Hamilton lives up to hype

The title character’s ambition and flaws are deftly portrayed in the award-winning musical

- Benson Ang

After months of hype over the arrival of Hamilton, the Broadway musical has finally begun its sevenweek Singapore run at Marina Bay Sands' Sands Theatre.

And its rock-solid beatboxing and turntable-scratching performances live up to its renowned reputation.

No other musical in recent memory has been so decorated with Tony, Grammy and Olivier Awards - and even a Pulitzer Prize.

But Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015 and whose score blends rap, hip-hop, jazz and R&B, has single-handedly pushed the boundaries of musical theatre.

It has also breathed new life into a medium typically associated with showtunes, as well as an important period of American history.

With a book, music and lyrics by American songwriter-actor LinManuel Miranda, the sung and rapped-through show documents the rise and fall of American founding father Alexander Hamilton (1757 to 1804), who played a key role in the American Revolution (1775 to 1783), during which Great Britain's North American colonies won political independence and went on to form the United States of America.

The title character's ambition and flaws are deftly portrayed by Australian actor Jason Arrow.