"YOU'LL BE BACK" - HAMILTON ⭐ Ft. Jonathan Groff | Musical Theatre Coach Reacts 

On breaking the fourth wall. I always took that to be King George is acknowledging and accepting the audience as americans and therefore part of the revolution. He's singing the song to the audience as if they are participating in the events of the show. I feel like this actually serves to bring the audience into the show more which I love.

I feel sorry for everyone who has this role after him. Hes amazing.

I think it's possible that he didn't get an audible laugh at the pouty-frown because it was done within a very brief pause in the singing and the audience didn't want to miss what was coming next. I say this because that moment makes me laugh inside every time I see it, and I'm just awestruck that he included it. Genius!

He also opens the show by introducing himself as "your king", saying turn your phone off, "welcome to MY show", and enjoy. so he's really "on" and you get introduced to the character before the curtain even opens. So I think the fourth wall break is really great since he's the only character that gets to do it. the whole point of including him was to break up the show a little bit.

I saw Hamilton when it was in Previews. One of the most exciting live productions I've ever seen. When the King (i.e. Groff) first appeared - the audience exploded with laughter. Before he even DID anything! He just appeared and he looked so RIDICULOUS - in comparison with everything else - and everything he did was so specific (those little shoulder shrugs - an object lesson in how LITTLE you have to do to make an impression - as long as you're specific). I was in the balcony so I could not see his facial expression but what was totally apparent was how specific he was being with where he was LOOKING. as you point out. He'd turn his head and stare in this really unnerving way at one part of the theatre - and then whip his head around to stare at the other. He NAILED it - or, I should say: he so nailed that first number that every subsequent time he came on, the audience exploded with laughter - again, before he even did anything. it was just the anticipation! And he did not disappoint - each reprise of the song was funny and specific in its own way. I was blown away.

It’s good to know that I’m not the only one who’s still fangirling over Jonathan Groff or Hamilton

Saw Jonathan with the original cast on broadway and my memory of him was exactly this! The only difference was the "everybody" was more sing song-y and bright and less like let's go, get moving. I saw the show again after he left, and while the king is still an amazing character, it just wasn't the same as when Jonathan did it.

I see the smirk as his " the king's" way of saying to the audiencd, "So you're Americans now? Cute!"

His voice is so Broadway. I love it!! The special way he pronounces and enunciates words make it his own.

Anyone who knows history will be okay with his smirk because this particular king was starting to go crazy so it goes with his persona.

Although he certainly will, if Jonathan Groff NEVER took another Broadway role, he will still be remembered forever for this one. There is nothing I would change and this is as close to Broadway perfection as I have ever seen.

no one can touch Groff, he's just too incredible.

One of the interesting aspects of rewatching a performance, particularly in the way you are reacting anew to this song you so clearly love, is that you gain a new perspective on each viewing. When I first saw this song performed on stage, in the Chicago production, I was actually disappointed at how fixed the king was through this entire number. In a show so full of not only great music but amazing dancing and even jumping about the stage, why was this character, in this number, so anchored to one spot. At the time, based on reports I had read, I suspected that this was due to the weight of the crown and costume that the king wears. In retrospect, though, and having seen the show on stage several times in addition to watching Jonathan Groff's amazing performance (countless times) from the film, I now see that this staging, or perhaps Groff's choice in his portrayal, are in fitting with the king's state at the time. As his colonies struggle to break away, his kingdom on the verge of unraveling, here is a king who is tied up, across the sea, unable to engage. Too, King George III was in the early stages of the mania that would eventually define his rule. Could his costume at this point be made to appear as a straight jacket? Groff's performance in this number though is all the more impressive when you consider the limited movement he was afforded in this number. The smirk? The frown? Playing to the audience as if they (we) were his rebellious colonists? Classic Groff, but also an amazing amount of theatre from an actor who was anchored in a scene. And don't forget, in later numbers, as King George III becomes more unglued, his performance becomes far more physical, more animated. Kudos on revisiting this great song.

The audience is who he is talking to - at this point the audience is a part of the show.

I personally will never tire of your fangirling or reactions to Hamilton!!! Love them every time, and your analysis of what the actors are doing/ their choices!

I’ve kind of always took it as he could break the fourth wall from the beginning since he does the no phones announcement before the show starts!

If I remember my Hamilton trivia correctly, the walk came about because the crown was too heavy and if he moved too much it would literally fall off; so he had to walk slowly and barely make any movements with his head.

*NEVER* sick of you fan girling over anything written by LMM! This is legit one of the best breakup songs ever. Gotta love it and love Groff's performance. I hope in 3 more years we're getting a 3rd look!

