Take Daveed Diggs's who plays Lafayette and Jefferson. Lafayette is the French immigrant whom Hamilton befriends that helps the American army fight off the British. While Diggs's other character is Jefferson, the American ambassador to France who comes in the middle of the play (right after Lafayette leaves, very tricky Mr. Manuel Miranda) and basically tries to destroy Hamilton. Both have ties with the French, but one is Hamilton's friend, the other his enemy.
This is not the only pair of characters like this. You can also look at Jasmine Cephas Jones's characters Peggy Schuyler, the sister that is only in one song and barely mentioned again after, and Miss Maria Reynolds, the women who seduced Hamilton into sleeping with her, and helping her husband make a lot of money in the process. This one is funny because in a sense every Schuyler sister fell for Hamilton throughout the play, Peggy herself may not have, but the woman who looks and sounds identical to her sure did.
The most heart wrenching of the character parallels is John Laurens/Phillip Hamilton played by Anthony Ramos. This one will get you when you realize they were played by the same actor. Both characters wanted to fight for Hamilton so both were involved in duels defending Hamilton, Laurens because Hamilton wasn't allowed to fight, and Philip because he heard someone said something about his father. Laurens luckily making it out alive, Phillip dying while defending his fathers honor. 
Lin Manuel Miranda does an excellent job writing the characters the way he does. It is especially fascinating when you find out about actors playing two roles in paralleling parts.
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ReplyDeleteOh hello, Moe! I could talk the Lafayette vs. Jefferson debate, ALL DAY; the fact that they are the same person is mind blowing. For Daveed Diggs to be so diverse when it comes to singing and acting styles is so incredible. Perhaps the more incredible part of the fact that he plays both characters is the fact that in the first act he loves Hamilton and must build a rapport with Hamilton's character and create an on stage chemistry and presence with the rest of the cast and the audience; then for him to flip around and play Hamilton's enemy is outrageous! Being able to create two diverse character interpretations as one man in one play is spectacular and should be more applauded!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how one person can play two characters and is able to portray both of them so clearly. Lin Manuel Miranda did a great job of finding actors that were capable of holding many roles and being able to play the roles of different people and different backgrounds so well, that each character is remembered and the story of Hamilton is displayed clearly and effectively.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really interesting analysis of what could be disregarded as a minor trivia fact by more causal listeners. I love the way Miranda wrote the show with the dual parts, and how carefully he chose them. Another effect that can be seen from this is simply the way the various actors and their voices stand out in each act; actors like Daveed Diggs have a very unique sound, and it's a fascinating choice to have his voice play multiple roles in the story.
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