Hamilton and "Hamilton"

I read Ron Chernow’s 2005 biography Alexander Hamilton when it was published for two reasons: I loved his earlier books and I was fascinated with Hamilton.  I remember being fascinated when my high school history teacher listed all that Hamilton, the most obscure of the U.S. Founding fathers, did in his short life.

Reading a book by an author you like is a given. The list on the blackboard, for some strange reason always resonated with me. I was awed by the diversity of accomplishments by one person, who in a short life did so much; the fact that he was killed in a duel by the sitting Vice President probably added to my interest (I mean, politicians shooting each other made politics a lot more exciting to my 14 year old brain!).

So, at this point, given that I rarely discuss anything other than wonkish financial issues, you are wondering if I am about to discuss the banking system or another of the many amazing things that Hamilton did while Secretary of the Treasury - I am not.

Recently, I had lunch with a close friend who, in addition, to being a brilliant asset manager, also dabbles in film and theater. We caught up, as longtime friends do-we discussed the markets, stocks, blockchain, and robo-investing. He then said that he saw the play “Hamilton.”

Now, most people would assume that I would gasp and say wow: how was it? how did you get tickets? But, alas, I had no idea what he was talking about. This is where my financial geekiness becomes apparent- I had not even heard of the show despite being the talk of the town, in People magazine, and having been performed for President Obama!

He described it to me and I was skeptical. A play-not just a play- but a musical, about Hamilton…ridiculous. I could not believe that it was the talk of the town: a musical about the most obscure of the founding fathers-who, if anyone knows him, it is because he is on $10 bill (at least for a few more months!) was sold out on Broadway for the next two years.

The rest of the lunch was a discussion of whether the Fed would finally raise rates. As we were leaving I said I would love to see the play. My friend called the next day, and we went to see “Hamilton” last week. He is not someone who messes around and we sat in row 7 stage left.

Like everyone else, including New York Times theater critic Ben Brantley who said " I am loath to tell people to mortgage their houses and lease their children to acquire tickets to a hit Broadway show. But “Hamilton” directed by Thomas Kail and starring Mr. Miranda, might just about be worth it…” I was awed by the show. It captured the spirit, the excitement, the drive, and genius of the early days of the American experiment.

If you are reading this, you probably work in finance, and you are, most likely, familiar with the genius of Hamilton. Happily, this play is spreading his gospel. The show uses brilliant dialog, music and acting to tell his tale, and make it fun. Telling a tale in rhymes is powerful, perhaps lost in our present day, but echoes of Homer and the oral tradition. Telling a tale, in rhyme, laden with emotional content is something indelible, something we remember.

Anyway, it is not a bad way to get yourself and your kids excited about history. And please, let’s keep Hamilton on the $10 dollar bill-we owe him this small tribute!