Posted by Randy Barnett:
1776: The Musical:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2009_03_15-2009_03_21.shtml#1237130929
Today is the 40th anniversary of the Broadway opening of �1776.�
Reading [1]this post on Big Hollywood and watching the video clips
there made me realize that I never watched the film in its entirety. I
knew I not seen the stage play, but I sort of assumed I had seen the
film at one time or another. Apparently, what memory I have of the
musical must have come from highlights I saw in compilations. I hope
to rectify this soon. Here is how the review begins:
�1776�� uses the character of John Adams as the main protagonist in
telling the story of his legendary fight to convince the
continental congress to adopt a resolution calling for independence
from King George. The show follows the journey of Adams� victories
in convincing congress to form a committee to draft the Declaration
of Independence, the ensuing debate over the contents of the
declaration, the conflict between the Northern states and the
Southern states over slavery and finally, the climactic scene
depicting the signing of the declaration.
The brilliance of the drama in this show is not �will they do it?�
since everyone in the audience knows they will�� the drama lies in
�how are they gonna pull this off?� The show uses a simple but very
theatrical and dramatic device by showing a giant day calendar on
the wall above John Hancock�s desk. Each new scene shows the
calendar page ripped away revealing what day we are witnessing.
Everyone with at least a 1st Grade education knows that we are all
counting down to July 4th and the tension genuinely builds as we
see the day coming closer and yet it doesn�t seem like Adams and
his coalition will get all of the states to favor a declaration in
time.
�1776�� is unique in many ways. Most striking is the fact that the
stage is populated by many, many men and there are only two women
in the show: Abigail Adams and Martha Jefferson. And Abigail only
appears through her letters with John�she does not actually
interact with the rest of the cast. Martha only appears for one
scene, a somewhat apocryphal moment when Franklin and Adams send
for her to provide Jefferson a much needed conjugal visit so he can
re-focus on the writing of the declaration.
So, other than that, it�s a 2 1/2 hour long musical with a bunch of
wig-wearing guys sitting around debating in 18th century
aristocratic costumes. No chorus, no dancers, no special effects,
no leggy dancers�� not really the recipe for musical theatre
success.
Because the film was such a faithful replica of the stage
production including using most of the same principal actors, clips
from the film should provide you with a great taste of what it was
like to witness this show live at the 46th Street Theatre (now the
Richard Rodgers) 40 years ago. Here is the great opening number,
�Sit Down John!�:
[EMBED]
Given what I now know about constitutional history, that there would
be a whole number about Richard Henry Lee is quite remarkable.
History tells us that one of the strategies Benjamin Franklin and
John Adams used to move the Declaration of Independence along was
to get Richard Henry Lee to make the motion in congress. He was so
respected and carried so much weight that he would be accepted as
the sponsor of the resolution (where as Adams was hated by all). It
was up to Lee to ride to Virginia to get the approval of the House
of Burgesses to make the motion. Here�s how �1776�� portrays the
man and the moment:
[EMBED]
Lots more commentary and clips are at [2]Big Hollywood.
References
1. http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/sright/2009/03/01/sunday-matinee-1776/
2. http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/sright/2009/03/01/sunday-matinee-1776/
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