Happy Independence Day!! Yes, this post is early because I wanted to get it posted today, and I hope to have another ready for the regular Monday post.
July 4th, 2015. Sure, I could write about Rags (immigrant experience), or Ragtime (multiple stories at the turn of the century), and I am certain that there are other shows out there that are more "American" than 1776. But is there any that fit the holiday better? I think not.As you may surmise, this musical is about the writing of the Declaration of Independence. It has a book by Peter Stone (whose name you should know), and music/lyrics by Sherman Edwards. While Peter Stone has been responsible for a LOT of theatre, this is the only work of Sherman Edwards that most people know. It was originally produced in 1969 and played 1217 performances. The original cast included William Daniels, Ken Howard, and Howard Da Silva. It also had Betty Buckley in her first Broadway musical - which (from the stories I have read) she booked at her first audition in NYC after arriving from Texas. How amazing! (sidebar: Gretchen Cryer was her understudy). This original production was nominated for five Tony Awards, and walked away with three.
The show was made into a film in 1972 with some of the same leading actors. When it first was released, the song "Cool, Cool Considerate Men" was cut. It has since been restored in the available directors cut of the film. The work was then revived in 1997 in a new production helmed by Scott Ellis, with musical staging by Kathleen Marshall. The revival only ran 333 performances but it was still nominated for three Tony Awards. The revival also featured Brent Spiner (Sunday in the Park), Tom Aldredge (Into The Woods), and Gregg Edelman (City of Angels).
You may know the story of 1776. It takes place mainly in the Chamber of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia during May, June and July of 1776. And yes, it is about the writing and signing of the Declaration of Independence. It starts with all the men singing "Sit Down, John" which gives great insight to the type of person John Adams may have been, along with setting the scene - Philadelphia is hot and there are too many flies. Through out the show, John Adams has songs with his wife Abigail who isn't in Philadelphia, but is in his mind and memory. The songs are written as correspondence between the two and they truly are charming songs. The other female role is Martha Jefferson who is recently married to Thomas Jefferson. In fact, they have been married, yet have not seen each other in six months and he "burns for her." So after a very amusing song called "But Mr. Adams", where they decide who is going to write the Declaration, there is a lovely song by Martha about how Thomas wooed her. Simply, "He Played the Violin." (Listen here while Seth Rudetsky deconstructs it)
Well, the Declaration finally gets written and is shared with the Congress. Then it is torn apart by many of the men who disagree with certain words, statements, ideas. It is at this point that you wonder if this thing will actually get signed, even though you KNOW it does. There are some brilliantly devastating songs - one about the war, the other about slavery. And here is the most unusual thing about the work. There are no reprises and no finale. The ending is a roll call of those men coming up to sign the Declaration.
Between the two recordings they have the same songs in the same order. However the revival seems to have them named slightly differently. The original cast is quite good, and I would say that recording is essential for Betty Buckley's performance. However the revival is just as good and has better sound quality. Honestly, either one is good.
I hope you have/had a great July 4th. Take some time to look into this show, or watch the movie. I promise it will shed new light to the Holiday.
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