From Helpless To Burn To Telling The Stroy: The Evolution Of Eliza Schuyler In Hamilton

When a story begins, one never truly knows where they will end up, starting from deeply enamored head over heels love, to erasing yourself from the love story you were once so happy to be a part of. Someone who always asked their significant other to let enough just be enough, who begged her love to take a break, and even though she gave nothing but support and love, ending up getting burned. This is the story of a someone who stood strong and true, someone who should be admired. This is Eliza's story. As we approach the tenth anniversary of this groundbreaking, history making historical rap musical, as we draw closer to the date, in this tenth year celebration of Hamilton, I decided to deep dive into so many reasons why we love the songs and characters, and what narratives are behind the cast of this show. But today, let's talk about the faithful wife, the one and only Elizabeth Schuyler, also known as Eliza Hamilton.  

When she first takes the stage, we meet her and her sisters, next her and Alexander are getting married, then asking Alexander just live so he can see his child grow saying that he is more then enough, next is asking him to slow down, raising the children, wanting her husband to take a break, witnessing his political ups and downs, being cheated on, losing her son, forgiving Alexander, losing Alexander, and then ending the show, many believing her to be taking her last breath. Much like her sister and most of the cast, even when she is not on stage, she is providing supporting vocals through many of the songs. 

If that sums up anything, it shows Eliza is a huge part of the show, and adds just as much as even characters like Burr to the narrative. If Alexander is pure ambition, she is the heart of the show. She is an anthesis to Alexander, trying to get him to just be good enough, and to enjoy moments. Which then leads to an interesting change in "Its Quiet Uptown" and "Who Lives Who Dies Who Tells Your Story" where Alexander finally begins to take life slowly and prioritize family, while Eliza ends the show doing so many ambitious things. 

When we first meet her, she is with her sisters, and then is already in love after a chance encounter on a cold winters night. You see how happy and content she is from this song from "Helpless" and that keeps returning through the rest of Act 1 and even some of Act 2. She is loving and supportive but wishes to see her husband live long enough to see her point of view on things. Telling him how they don't need a legacy, or money, just love, and asking to be a part of his story. Love is very much her driving force, and her being content with just having the ones she loves around her, is a great yet sweet contrast to Alexander's constant ambition, always climbing upward to something new.

And then he just couldn't say no to this. 

I can write a whole post about Burn and trust me, I probably will. Burn is one of the most powerful moments in the show, pure heartbreak that is filled to the brim with genuine emotion. The hurt she feels that connect to that audience, the pain of Alexander cheating on her, and being full of justified rage, pain, and sorrow. In that moment instead of rushing to his side, she gives Alexander over to his ambitions, removing herself from it. Even though we will never truly know how she reacted in history, Eliza in the terms of the musical steps away in a what could only be shown as the opposite of helpless. Her husband let someone else into their bed, but as she says , she doesn't have to let the world into her heart or bed, or even let Alexander back into it. This moment full of fire burning from within, and on the stage as she destroys the letters which once won her over, the heart she gave to Alexander is now in pieces, and she leaves him not with those, but leaves with what she has left of that very heart. 

Losing her son just makes it all the more worse.

And yet she forgives him, forgiving her husband, letting go of the past, letting go of the betrayal, letting go of the Alexander handing her first born the gun that would ultimately take his life, and then use that gun one more time, losing his in the process. And yet she forgives him, she tells his story, she invites herself back into the narrative and gets her wish. She becomes a part of his story, analyzing and publishing her late husbands writing, raising funs for the Washington Monument, interviewing soldiers who fought with him, writing herself, opening the first private orphanage in New York City, and some much more. 

If the real Eliza didn't do all the legwork, and tell his story, we would not have this amazing musical. Eliza is the heart of the show, because without her and what she did, there would be no she. She drives home the simple yet powerful theme of legacy, and how you can work to preserve your legacy your whole life but part of it, is who tells your story. The people who tell your story help shape it and how it gets told, and what the tale of you tells. 

Eliza tells this story, so much it becomes her story, being someone who should be applauded for the love she gave, for the forgiveness she was willing to give, and what she accomplished. The show is named Hamilton but there is more then one at the emotional core of the narrative driving its themes home on legacy. Without the story she told, we never would have gotten this story on stage. From head over heels, to telling his story, the founding fathers will have their place history forever, but Eliza's legacy and what she did for Alexander's is second to none.

The Goes Wrong Show, Perfectly Planned Imperfection

 Chekov's gun is a literary rule in which, if something is shown, such as a gun on the wall it must be fired by the end of the story. What if the stage was set, the actors shown, and everything was establish, only for that rule to take place in the most comedic way possible. What if the gun fired, but in the wrong direction, but was done with purpose and to make the audience smile? That is, "The Goes Wrong Show", and I have been really enjoying it lately.

The title alone can tell you a whole story, it can let you know the themes, goals, or general premise of what is about to unfold. "The Goes Wrong Show" is in fact, what the title says it is. A live theater performance, mostly presented in the form of TV episodes but sometimes can have longer, movie like presentations, from the BBC over in England is a complete and total gem. I first saw an episode a few years back but recently not only revisited it, but remembered why I loved it so much the first time I saw it. The actors are mostly the same, but the plays always change, sometimes it's a genre or theme, and others it is a well loved story such as "Peter Pan" or "A Christmas Carol". The play begins, the stage is set after a word from the director, and then.. well the title speaks for itself doesn't it?

