Presents    

May 6th, 8th, 13th and 15th

SYNOPSIS:

1776 is the story of the revolutionary men working in Philadelphia who shaped the course of history by declaring independence from England.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson are the principle foil characters of the story's drama. Bostonian Adams (brother of Sam Adams of microbrew fame) is portrayed as an "obnoxious and disliked" but powerful proponent of separation from England, while Virginian Jefferson maintains a respectable eloquent quietude in his support of independence.

As the play opens, Jefferson expresses joy at the prospect of returning to his wife and plantation in his native Virginia while Adams plots for introducing a resolution to "declare independency." Wise old Ben Franklin advises Adams that a Southerner should be selected to move for a vote on independence, since a motion from Adams would fail to receive a second from outside New England. Throughout the performance, the words of the oldest and wisest of the men assembled adds a potent flavor of humor through punchy witticisms and sage advice.

In the midst of deciding who should be approached to carry independence, Virginia's Henry Lee suddenly appears at Franklin's door. The sage magician invites Lee in to help him and Adams devise a plan to move for independence. Lee offers himself as the perfect man for the job, and sings a song of self-praise which comically characterizes the egotism of the gallant southern soldier and his familial religiosity, including a closing lyric in "The Lees Of Old Virginia" highlighting the Lees' special relationship with God.

At the goading of Adams, Lee finally dispatches himself home to Virginia to win a vote of independence from the House of Burgesses. (The Virginia House of Burgesses is where Jefferson was first elected to office seven years before as a twenty five year old delegate.) Lee promises he will go directly to the capital, after he stops off to give to his wife something she's not had during the six months Lee's been away in Philadelphia.

During Lee's absence, letters to the Continental Congress from George Washington describe a depressing and pessimistic view of the nascent war against England. Opponents of independence perceive this news as a reason against separation, while those in favor of breaking ties with England argue that the colonies should declare independence since the continental army is already at war.

When Lee returns with support for independence from the Virginia House of Burgesses, John Adams is overjoyed, but anxious to bring the issue of separation to the floor. After much politicking and grandstanding, the Continental Congress finally agrees that a committee will be created to draft the language of a declaration which would come back to the floor, requiring the unanimous approval from the thirteen colonies.

Lee is originally appointed to serve on the committee with Franklin, Adams, New York's Roger Livingston and Connecticut's Roger Sherman, but respectfully declines, announcing that he must return to his beloved Virginia to serve as governor.

Jefferson, whose intellectual absorption is cleverly demonstrated by the character's constant reading during chamber discussion, is interrupted the mention of his name as a replacement for Lee. The restrained Jefferson rises to address the congress, emphasizing the importance of his return to Virginia to see his wife, but he cannot avoid meeting his fate as the author of The Declaration of Independence.

Jefferson has been the target of much deserved criticism for his hypocritical position as a libertine who owned a number of slaves at his plantation, one of whom reportedly gave birth to a child fathered by Jefferson. This happy musical fortunately didn't erase this important bit of political intrigue, placing it in the context of Jefferson the Romantic.

Once Adams convinces Jefferson to stay in the heat and humidity of the Philadelphia summer to labor over a desk with quill in hand to articulate the case for independence, Jefferson commits himself to a secluded pursuit of the task. He retires to the study adjoining his rented room on the second floor of a building on High Street to collect his thoughts and slay King George with an implement mightier than the sword. ("Especially at my age," jokes Franklin.)

As the days pass and Jefferson fails to produce a first draft, Abigail joins Adams and Franklin in a discussion of the mysterious character of Jefferson, which continues to fascinate Jefferson observers.

Romantic hypocrite hero is the character of Jefferson portrayed in 1776, which is fair and appropriate. Some of the most dramatic and comedic moments in the performance are sparked in the exposition of this great thinker, writer, and lover who also thought that he could justify owning another human being and regarding black people as pieces of property by promising to set his slaves free upon his death, when the master would no longer need the services of his grateful servant.

In John Adams' jealousy over the widespread respect accorded to Jefferson, he questions his wife Abigail and his friend Franklin to understand what makes the lanky silent Southerner so appealing. The response of Martha in the song "He Plays the Violin" demonstrates the character divide between Adams and Jefferson and foreshadows the great reverence the real Mr. Adams and the real Mr. Jefferson would later share during the fledgling years of the new republic representing the United States in England and France.

The 1776 Adams realizes Jefferson's needs and sends for Martha Jefferson in the hope that her visit will encourage the writing of the declaration. It first appears to Adams that his strategy has backfired as Jefferson is constantly getting reacquainted with Martha in his bedroom, but finally the triumphant author dashes across stage to deliver a draft of the declaration and whisks his wife back to bed.

1776 portrays Jefferson as a character not unlike the historical Jefferson. The Jefferson of 1776 is a romantic violinist and respected writer, a listener and observer too timid and intellectually occupied to speak his mind in public, a man consumed by the rough seas of thought that occupy the mind of a freedom loving slave holder.

Though these slaves do not appear in the musical, the issue of slavery is dealt with sufficiently in 1776. During the debate over the language of the declaration, Edward Rutledge of South Carolina announces that the south will never support the declaration so long as the document bans slavery in the new nation. Rutledge, at twenty six years old the congress' youngest delegate, directly challenges Jefferson on his position as a slave holder advocating freedom for all men.

Rutledge's character performs "Molasses to Rum," a bitter song describing the hypocrisy of those opposed to slavery but profiting from the slave trade, especially Northerners who fail to appreciate the Southern plantation lifestyle.

Jefferson reluctantly agrees to deleting the paragraph outlawing slavery, but Adams remains committed to eliminating slavery throughout the colonies. Franklin explains to Adams that the only chance for independence lies in accepting the Rutledge's offer. Adams finally consents, leaving the abolition of the South's "peculiar institution" to another generation.

1776 is an excellent musical and an entertaining and thought provoking interpretation of the birth of a nation. Though many key details are omitted, the story is a tight and fair representation of characters and events. Offering sweet and bitter examples from the nation's past, 1776 satisfactorily invites its audience to further explore this monumental period in the history of human freedom.