on Broadway (he previously headlined the Chicago production of Hamilton, then began playing the role on Broadway just before the pandemic), and I'm thrilled to see your post, Delvino. Thanks!! | |
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| re: Hamilton this afternoon: Miguel Cervantes, brilliant. | |
| Posted by: Snowysdad 11:41 pm EDT 10/06/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Hamilton this afternoon: Miguel Cervantes, brilliant. - Chromolume 08:09 pm EDT 10/06/21 | |
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| I also remember Miguel's early days in Boston, the Bat Boy, featured in Speakeasy's first rendition of Songs for a New World and later when I relocated to Florida in the tour of 25th Anniversary Putnam County Spelling Bee. This man is a major talent. I am not fan of Hamilton so having seen it once (more than enough for me) I will not be able to judge his performance in that. Wishing this former Boston man all the best in all his future endeavors. | |
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| re: Hamilton this afternoon: Miguel Cervantes, brilliant. | |
| Posted by: Roman 11:45 pm EDT 10/06/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Hamilton this afternoon: Miguel Cervantes, brilliant. - Snowysdad 11:41 pm EDT 10/06/21 | |
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| I remember his hilarious Bat Boy! But his Hamilton ranks up there with Kiley’s Don Quixote as one of the greatest male musical performances I’ve ever seen. He is nothing short of a sensation and not to be missed. |
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