Reviewed by Tony Annicone
The winter spectacular at New Rep Theatre is the 1969 smash musical “1776” with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone. This rousing piece of legendary musical theatre puts a human face on the pages of history. New Rep’s version of the show is an exciting inclusive reimagining of this classic musical. It’s the summer of 1776, and the nation is ready to declare independence, if only our founding fathers could agree to do it. The show covers the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This musical ran on Broadway for 1217 performances, won the Tony Award for Best Musical. It was made into a film by the same name in 1972 and the revival starring Brent Spiner, won the Drama Desk Award for Best Revival in 1997. Hard working directors Austin Pendleton and Kelli Edwards cast the best performers in these roles while musical director Todd C. Gordon taught the cast these intricate songs and conducts a fabulous seven piece orchestra. Kelli is also the choreographer and she creates some inventive dances for them to perform. Their combined expertise produces another stunning epic musical masterpiece for New Repertory Theatre. The signing of the Declaration is a breathtaking and stops the show with its majestic power and punch. A thunderous standing ovation is their reward for one of the must see shows this winter season.
I have been reviewing their shows for several years and they always do amazing work. Austin and Kelli block the show wonderfully, obtaining wonderful performances from their talented cast. Todd conducts a stunning orchestra while Kelli supplies the show stopping dance numbers including a minuet for “Cool Men”. The terrific set is by Christina Todesco while the gorgeous multitude of costumes are by Rachel Padula-Shufelt. Hard working stage manager Kevin Schlagle keeps things running smoothly all night long. The story is mainly about John Adams, who is obnoxious and disliked by members of Congress. The heart and soul of this show is the relationship between Adams and his wife, Abigail which shows his softer humane side. These are some of the strongest moments of the show even though they occur in his imagination. Benjamin Evett is splendid as John Adams. He handles the comic and dramatic moments superbly. Benjamin captures the pathos and comedy needed for Adams and displays his strong baritone voice at the same time. He leads the chorus in the opening number “Sit Down, John” which stops the show. Benjamin shows his anger at Congress for their do-nothing attitude. Sound familiar? The more things change the more they stay the same. This is seen in “Piddle Twiddle and Resolve” where they drag their feet in adopting the resolution, in “But, Mr. Adams” when he seeks someone to write the Declaration, in “The Egg” when he describes the birth of the nation and in the dynamic, gut wrenching “Is Anybody There?”, his final impassioned exasperation at congress. Bravo!
Carolyn Saxon does a marvelous job as Abigail Adams, his muse for his conscience during the troubled times of the revolution. Their duets of “Till Then”, “Yours, Yours, Yours” and “Compliments” are poignant, leaving you in tears as well as displaying Benjamin and Carolyn’s fabulous voices. They have a lot of chemistry together. Another dramatic song is done at the start of the second act. It is the anti-war song, “Mama, Look Sharp” where the Courier describes the deaths of his two friends and how their mothers go to find them. As the Courier Steven Martin stops the show with his amazing tenor voice while Riley Fox Hillyer as McNair and Ricardo Holguin as Leather Apron sing harmony with him in it. The show was written during the Vietnam War so it resonated with audiences then as it does now.
The biggest scene stealer in this show is Bobbie Steinbach as Ben Franklin. She is hilarious as this crotchety curmudgeon with her many comic one liners and sexual innuendos. Bobbie makes each of them count, winning sustained laughter all night long. She displays her voice in “The Lees of Old Virginia”, “But, Mr. Adams”, “He Plays the Violin” and “The Egg” where she proclaims the turkey should be the national bird. It’s great to see Bobbie back onstage again, playing a role she was born to play. Caroyln Saxon also plays Roger Sherman with Dan Prior as Robert Livingston and they do a marvelous song and dance to “But, Mr. Adams” with Bobbie and KP Powell as Jefferson. They stop the show with hilarity with their moves. I have many fond memories of this show having played Robert Livingston back in 1979.
The main spokesman against independence is John Dickinson. Aimee Doherty is excellent as Dickinson, giving the character the depth it needs as Adams’ chief adversary. She leads his followers in “Cool, Considerate Men”, an anthem to the rich landowners who felt we should stay with England and not upset the status quo. The song is reminiscent of “The Star Spangled Banner” and they perform a comic minuet in it. This song is one my favorite ones in the show and it wins a thunderous ovation at their expert rendition. I first reviewed Aimee as Glinda back in 2003 at the Orpheum Theatre in Foxboro. Ricardo Holguin delivers a dramatic moment near the end of the show as Judge Wilson. Throughout the show, Wilson has been Dickinson’s flunkie who doesn’t want to be noticed or stand out and he provides the ultimate solution to the problem. Another dynamic performer is Shannon Lee Jones as Rutledge. She stops the show with the impassioned “Molasses to Rum” with her phenomenal voice. One of Dickinson’s supporters Rutledge insists on deleting the passage against slavery in the document, claiming New England is as much to blame for slavery as the South is. Shannon is marvelous as this strong willed character. Another scene stealer in this show is Pier Lamia Porter as Richard Henry Lee. She brings the house down with the high energy “The Lees of Old Virginia” with Bobbie and Benjamin. They do a marvelous dance to it.
KP Powell is marvelous as Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was a man of a few words but a tremendous author and lover according to this show. His powerful tenor voice soars in “But, Mr. Adams” and “The Egg.” His argument scene with Benjamin as Adams is dynamic, too. The character comes alive with the appearance of his wife, Martha played excellently by Dan Prior. He plays the role with the spunk and charm it calls for and his strong tenor voice soars in “He Plays the Violin” with Bobbie and Benjamin. The kissing scene with PJ is hilarious, too. Another comic character is Colonel McKean done with a terrific Scottish brogue by Liliane Klein who runs rough shod over her fellow delegates. Boston University senior, Alex Hatcher makes his debut at New Rep in the role of the Georgia delegate, Lyman Hall. He gives a strong performance as this character and gives Adams hope at the end of “Is Anybody There?” Kudos to everyone who makes this a show to be very proud of. Once again New Rep Theatre comes up a winner with an epic musical terrifically done from start to finish. Be sure to catch “1776” before time runs out. Tell them Tony sent you. You will thoroughly enjoy this hysterical, historical musical treat.
1776 (30 November to 30 December)
New Repertory Theatre, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA
1(617)923-8487 or www.newrep.org
