“I have beach towels,posters,shot glasses ... if it’sHamilton merchandise it’s probably in my apartment,” Bedford said.
And whatever he doesn’t have,Alarcon does,including a collection of enamel pins,blankets and coasters.
The pair were two of the enthusiastic crowd of 1500 lucky enough to witness lead actor Jason Arrow’s return to the stage as Alexander Hamilton.
Arrow told theSydney Morning Herald andThe Age that there was a point when he thought they wouldn’t get to return to the stage in Sydney.
“Sydney had been that beacon of hope,it was such a big city and it never went down for a lockdown,and it was getting absolutely destroyed by COVID-19,I felt like wow maybe this is it,maybe it’s time to move on,” said Arrow.
When asked how lockdown had changed his portrayal of the founding father in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit musical,Arrow said that he had gained a whole new perspective.
“This time around I looked at Hamilton through different eyes ... now that I know that I’ve done 100 plus shows,what can I add? What can I bring? He’s a real person,he’s not based on fantasy,so what can I get from him and bring it into my performance?”
In trueHamilton fashion,to start the performance there was an extra message from the King on stage.
“Life without theatre and the arts has been so very dull,wouldn’t you agree?” declared the King,played by Brent Hill. “Which is why I am overjoyed to officially declare;Sydney,we’re back!“.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and former deputy premier John Barilaro took a break from local politics at the opening night,along with former prime minister John Howard with his wife Janette and restaurateur Justin Hemmes.
The McMordie family from the Sutherland Shire couldn’t contain their excitement,lining up to pose for photos in front of the Lyric Theatre’sHamilton-themed sign.
“We have seen the online movie like 70,000 times,” said youngest son Nate,age 10.
His mother,Christine McMordie,said,“Nate for his 10th birthday,all he wanted to do was come toHamilton,but that was in lockdown and he was very sad. So,we were so happy to have a second chance,especially on reopening night!”
The show opened to the sounds of a crowded venue and the audience clicked along to the show’s opening song,Alexander Hamilton,with the actors having to wait for applause to stop before continuing the song after lead actor Jason Arrow’s entrance.
Hamiltonwill be playing at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre until February 27,after which it will move to Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre.