It's time for my mini-reviews of The Grinning Man, Hamilton and Newsies.
The Grinning Man
"The king is dead, but who the hell cares? A strange new act has arrived at the fair in the centre of the capital, a grotesque oasis of entertainment. Soon everyone from the gutter-rats to the new queen has fallen for the hand-made freak Grinpayne and his hideously beautiful face. But who is he really? And how did he come to be so marked? Together with an old man, a blind girl and wolf, he has a story to tell. A tale so tragic and so strange that not even he can guess how it will end."
I saw The Grinning Man during its run in London's West End, and was quite taken by it. It was an extremely unique show, and quite different from anything else playing in London at the time. One of the show's most commendable elements is its entirely original score, jointly composed by Carl Grose, Tom Morris, Tim Phillips and Marc Teitler. The music proves to be quite haunting, and is thus well-suited to the show's dark and gritty demeanour. The songs 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Labyrinth' are among my personal favourites, with compelling lyrics and affecting melodies. In addition to this, the puppetry, directed and designed by Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié, is also quite incredible. The puppets are all extremely realistic, and really help the story spring to life.
The Grinning Man can no longer be watched on YouTube for free.
Hamilton
"The musical centres on the life of Alexander Hamilton, who was orphaned and moved to New York in hope of a better life. While there, the smart up-start impressed with his hunger for revolution and reform, to take the United States away from British forces. The story sees Hamilton become George Washington’s right-hand-man, fall in love, and go on to become the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States."
I should begin this mini-review by outright stating that Hamilton is my favourite musical of all time; I have seen it live a grand total of four times, and I doubt I will ever tire of it. In my personal opinion, it is a true work of art, and I see it to be flawless in almost every aspect. The narrative of Hamilton is one I find to be extremely compelling for a variety of different reasons. First and foremost, each character featured within the show is captivating within their own right. They are all flawed individuals, but this is in fact what makes them so spellbinding. Secondly, Hamilton's story is important from a historical perspective. It tells the story of a mostly-forgotten Founding Father, and details his remarkable life in the most extraordinary way. The show gives us a fascinating insight into the American Revolution as well, and is a must-watch for all historians. The musical score, with music and lyrics by Lin Manuel-Miranda, is also exceptional. There's so many different layers to every single lyric, and the music does a phenomenal job at conveying the story in an effective manner.
Hamilton can be watched on Disney+ here (please note that a subscription is needed in order to view): Hamilton.
Newsies
"Homeless New York City newsboy Jack "Cowboy" Kelly (Christian Bale) befriends two newcomers to his trade, brothers David (David Moscow) and Les Jacobs (Luke Edwards). When publisher Joseph Pulitzer (Robert Duvall) sets new rules that make it harder for the young newspaper salesmen to make a buck, the boys go on strike."
The musical score of Newsies, written by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman, is utterly magnificent. There are some very meaningful and moving songs featured, which are particularly helpful at furthering character development. The song 'Santa Fe' was a particular highlight, and gave us a clear insight into Jack Kelly's hopes and desires. The choreography, by Christopher Gattelli, is flawless, and superbly carried out by a very talented ensemble of dancers. Their synchronisation with one another was remarkable, and the big dance numbers certainly made for enjoyable viewing. This production also benefitted from a stellar cast, all of which were incredible. The lead role of Jack was played by Jeremy Jordan, who proved phenomenal. Jordan has a marvellous voice, and his rendition of 'Santa Fe' was astonishing.
Newsies can be watched on Disney+ here (please note that a subscription is needed in order to view): Newsies.
Thanks for reading!
-The Basic Theatre Reviewer
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