Lin-Manuel Miranda: ‘British audiences are hung up on sex’
Creator of Hamilton Lin-Manuel Miranda has said one of the main differences between Broadway and West End audiences at his musicals is the fact that London theatregoers are "super hung up on sex stuff".
Speaking to Stephen Colbert on The Late Show in the US, Miranda said certain lines that don't evoke a reaction at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway are met with sniggers and giggles at the Victoria Palace.
"There's a line in the song "Wait for It" that has never got a reaction from American audiences ever", the composer told the talk show host. "Burr is talking about how he is sleeping with a married woman, and the line is: 'Theodosia writes me a letter every day, I'm keeping her bed warm while her husband is away'."
"When they sing that in London, it gets this huge reaction. It's super Eric Idle, 'wink-wink, nudge-nudge'. It's really funny!"
Miranda also spoke about a recent gala performance of the production in the West End attended by Price Harry and Meghan Markle.
"I was a little nervous because I sat next to Harry and Meghan and [King George] is his sixth-great-grandpa. We're sitting in a theatre named after his fourth-great-grandma, the Victoria Palace Theatre. But it played really well."
Hamilton opened in London in December last year, and Miranda said he was apprehensive about how the musical might be received in the UK, especially with its playful jibes at the monarchy. But he revealed his worries were quashed early on by Helen Mirren, of all people.
"Helen Mirren was one of the first people to see Hamilton, she saw a really early preview at the Public [Theater, New York]. I said, 'how is this going to play?' and she said 'Ah, we love it when you take the piss!'"
You can watch the full-length interview with Stephen Colbert below.
Hamilton is currently booking at the Victoria Palace Theatre until 30th March 2019.
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