musical theatre review: 1776

[calimac]

After South Bay MT's first show of the season, I wasn't sure how good their chops were, but their 1776 was up to snuff. There were only a couple of minor characters who couldn't act, a couple more who couldn't sing, but the only song that was scuffed thereby was "Momma Look Sharp". Everybody else was good, some excellent. Dickinson was the best actor of the bunch; Richard Henry Lee pranced vigorously throughout his song without losing breath (I complimented him on this after the show and he explained, "Aerobic exercise"); a more stolid and weathered Adams than the usual contributed to the power and hence amusement value of his interruptions of the chorus in "But Mr. Adams". Abigail was a woman of size, and not afraid to use it. So was Franklin: this and several lesser parts were played by women, and except for the one who couldn't figure out what octave she should sing in (see above criticism) you'd hardly notice.

It's a little difficult to watch 1776 today, when our long democratic story is lying choking in its own blood upon the ground (to borrow a phrase), but a good enough production can make you forget that ... momentarily.

Comments

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

1776 is the musical I've seen the second-most live. (Thanks for Playing the Game Show Show is first, with seven; Evita is third with two; nothing else is more than one.) I've toyed with an SF fannish version of it for years, casting me in the Richard Henry Lee role in part because I can scan my name into the song.

Looking at the long-range weather forecast, I may have to stay over in the Bay Area next weekend, in which case I may try to see this production. Thanks for pointing it out.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

How do you scan your name? "Richard Henry Lee" is 5 syllables, yours is 4.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Use my middle initial (A for Allen).

My name is Kevin A Standlee, and Fandom is my home,
My name is Kevin A Standlee, and Fandom is my home!
And may my corflu turn to glue
If I can't deliver up to you
A resolution on independecy!

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

I similarly had to employ an unused middle initial to convert the theme song from George of the Jungle into a campaign song for George McGovern:

George, George, George S. McGovern
Ran for President
AAAOOOOUUUUUGH!
Watch out for that crook!

I wrote this, as a child, during the campaign itself, which is how I know for sure that I considered Nixon a crook long before he said "I am not a crook."