Hamilton - Victoria Palace Theatre

Not long outv of matinee. Not quite the same awe as first time but still great. Waylon Jacobs on as Burr. Didn't really have the singing chops but otherwise I liked him. Ava I'm afraid is not in the same league as Rachel for me. I loved Jon Robyns as King George and the guy who played Washington who's name escapes me.

Went back again last night. The show always comes across as better from the centre of the front row (booked when the tickets first went on sale), despite the high stage. I don't think many lottery winners get front row any more.

Shockingly, all of the main cast were on.

You pick up on all kinds of things up close, like how obvious Jamael Westman's wig is. Still yet to see anyone other than Jamael in that role.

The new cast have grown on me. I thought that Courtney Mae-Briggs did a great job as Maria Reynolds.

The crowd was pleasantly subdued and it even took much longer than usual to get the standing ovation going. I did get the impression that everyone around me was a repeat visitor.

That definitely isn't happening anymore judging by the audience when I went a few weeks ago. There were a lot of repeat viewers around me but no annoying hysteria.

It was my first time back since cast change and I think the show has lost a little bit of its magic. It's still very good, and actually seemed a bit slower as I could catch more of the lyrics (maybe I'm just used to them now!), but for me there was a noticeable difference between those who were part of the original cast and those who had come in at cast change.

Sharon Rose was on as Peggy/Mariah and I thought she did a great job, but I wasn't impressed with Allyson Ava Brown as Angelica at all - maybe she was ill, but she didn't even attempt half the notes both Rachel and Miriam used to do, and I didn't think her acting was strong either. Satisfied fell completely flat for me. I enjoyed Jon Robyns as King George - played very differently to how Mike Jibson used to do it but it worked well. We had an understudy Laurens/Philip but I didn't get a chance to look at the cast board and didn't buy a programme so don't know who it was - whoever it was, he was good.

I still haven't seen anyone other than Rachelle Ann Go as Eliza and she just keeps getting better. She and Jamael are still great together, and he still seems to be changing up his performance in places as well, which is great to see. Sifiso's Burr has really grown on me and I thought he was excellent - a bit more of a playful interpretation than I've seen him do before. For the first time, I actually liked Jason Pennycooke's Lafayette/Jefferson - no idea what's changed but something clicked for me this time. Tarinn Callender is as good as ever.

Overall the ensemble were fine, perhaps not quite as tight as the choreography used to be, but that seems to often happen during a long run. It's just lost a little bit of the original sparkle for me, and I feel like I don't need to go back anytime soon, unless I pick up another cheap ticket. The Grand Circle centre aisle seats are still the best place to sit for this in my opinion - so much cheaper than the next seat along and a completely clear view of the whole stage!

When I saw Hamilton in January I realised that I had seen Allyson Ava Brown before. She was in Bear Behaving Badly on CBBC, which I used to watch with my daughter. She played a character called Beatrice which Nev the bear nicknamed Beetroot. Every time she was on stage all I could think of was “it’s Beetroot!”

It does yes.

Thank you both! I’ll sleep well tonight now

I was there last night. Jamal was absolutely stunning in the role, my fourth visit. Stunning. Jason Pennycook almost steals the show, love his performance. First time seeing Jon Robyns and he is really very good, great voice. Earlier comment in this thread saying the dance moves were not as good as previous, I didn't think so. Still as strong as my previous visits. I had a great night.

I initially thought the same of Dom, but his characterisation was totally different so I stopped comparing and just went with it. I did not enjoy Sifiso starting to play fast & loose with the score in a few of his songs. It’ll be ‘Defying Gravity’ before we know it.

I do a little bit of excitement wee at that bit every time. That and ‘Yorktown’ (in which I do not breathe) are my favourite moments.

Did anybody know Marsha Songcome is back with the cast as a standby? She’s on and making her debut as Angelica tonight.

Saw the show again on Tuesday. We had understudies for Lafayette/Jefferson and Washington. Waylon Jacobs was just ok as Lafayette/Jefferson, really missed Jason Pennycooke who really steals every scene he's in. Aaron Lambert was fine as Washington, slightly better than Dom Hartley. The highlights were Jamael Westman, Rachelle Ann Go, Tarinn Callender, John Robyns and Cleve September. The rest of the main cast were serviceable but nothing special. The ensemble is a mix bag at the moment, some are excellent, some just not very good.

Overall, a good perfromance, just not as good as it used to be.

Got to see this last night with lots of covers on. Another well-behaved audience (there was someone in the Stalls who got overemotional at the end and had to be helped by the ushers, but these things happen).

Marsha Songcombe was on as Eliza - I've seen her before in this role and she's excellent.

Ellena Vincent on as Angelica - I preferred her to Allyson, but this is a difficult role to get all the emotions across.

Waylon Jacobs on as Lafayette/Jefferson - I saw him in this role last year and he was okay then. Much more accomplished now. More restrained than Jason, but I like the contrast.

Jack Butterworth on as Laurens/Philip - Really glad to have seen Jack play a main role, particularly as he's second cover. He has a clear voice and the right youthful feel for Philip.

Sat in the Grand Circle Slips in one of the seats furthest from the stage. A recommended seat for the price and an excellent view of 75% of the stage if you lean forward (and you're not blocking anyone by leaning). Downside is you share a bench with three strangers. It's only thinly padded with limited legroom so it gets uncomfortable. You do run the risk of a group of Australians edging towards the end of the bench to get a better view and almost pushing you off in the process. I would sit there again.

A much better view and value than the Dress Circle Slips (which have movable chairs) and which due to a quirk with the venue layout seem further away from the stage than the Grand Circle Slips.