You should have a wall of framed Playbills or a shelf of some theatre memorabilia. I always love watching your reactions. For me, I don't mind Groff smiling as the song starts. I didn't take it as a 4th wall break but more like he is addressing Hamilton and the people. Saying you might think I'm not worth your time but you are going to come back to me. You will remember this smile and I may or may not take you back. Rather than oh I'm smiling because the audience is laughing at me. I've always loved Groff's laser focus. He did the same thing in Spring awakening but has really gotten stronger as time goes on. Leslie Odom Jr. also does the same thing which makes them so compelling to watch. Just goes to show that even on a huge stage sometimes the focus and doing minimal movements is enough. Not everything has to be big arms and giant expressions and I love that.

Do you know what his interpretation of King George makes me think of? I don't know if you are familiar with or have seen Black Adder2, but his very tongue in cheek, manic performance is highly reminiscent of Miranda Richardson's Queen Elizabeth. That only makes his performance even more genius because he seems to be channeling typical British humor for a lampoon of a British monarch. I think it's brilliant!

2 things that also appeal, so much, to me: Musically: "Oceans rise" falls down the scale, while "Empires fall" rises to glorious height! Love that dichotomy so much. Character-wise: After the now-famous spit-drenched line (which is awesome), when he sings " 'cause you're my favorite subject.' He reveals his scepter for the first time, lest we all have not understood his importance and our place, in his eyes. Just brilliant.

It sounds like a Lennon-McCartney song. I love it!

The way he uses his eyes makes such a connection.

Laaahv... and Poooosh You don't notice it at first.

He’s perfection. Absolutely love his performance!

We saw Jonathan Groff in the original production. He was a hoot. We were around for the original "British Invasion" and felt this was more of a throwback to Herman's Hermits. Have to say as now senior citizens, we prepared before the show by listening to the soundtrack (which had just come out) to get used to the rap and hip hop so we didn't miss anything. When Groff did his number, it was the sound we were used to growing up and was like a mini sonic vacation - we didn't have to work as hard. Loved the show and love your channel.

First of all: Hi Marc! I discovered you during the pandemic and became an instant fan. I appreciate your insights and analyses! I agree with preferring a single camera shot. When I saw it live for the first time (on tour) Rory O'Malley played this role. He did not disappoint!

The smile/smirk in the beginning is my favorite part of the performance. There's a better video out there with all three of his performances back-to-back that's really good, and all of his shots at the audience landed. It's not from the Disney film; it's from the first run, I think, of the production in the theatre. Worth a look if you get bored. I've seen it far too many times.

Groff is perfect for this role from his diction to timed eye rolls. Love it!!

Am I the only one that is reminded of Davy Jones' Girl from the Monkees when they hear this song? It has a really similar tune and delivery. It really is like a cheesy 70s love song.

Just saw it in Syracuse, NY this past week on 3/23 and our King George III was AWESOME. Actor's name was Neil Haskell from Buffalo area NY. He nailed it!!! Very close to this performance. Actually the whole cast did awesome, show was just amazing!

I think of breaking the 4th wall as kind of bringing us into the play as a character, we’re the colonial masses. Which to me makes sense, since the story is told from the US perspective. He tells us he loves us and threatens us. I have to be honest, I never thought I would enjoy being accosted by a king this much.

His diction is just *chefs kiss*

I like the fourth wall break because he does it before the show even starts by telling everyone to turn off their cell phones and "enjoy my show".

A roll on catwalk in the background! 😂

This song is one of my favorites in Hamilton. To the opposite spectrum "It's Quiet Uptown" is by far the best song of the entire production. Off the subject, I still love the peanut butter whiskey you recommended.

I will never get tired of your reactions of Jonathan Groff! I don't mind the 4th wall breaking after the walk in. I think it fits perfectly. He is acknowledging HIS audience. Love it all!

I'm always down for Hamilton songs, as many times as you want to play them. I don't get tired of them.

When I saw it on Broadway, my friend got tickets really close to the stage... and it was so jarring how suddenly a character was looking AT me, not THROUGH me. I loved it. And since it only happened with his character (at least for the performance I attended), it felt refreshing and thrilling to be brought into the production so to speak. It felt kinda Deadpool-esque with the comedic aspect, but better because it was in-person. I know theatre buffs may frown on breaking the 4th wall, but honestly it helped me connect with it

Those dimples...he's just beautiful...spit and all. I never even noticed the smile at the beginning and I LOVE the pout--it makes me giggle.

When he breaks the fourth wall I just get a sense of feeling the excitement of a live performance … as a performer there’s nothing like the feeling of the nerves and excitement of just being there ❤️

Passive Aggressive the song.

I first saw Jonathan in Mindhunter and then learned he sings too?? Be still my heart!❤

Loving the resurgence of Hamilton videos! Keep it going!

Jonathan Groff is perfect in this role. I will never tire of watching or hearing him. I just came home for lunch. What a great break in my day.

