Trip 52

December 18, 2025

One of the highlights of our planned trip to London was to see the play based on Alexander Hamilton, by Lin-Manuel Miranda who wrote the book, music, and lyrics for Hamilton, inspired by Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton.

Though the play was first produced on Broadway in January, 2015 and toured through the US and the world, we’d never been to see the performance. We had afternoon matinee tickets at 2:30pm and, due to the drizzle we missed yesterday, but lasted throughout the day today , just barely made the beginning of the performance at the Victoria Palace theatre.

The Federalist Papers are a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay (under the pen name “Publius“) between 1787 and 1788 to persuade New York voters to ratify the newly proposed U.S. Constitution, explaining its principles and defending it against Anti-Federalist critiques. They are considered a cornerstone of American political thought.

Hamilton narrates (in only a style Lin-Manuel Miranda could achieve) Alexander Hamilton’s life, and details among other things, his journey as an immigrant from St. Croix, his involvement in the American Revolutionary War as an aide-de-camp to George Washington, his marriage to Eliza Schuyler, his career as a lawyer and the as first Secretary of the Treasury, established the US Treasury, his interactions with Aaron Burr (the main narrator for most of the musical). It’s Hamilton’s relentless ambition and “never being satisfied“ that drives him to greatness as a politician and one of the principal authors of the Federalist Letters, his betrayal of his wife, the death of their son (in a duel) and the final reunion with his wife. The long running rivalry of Burr and Hamilton culminates in a duel between the two that ends in Hamilton’s death. Hamilton’s legacy far outshines that of Burr.

In the play, Hamilton mused that a legacy is like “planting seeds in a garden you never get to see,” reflecting his drive to build a lasting nation and financial system for future generations, even as his own life was cut short, emphasizing that true legacy involves actions whose impact extends far beyond one’s own life, shaped by both oneself and those who tell your story. 

The cast was great and performances and story touching. We had good seats and, for once, not too cramped.

It had largely quit drizzling by the time the play was over, so we met up with a family member at Covent Garden, where Christmas lights lit up the Apple Market and a large outdoor tree is lit.

Sushi at a nearby Itsu on Neal Street for dinner, then wander through the streets of Neals Yard, and Seven Dials. We first “discovered” Itsu in Edinburgh, but now see them in many places.