Thursday, July 17, 2008
Damnit Burr, You Shot Me
Two and a half years later, the internet has caught up with my desire to host streaming videos of any length. This is Matt and I’s first performance—ever—of Code Duello: Hamilton & Burr. Only a few weeks earlier our costumes were on order, the structure was up in the air, and I was still pushing for the title “Burr and Hammy: Founding Friends!”
On opening night we were blessed with a warm, excited audience and some nervous energy that, thankfully, translated into quick wits. Although the structure of the show has stood the test of time, the pace, mood, and content have evolved considerably. Our first run’s rapid-fire tit-for-tat has made way for a more varied, dynamic pace. On some nights the impetus for the duel unspools slowly, over the course of twenty minutes; on others, we find a point of contention in the first scene and attack it with everything we have. We’ve had good shows, great shows, bad shows, and wonderful audiences for all of them.
I’m amazed that video allows me to remember opening night so vividly. I’m also proud of how far we’ve taken a concept that, admittedly, was first proposed as a joke (thank you, Matt).
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