1776 – A Review
There are many celebrations setting up to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse joins in as they present the Tony Award winning show 1776. This is a perfect pick for the occasion because the show takes us back to the days of the Second Continental Congress as they write and approve the Declaration of Independence. Our school textbooks rarely went into any depth about what was going on inside the meeting room. This musical gives you an idea of what might have occurred as the human side of the events are presented.
The musical 1776 first opened on Broadway in March, 1969. It ran for 1,217 performances before closing in February, 1972. There have been several revivals on Broadway as well as tours and visits to regional theaters like the Paper Mill Playhouse.
1776 comes from a book by Peter Stone with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards.
With impressive direction by the Paper Mill’s own Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee, this production of 1776 provides theater goers with a story which includes very good music played by a 17 piece live band, a strong cast, and a presentation with very fine staging.
This is a show that families can come and enjoy together. .In fact, I’m betting that this is one which will long live in memories as a very special favorite.
The Setting
The time period for the play is Philadelphia – May, June, and July 1776. A calendar hangs on the back wall of the set serving as a reminder that the Continental Congress is moving towards that all important July 4th date. Of course the delegates to that Congress do not know how important that date becomes. But one thing is certain: there will be no new nation if the delegates cannot come to agreement through a vote for freedom.
The meeting room at times is sweltering as Philadelphia heat takes over. John Adams is determined to get the delegates to vote to put their colony into the Yea column to form a new nation.
Will Blum plays John Adams, the delegate from Massachusetts, He is one of the leaders of the movement to gain independence from England along with statesman Benjamin Franklin (John Treacy Egan) and John Hancock (James Moye). At first, there are not enough delegates willing to go against the crown. Early signs of problems occur as Adams calls for a vote and the song “Sit Down, John” performed beautifully by all the members of the Congress reflects the disagreement in the room.
Many Difficulties to Overcome
Much of 1776 deals with all that went into trying to get a unified group to support independence from the rule of England’s Crown. This has been the life many knew and depended on so there is a lot of dissent amongst the group. Many votes are taken, posted, and moved around in the Yea, Nay, and Abstain columns on the tally board hanging in the room.
A decision is made to create a document which states the reasons for the break from England. Thomas Jefferson (Michael Burrell) is selected to write it. And here is where an interesting part of the play comes in. We see the day to day struggles these delegates are going through and they add great interest to the narrative. Jefferson struggles to write and encounters an obvious writer’s block. He makes it clear he misses his new, young wife. So Martha Jefferson (Liz Leclerc) is sent for and a playful song, “He Plays the Violin” justifies why she is in love with Jefferson. A day after her arrival, Jefferson is back to his work writing the document. One problem resolved!
John Adams misses his wife, Abigail Adams (Elena Shadow). In his imagination, he speaks to her about what is happening. The duet song “Till Then” is a testament to the caring these two have.
Delivering messages is a Courier from the fighting sent by George Washington. The news is disparaging and that sets the delegates into different levels of concern. One area of concern is the fact that the New Jersey delegation has been missing for awhile. Eventually, the Rev. John Witherspoon arrives to represent the colony.
Edits and Changes to the Document
Finally, Jefferson presents the document he wrote to the delegates. Edits and basic suggestions for wording changes begins. There are many ideas presented and accepted. However, a tense moment occurs when the question of how to address slavery in the document arises. The song “Molasses to Rum” powerfully performed by Edward Rutledge (Jonathan Young) nearly derails the success of the Congress until a compromise is agreed to. This allows a final vote to be taken and the Yeas for independence covers the tally board. The compromise is a shadow of times coming that will require more to take place. However, little would this group ever have known what that particular compromise would eventually lead to.
July 4, 1776
A grand finale takes place as the signing of the document known at the Declaration of Independence takes place. John Hancock volunteers to be the first one. A final pose of the entire Congress ends the show on a glorious note.
Cast of 1776
This cast does a marvelous job of making this show so enjoyable to see:
- Will Blum – John Adams John Treacy Egan – Benjamin Franklin
- Edward Wattsas John Dickinson James Moye – John Hancock
- Elena Shaddow – Abigail Adams Michael Burrell – Thomas Jefferson
- Jonathan Young – Edward Rutledge Bryant Martin – Richard Henry Lee
- Liz Leclerc – Martha Jefferson Praise Oranika – Courier
- Joey Birchler – Lewis Morris Jonathan Chisolm – Samuel Chase
- Peyton Crim – Col. Thomas McKean Aaron De Jesus – Robert Livingston
- Sam Faustine – Dr. Lyman Hall Philip Hoffman – Stephen Hopkins
- Alec Ludacka – James Wilson Kruz Maldonado – Leather Apron/Painter
- Tuck Milligan – Andrew McNair, Stanton Morales – George Read
- Jay Russell – Caesar Rodney Bryan Seastrom – Dr. Josiah Bartlett
- Paul Slade Smith-Rev. John Witherspoon Graham Stevens – Joseph Hewes
- Price Waldman – Charles Thomson Branch Woodman – Roger Sherman
- Understudies are Noah LaPook and Claire Leyden.
Go to See 1776
The show runs 2 hours, 40 minutes which includes intermission.
The Paper Mill lists suggested age range as 10+.
Tickets for 1776 are available for purchase through the Paper Mill Playhouse’s website. Call the Box Office 973.376.4343 (Monday – Saturday, noon – 6 PM) for additional information.
Audience Enrichment Shows are also available:
Audio- Described Performances – Saturday, April 25 at 1:30 pm and Sunday, April 26 at 1:30 pm.
Open Captioned & ASL Interpreted Performances – Saturday, April 28 at 1:30 pm and Sunday, April 26.
Student Matinees –Tuesday, April 28 at 11:00 am, Wednesday, April 29 at 11:00 am, and Thursday, April 30 at 11:00 am.
Q & A with the cast: Saturday, April 18th after the matinee performance.