Oh you reacted for a second time. YES! Just as amazing as the first and just like you I never tire of this performance.

Thank you Lin for giving us Hamilton you are truly a legend!

I saw the Melbourne production on Wednesday night and our King George played the role more manic, and definitely different to Groff's version which was great to see. For the 'kill your friends and family' line, he created more of a dramatic, extended pause which was wonderfully timed and added more comedic value. I saw a video of Jonathon Groff talking about the inspiration for his performance being based on Barbara Streisand coming out, doing a one take number and basically, to quote Groff, "f**king herself with her own voice."

Missed you! I've not been here for a while! Love this version! 😍

The walk was him compensating for the weight of the crown.

I loved your original with the guy who spit a glass of water 🤣🤣🤣

In my interpretation of the play, the audience has always been the other silent character. Not only does the king sing directly to the audience as if addressing his rabblerousing colonists but there are distinct lines that include the audience too. There is the point in the show where they talk about being in the greatest city... being in NYC... and I believe the show is choreographed in a way to emphasize the inclusion of the audience there. Those lines just didn't quite hit the same in the East End production. There's also the point where Washington welcomes the audience to a cabinet battle. Then there are the jokes... the jokes only that audience could truly get that were changed/omitted for the East End production... basically the jokes about Jersey. Now, I don't know if the audience's silent character is the same character the whole time... sometimes their the king's colonists... other times, they kind feel like other foreign powers observing the the defining moments playing out in front of them (not a bad interpretation given that Hamilton was a defining moment in musical theater & Broadway history), and then they evolve into being the American populous watching their country take form. ***The other silent character being our beloved Oscar winner's role... the bullet.

Not only a great actor but more than capable in the voice department .

If the Angelica cast is coming to your city then you will NOT be disappointed in King George. The actor that I just saw in Charlotte, NC was phenomenal. He definitely put his own spin on the character and really embraces the madness of King George.

Just saw Hamilton at Richard Rodgers Theater a few weeks ago. I love Jonathan Groff, but the actor singing this song and playing the part did an amazing job. (Of course he did...it's broadway!) Totally engaged the audience and was kind of a comic relief of the heaviness of the rest of the material. I wish I could get video of his performance. It was amazing. The whole show was.

He's so good

I’m always here for Hamilton reactions. Regarding the blank wall, think like a scenic designer. You only need 4’x6’ of something. Fabric stretched on a canvas. Or a backdrop like for portrait photography. Or something from a sign maker. I’d be tempted to use a photo looking out into the house from a stage as your backdrop. A mostly dark, empty audience, like at a rehearsal might be interesting without being too distracting.

We saw this last week in Melbourne Australia. Different person but acted the same way with how you describe. Although he was looking at people in the audience and would give them a wink. I think the part where you are torn on with the smirk, we took it as the way of I’m the king, your not, and so suck it. Ours didn’t spit like Jonathan but you got the idea. We bought another set of tickets for July to see it again and can’t wait.

I am so glad to see you go back to this one, and so glad to see you go back to musicals in general. I'm sure some of those Tick tock reactions were about musicals but I've never had even remotest interest in that stuff so I've been away from the channel for a while now! Just came back to check it out and thank goodness there's this stuff here because I love your stuff. I just don't love The Tick tock stuff lol. Will you be covering the Battle of Yorktown number? Because that's my personal favorite.

I became a Groff fan watching Mindhunters on Netflix. I jumped to see this when I found out and my head exploded!

It’s brilliance.

Hey Marc, something historical just occurred to me that might have informed Jonathan's performance. George III was a senior member of the Habsburg family/dynasty that ruled the "holy Roman Empire" (it was not holy, nor Roman, nor an empire), Spain, Austria, Hungary, Germany and Italy from the 15th century up to the 1750s or so. They were incredibly inbred, and that led to their lower lips having a constant pout. It's possible that Jonathan's pouts in the performance are a sly reference to that particular Habsburg trait.

I saw the touring show in Philadelphia in 2019. The actor who played the king mimicked Groff completely.

August 15 2015 saw this with the original cast- just after it had com from off Broadway to the big time. Just like I remember it Groff was phenomenal. Cost a pretty penny as scalpers knew what it was even that early. Tickets were not easy to get.

The title made it sound like Jonathan Groff was gonna be with you reacting

@Marc, you are right. The eyes have it all. The dead stare when he threatens friends and family... It's all not personal, it's just business, you understand, we can't break this thing we have. BUT you WILL submit. You'll be back.

As far as other Kings, I saw Jon Patrick Walker as King George, on the Phillip Tour in 2018. His King was similar in that he stood still, did the frown, in love with himself, commanded the room and certainly got laughs (the audience loved him). The difference was his King's persona was more pouty/tantrum versus Groff's angry/how dare you King. Singing was less angry too. Definitely had that 60s Brit Pop voice. He hit more falsettos, and fluctuated within those falsettos a bit more (not quite a yodel, but close). He was very comedic. Sadly, I don't remember if he paused for "I will kill your friends and family", or if he did that STARE. I was not familiar with the soundtrack at all (at the time) but I still understood as an audience member that this man was absolutely maniacal. It was great.

