Hamilton brings hip-hop and history to Montreal’s Place des Arts

The smash Broadway musical Hamilton explores history, identity, and universal themes in a three-week run at Place des Arts.

Hamilton, the smash Broadway musical, has finally arrived at Place des Arts in Montreal.

The hip-hop retelling of the American Revolution has messages that still resonate today.

He became one of the American founding fathers, yet Alexander Hamilton started out a poor orphan who refused to let that hold him back.

“I think so much of this show is about humanity and having grace for others — your neighbours, your friends, your family members," says actor Lauren Mariasoosay, who plays Eliza Hamilton in this touring production.

Hamilton is a look at American history, including a reference to the Battle of Quebec in 1775, where General Richard Montgomery was killed.

Performer Christian Magby recites the lyric in one of the songs in Act 1: “Caught a bullet in the neck in Quebec!”

“I was just like, wow, Québec. You could hear a couple of people react to it, which is pretty cool,” he says.

Hamilton casts non-white actors in the roles of the American historical figures. Magby plays Thomas Jefferson.

“My only hesitation was that in the first act, I use a French accent and I was like, if this thing is not good, they are going to tear me apart,” he says.

A.D. Weaver is George Washington and he says the realism comes from the actors themselves.

“We’re all just trying to make it and just trying to be the best versions of ourselves, moment to moment. And that’s the responsibility that I feel when I’m portraying George Washington,” says Weaver.

Evenko planned on bringing this production to Place des Arts before the pandemic, when there was less tension between the United States and Canada.

“In terms of people supporting American artists, we haven’t really seen much of a slowdown. I think culture and politics — people make that differentiation between a performer and a politician," says Evenki Senior VP Nick Farkas.

Presented with rapid-fire lyrics and dialogue, Hamilton isn’t offered in French during this three-week run. Farkas says translating it would be almost impossible.

“It’s a cultural phenomenon. Montrealers want to see cutting-edge stuff. They want to see current things. They want to see what is happening,” he says.

Regardless of language or era, the message is universal.

“There’s no class better than the next. And I’m really glad that message resonates and that it universally is felt,” says Weaver.

Mariasoosay adds: “we’re fighting for the same things today that they were fighting for then, so it’s still pertinent.”