2:45 4/4

When a production gets as much praise and attention as “Hamilton”, it almost never lives up to the expectations set for it, but the Chicago production of “Hamilton” manages to outperform those expectations.

“Hamilton” tells the life story of Alexander Hamilton who goes from being orphaned in the Caribbean and rising up from his situation by immigrating to America, fighting in the Revolutionary War, and becoming the first Secretary of the Treasury.

The musical was written by and (in certain productions) stars Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton. Miranda spent over 7 years writing the musical with the first song “Alexander Hamilton” taking him a full year to write, and it shows in the quality of the show. Almost every line has a historical fact, a purpose to the plot, or a reference to another piece of hip hop or rap.

The musical’s soundtrack is an accomplishment on its own. Clocking in at 2 hours and 22 minutes, the soundtrack keeps on building, giving the main characters an introductory motif, such as Aaron Burr’s “Aaron Burr, sir”, and using them throughout the production when the characters reappear. This adds to the soundtrack’s intricate layers.

The term classic is usually given to something that has had time to age and develop a lasting impact. “Hamilton” is a prime example of an instant classic, something that shows such a mastery of the craft of playwriting that its impact is great and instantaneous.