Sets falling, prop and costume malfunctions, lines not being understood, mics not being turned off, offstage or behind the scene antics coming into the light of the stage and so much more. Actor's getting knocked out, accents being too heavy, and even in some cases some audience interaction, even if the actor on stage does not want it. Whether in episode form or the longer productions, filmed live on stage with an audience, this is a theatrical comedic romp.

The comedic timing in this whether it is physical or verbal is second to none. The jokes are constantly streaming in one after another, meaning if one doesn't land with you, another that probably will is not far behind. The accidents are amazing, and show amazing stunt work on the team, some can be seen a mile away but are still hilarious while many are surprises. Some are laid out in dialogue but aren't pay offs until they are almost forgotten about, for example in one of my favorite episodes "90 Degrees" which was meant for the heat in this drama play ends up meaning the set is on a slant and leads to great slapstick, there is a line about the set designer being a toy maker beforehand, which means jack in the boxes pop up with great comedic timing. 

Some of my favorite gags are when mics are left on, character is broken, or frantic behind the scenes antics are shown. Whether its cast members caught conversing, arguments amongst each other,  romantic relations, people out of character, gossip because a mic was left on or someone even buying snacks and being recorded because the mic was left on.

This show can be found on Broadway HD with both hour long specials behind a paywall, one season is on Tubi for free with ads, but I watched this on YouTube which was free with ads, but I have premium which has both seasons of the show, and the "Peter Pan Goes Wrong" hour long special. I love the former, but the latter is my favorite. Using the longer run time and bigger set to make things go wrong in ways I was not expecting, and still laugh at upon rewatches. The stunts, mishaps, and behind the scenes stories that come into the light, lead to amazing running gags, great sight gags, and knowing the perfect amount of time to do a callback or go even bigger. I never knew there would be a version of "Peter Pan" where I would root for the crocodile but trust me, by the end of this if you choose to watch it, you will too. The build up at the beginning leads to jokes that make sense among the senseless, but at times something purely outrageous will happen that is downright hilarious all with great pacing to boot.

Even though the imperceptions of this play are planned, the show is authentic with its audience and just wants to make the audience laugh. The title lets you know what you are in for, but how things go wrong is where the writing shows its comedic strengths. 

I highly recommend giving this a try, the show and then if you like it the specials. I hope we get more, because these are so well done, and are just plain funny. comedic Chekov's gun, where anything that can go wrong, most certainly will, and I love that it does. 

"I Don't Need Your Love" The Ballad Of The One Who Survived (SIX)

Valentine's day is approaching, and as fun it would be to recount all of the lovely Broadway love ballads across musical history. Wouldn't it be more fun to talk about a show that is about the wrong side of love, six Queens who all share one ex, Henry the 8th, king of England and how many know them only from an old rhyme. I have recounted on many occasions on this blog, and will many more my love of this show, it is in my top 5 favorite musicals of all time, the high energy of this show is matchless, the show full of comedic moments, real human emotion the audience can relate to, and of course some grade A break up songs. Songs of wanting to stay, living your life, being unbreakable, loving yourself and having a confident identity in the face of harsh criticisms, being viewed as nothing more, and having to courage to let go of someone. As much as it would be fun to talk about golden age romantic romps such as "Hello Dolly" or " My Fair Lady", and those shows are great, classics, have their place in musical history, love does not always look as clean cut as it does in those sweet comedies. Love can be very messy, love when not handled or respect can often lead to heartbreak. This show mentions heartbreak in spades, but it also shows the audience, you don't have to lay down and cry about, you can use your voice, your music, your gifts, to not only tell your side of the story, but move on from the pain through music. 

The show has the queens recounting their love life, but also showing the audience there was so much to their stories then what is present in the history books. Competing to show who had it worst with the winner getting to be the lead of the fictional band, filling the show with catchy pop songs, fun banter, great comedy, and incredible music that is constantly changing styles inspired from various eras of pop music. As the show continues, more amazing songs in different styles of music are played, all the queens after their first big group number, and one in the middle that is a full on rave, provide backing vocals as each individual queen, one by one gets her turn in the spotlight. 

The final queen, Catharine Parr takes the stage, as we approach the ending of this wonderful show, and suddenly the show is flipped on its head. The jokes come to a halt, and much like each queen before her, a new style of music comes to the front. Starting slow and soft, with a great instrumentals, a great use of the keyboard and bass, we hear the story of having to let go of someone Catharine truly loved to be a queen. Wishing she could tell Henry that she does not need her love, but she can't, not to a king. She recounts being married, being the one who survived but shows there was so much more, that her story has many untold aspects that are never touched on. Without Henry she feels as if she disappears, even though she has written, advocated and done so much more. The others realize that even though they have deeper stories, history only views them as the many wives of Henry. 