I saw this show in San Francisco. Their King George was really good, but I do not remember all of the little touches that Jonathon Groff gave in the Disney+ version. Granted, I was not near the front, so I might have missed some of the more subtle bits going on. I do know that on the "everybody" line, they brought the house lights up to make it clear that everybody included the audience.

I love when actors break the 4th wall

I think the entire role is a breaking of the forth wall. Throughout the show his character interacts with the audience far more than with other characters on stage.

WHEN will you cover anything from Tick Tick Boom?? I’ve especially been waiting for a review of “Sunday”. Come on, MDP! 🙂

I’ve heard Jonathan say that the walk came about by him simply trying to keep the crown on his head.

He is just crazy. He can talk to himself aloud as a lunatic person, so he can talk to "the character's imaginary audience". That feature makes him be seen crazier than he already is.

I love the sad face he pulls, It's so funny

I just saw Hamilton live for the first time in Boston. The guy who's now playing King George is one of the original ensemble members. His performance was the one that stood out as being really different from the original. I was surprised that there were some things I actually liked better than this version😱, which will always be top notch. But the current King George is pretty great too!

Hamilton song reaction ? I have to be here ! This song is fantastic, there is no doubt. I would see a reaction about the Guns and ships song too. Just a hint from a Hamilton fan :)

Displate is a really good way to get some good posters!

Also I know they play itself was not all that great but the music from Love Never Dies IMO is really beautiful especially how they brought back Ramin and Sierra for the roles of Christine and the Phantom. The 2 songs that were my favorite was the title song Love Never Dies and Till I hear you sing. Id love to hear your take on them!

My take on the first smile/breaking the wall is this is a comical bit, it's ok to laugh at him because he's "taking the piss"

This has aged well. What a performance!

Can't believe this is the same dude in Feozen and Invincible. Yass Diversity

New subscriber. Great insight.

Sounds like the BRF’s message to Harry.

He only blinks 8 times the entire performance and that includes closing his eyes.

I have read the crown was unbelievably heavy and caused him to walk that way.

In a 2015 appearance on Stephen Colbert, Groff explains his King George walk. And Ariana Debose (please see a RU-vid video on how to pronounce her name correctly), is the 2022 Oscar winner, not 2021.

Can you do “Who lives who dies” you promised to react long ago but you havent gotten to it, great video ❤️

So you are asking about the live performance? I enjoyed your commentary here. I must say that my experience was that what you are viewing here is 99% exactly like I saw it on stage. For some reason though in the back of my mind rather than the cross leg walk I remember him coming out almost as if he was being mechanically pushed out. It was a masterful performance just like you relate it in your commentary. I recall how this show truly made you feel proud to be an American. That was my feeling.

Would love to see you review some stuff from West Side Story. 😀 I know you don't normally do "movie musicals" but interested in your thoughts

Jonathan Groff is incredible and I genuinely just love his voice. I saw Hamilton in DC with the touring company and I will say our king definitely had his own take on the song but was also really incredible .

Some of the cast, like Groff, had already moved on when they were ready to film, so they asked them if they’d like to come back for the filmed shows.

Marc. Would you believe me if I told you that I was just watching your original video of you'll be back.

For the forth wall break debate I think the fact that this is a “one of” performance in which the original performer came back should be taken into account. Think of a McCartney smile when the audience cheers to an old favorite which is how I think the audience is reacting to seeing the original, classic, if you will performer/performance start.

The only thing better than the singing is the face acting throughout.

Regarding the wall, perhaps some show posters? Perhaps stuff you’ve been involved in yourself?

I think for me to say every King George lll will require loads of YouTubing, but gotta say everything about Johnathan Groff is amazing! I say that as some whose only witness of him is Frozen and Hamilton

I'd be interested to see how his performance affected musical comedy the last few years

I'm wondering if the frown portion was a clip taken from one of the recordings with no audience?

There is a bootleg video of Andrew Rannells in the role of the King floating around RU-vid. It's a slightly different take on the role....

Hi Marc, good to talk to you again. Like you, I am not a fan of Hip-Hop and Rap so although I can appreciate the genius it took Lin-Manuel to put this masterpiece together, it is not my cup of tea so to speak. However, like you, the King George character and songs hold my interest, and Jonathan Groff’s performance is spectacular. I can appreciate his breaking of the fourth wall as a nod that he is going mad, further shown by the inadvertent spit/drool. Thank you, again, for great content. I always look forward to your videos and reactions. Be Safe and Be Blessed.