When I walked into Montreal’s Salle Wilfrid Pelletier of La Place des Arts for Hamilton, I knew I was about to witness one of the most talked about musicals of our time.
Still nothing truly prepared me for the energy, creativity, and sheer intensity of this production.
Lin Manuel Miranda’s vision of American history told through hip hop and diverse casting is as groundbreaking as everyone says and seeing it come alive in Montreal was quite the upbeat experience.
From the opening number ( introducing the main character and his backstory ), the cast radiated a fierce rebellious energy.
Tyler Fauntleroy brought an impassioned fire to title character Alexander Hamilton but it was Amanda Simone Lee as his wife and one of the popular Schuyler sisters, Eliza who was the emotional heart of the show: her soaring vocals in “Burn” leaving a deep impression on me.
The production itself was incredibly polished with sharp choreography, dynamic staging, and a rhythmic score that constantly pushed the boundaries of what musical theatre can and should be.
I was especially struck by how seamlessly it wove together hip hop, jazz, and Broadway traditions. The rhythm carried the story forward with an urgency that mirrored Hamilton’s own relentless drive.
That said, I did find myself struggling at times to catch all the lyrics. The show’s rapid fire delivery is part of its brilliance, but in a few moments the pronunciation from some performers came across a bit muffled which made it challenging to follow every line.
Even so, the emotions and intent of each scene always came through and the overall storytelling remained powerful and clear.
One of the highlights for me was the diverse casting which gave the historical narrative a fresh and necessary perspective. Seeing non white actors embody figures like Washington, Jefferson, and Hamilton re-frames history in a way that feels both urgent and deeply moving.
Another delightful surprise was the local reference to the “Battle of Quebec” ( a 1775 battle during the American Revolution also fought at Quebec City), which drew knowing laughter from the audience and reminded us that this revolutionary story had echoes on Canadian soil as well.
In the end Hamilton in Montreal lived up to its reputation as a must see theatrical event. Even for those who may not usually gravitate toward hip hop or history lessons ….the show offered something universal: themes of identity, ambition, love, and legacy.
While I occasionally wished for clearer diction, I left Place des Arts energized, inspired, and grateful to have experienced a piece of theatre that continues to redefine what Broadway and storytelling can be.
HAMILTON running August 19th to September 7th 2025 at Place des Arts – Presented by Evenko and Broadway Across Canada
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