But then.. the chorus of the song becomes more of a what someone wants to say but never did, the history is dropped, and the queens find their voices. They stop competing and acknowledge the common denominator of their heartbreak, they take back the microphone, control, and in the face of what really happens tell Henry what they always needed to. The song starts soft and somber and ends as a celebration of loving yourself, and letting go of someone. All of them echoing the chorus singing "I don't need your love", turning the song from somber to upbeat, the lyrics pack a punch both when the song is a solo, and when the ensemble comes in.

The song has tons of emotion packed in, while still being a great listen, it is relatable and enjoyable, the song holds a powerful message. It's okay to feel sad and process those feelings, but sometimes we can see we are so much more, we can be stronger, and take back control in our stories. The change of emotions in the song flows naturally as everyone goes from defeated, to taking a stand, not stopping the song but rather progressing along with it.

That is where the song hits close to home with me. Sometimes stories need to end for our own good, songs like "Burn" from "Hamilton" or "There's A Fine Fine Line" from "Avenue Q" just capture human emotion in song in ways that remind us why we love musical theater. This song captures not only the real emotions of a reflective nature, or being hurt and being validated for said hurt. Then the song brings the message of the show home, disregarding all historical accuracy to bring something real to the audience, encouraging them to throw away love that they do not need.  

As someone who has listened to this song countless times, and has had the joy of seeing this show live, this moment is a joy to witness play out in person as well as it did when I first heard it on the album. A great song with memorable lyrics, great instrumentation, and above all of that a powerful message. This song is great, this show is great, and I am sure I will go further into the show, its themes, and more over time. They may not need Henry's love anymore, but I for one need to this song, and to listen to it again and again. 

Alexander Hamilton... Just You Wait

 This year marks ten years of the Broadway musical smash hit, "Hamilton". As someone who has seen it live a couple times, watched the Disney Plus filmed live on stage version as well, listened to the music, the Hamildrops, and the Mixtape, it is easy to say that I'm a fan. It is in my top 3 favorite musicals of all time, and has inspired me through the music all these years, pumping me up, helping me unwind and have fun, with friends, with family, or listening on my own. Long time readers of this blog already know this as I have covered the show, the songs, the remixes and so much over countless times over the years. But for the 10th anniversary, I want to not only look into it again, look at the show, some of the songs, but also look into the themes as well as the impact made by this pop culture phenomenon. So once a month until July of 2025, the month of the actual tenth anniversary, in which that will be the grand finale to this series, I will be diving into Hamilton, as well as some of the works of Lin Manuel Miranda that do not star any founding fathers. But where to begin, how about with a question.

The show as mentioned by plenty of analysts, writers, and cast members themselves, the show begins with a question. "How?". Asking how someone who bounced from struggle to struggle, losing any semblance of family, losing his home to a hurricane, still became a founding father. From the second the curtain rises, the show begins with asking a legitimate question, in the face of someone who should of not made it to where they were standing, but did. But then a phrase is repeated "just you wait". 

Telling not just the world around him who is "Waiting in the wings" for him, but the audience to sit back, wait and see how he gets so far. Instead of questioning how, the show answers it with for every time the question is raised, it's answered. Answered with working hard, studying, and taking a new chance at a new life in a land far from home. Alexander's ambition is seen from the second he steps on stage, not only telling us to wait and see but how "There's a million things I haven't done". Not just a clever rhyme for his last name to fit the bar, but also showing how much he wants to do. Wanting to fill every second of every day with taking shot after shot with the hope of one landing and getting ahead. Before we even meet the cast the stage is set, relationships are stated, and the world already knows the lead is not sitting idly by.

Before the first song finishes we are shown the relationships he has, from love, to friends, enemies, mentors, all down to the one who would end his life. Telling the audience to just wait, asking who's story is about to unfold one more time. Starting completely unknown, but by the time the curtains fall those who seen, or listened will. 

This opening reminds me plenty of Lin Manuel's first and also amazing musical "In The Heights", in which the ensemble gathers, the stage is set, and you meet the cast while their place in this world is established. This opening carries so much weight, using a solid beat, great lyrics with fantastic flow, to take us back in time. Unlike the first which brings us to fictional characters in a real place, with hopes and dreams that make them feel real, this is real history and real events. Following a real historical figure could always bring speculation, but this opening packs in so many facts that illustrate our leads humble beginnings, while still being a great song to listen to. 

Giving us a lead who we want to see succeed, who is relentless. Refusing to give up in the face of trail after trial, tribulation after tribulation. Pushing forward, as those who will play a part in his story recount, soon these players will fill the stage and the pieces will come together, sometimes the same actor doing two different roles. The "We Fought With Him", "Me I Died For Him", being played by people who echo those phrases but in two different ways depending on the context of who they are in Act One and Act Two. The whole cast stating their ties to the lead, we know they will appear, now much like for Alexander's rise, we must wait to see how. This song is a brilliant start. 

As someone who has seen it, the only thing the audience, watcher on Disney plus, or listener of the album can do, is sit back and wait, thankful the wait to see where this musical leads us, is only a song, or a few seconds away. Starting off on an incredibly strong note, asking questions that the night spends answering so the audience leaves asking none of their own.