The simplicity of this show enhances its comedic brilliance. Take what is, in my opinion, an over-hyped show and its music, and set your own words to it to make a mockery of its composer and how he came to write and star in it. And all you need is a piano, a stage and some talented actors! Brilliant!
It is good that Lin-Manuel Miranda has a sense of humour though, because this show doesn’t feel like a gentle and friendly mockery: at times it feels like quite a savage criticism with claws out.
It is quite a fast-paced and frantic show, sometimes being so frenetic that it feels amateurish. And some of the Broadway comedy and references are going to be lost on a British audience (I’m no expert, but I’m pretty clued in and some of it was lost on me!). It has, however, travelled across the Atlantic well, substituting Elaine Page for Bernadette Peters, but I think that Liza Minnelli needs to be changed too, or cut, as that section adds absolutely nothing to the show and was fairly boring.
It was, however, generally a thoroughly entertaining and funny 80 minutes and made me and the rest of the audience laugh out loud.
Obviously the Hamilton-hype will assist in drawing audiences to see Spamilton and, although it isn’t necessary to have seen Hamilton or know its music and history, I think that it makes Spamilton more funny if you have/do. This show won’t blow you away, but it will make you laugh and provide you with a thoroughly entertaining evening, and possibly make you re-assess the Hamilton-hype.