I can’t think of a more appropriate time, place, and manner to have done what they did.
Hamilton is a political show. Theatre is a political venue (like it or not— it isn’t just about entertainment).
The actors didn’t harass him. They didn’t threaten him. They were incredibly polite as they stated their case.
They had the VP’s attention, and they ran with it.
I’m proud of them.
I want to see more theatrical productions harness that attention in positive ways.
That’s the power of theatre. Theatre is not a safe space devoid of criticism. Theatre is there to criticize, question, and unveil the human condition.
When it gets uncomfortable— that’s when it’s working.
If we say that theatre is just for entertainment, then we’re removing all of the power that art has.
If you think there’s something offensive about the phrase:
“But we truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us.”
Then you need a serious wakeup call.
Hamilton is a show about diversity, about acceptance, about the fact that in America, even orphan immigrants can leave their fingerprints.
They had every right to make that speech. I’d argue they had a duty to do it, being the show that they are.
It was appropriate, and I’m glad they did it.
Read other answers by Jordan Yates on Quora:
- Who has the most lines in Hamilton?
- What is your favorite song from the Broadway musical Hamilton?
- What's so unique about Hamilton?
from Quora http://ift.tt/2hWs49q
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