A new nation: 1776 at Ford’s Theatre
Jake Loewenthal as Thomas Jefferson sweeps Justine “Icy” Moral as Martha Jefferson off her feet in Ford’s Theatre production of '1776.' The musical, directed and choreographed by Luis Salgado, runs through May 16.
Photo by Scott Suchman
For the American semiquincentennial, Ford’s Theatre is currently presenting the musical 1776, a witty take on events leading to America’s Declaration of Independence.
The musical debuted on Broadway in 1969, winning three Tony Awards. The film came out in 1972, and the musical was revived on Broadway three times.
Highly engaging and tuneful, the show provides insight into the debates, often profound but sometimes humorously trivial, that took place during the final Continental Congress sessions in Philadelphia.
A great strength of Ford’s production, directed by Luis Salgado, is that it gives voice not only to the leaders who supported independence, but to those who opposed it and those who only supported the cause with major qualifications.
Especially engaging are the characterizations of pugnacious John Adams, erudite Benjamin Franklin, and the young and newly married Thomas Jefferson, the last humorously portrayed as preferring to return to his bride, Martha, than write the Declaration of Independence, in spite of his eloquent support for the revolutionary cause.
Talented cast
During the three hours (with brief intermission) of 1776, the songs receive roughly equal treatment with the spoken portions, allowing the audience to be drawn into fascinating debates.
Core to this is Jonathan Atkinson’s performance as the staunchly pro-independence Adams as he tangles with Evan Casey’s profoundly anti-independence John Dickinson. Each gives a truly compelling performance that allows the audience to understand, perhaps for the first time, why the American Revolution was not necessarily an obvious choice for the people who lived at the time.
Bridging this divide is Benjamin Franklin, played with charm, quirkiness and humor by Derrick D. Truby Jr. While clearly pro-independence, Truby’s Franklin has the wisdom to see that not everyone in America shares his opinion.
The cast is hugely talented in both word and song. The delegate from Virginia, Richard Henry Lee, is played with spirit by Michael Perrie Jr., especially when he sings “The Lees of Old Virginia.”
The song “But, Mr. Adams” features a highly entertaining comic quintet of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson (Jake Loewenthal), Roger Sherman (Keenan Mc- Carter) and Robert Livingston (Jimmy Mavrikes) with witty wordplay. In rejecting an opportunity to write the Declaration of Independence, for instance, Livingston declares, “I cannot write with any style or proper etiquette. I don’t know a participle from a predicate. I am just a simple cobbler from Connecticut!”
Kanysha Williams, as Abigail Adams, sings beautifully with Atkinson in the duet “Till Then” and in her solo “Compliments.” Justine “Icy” Moral sings Martha Jefferson in a delightful manner reminiscent of comic operetta in “He Plays the Violin.”
Later in the show, Joe Mallon provides a standout performance as South Carolina’s Edward Rutledge, who, in the song “Molasses to Rum,” points out the hypocrisy of those who proclaim human freedom while profiting from human suffering.
Brush up on your history
The show’s characters are so engaging that it will likely move viewers to reacquaint themselves with the people who signed the Declaration of Independence.
The costumes by Ivania Stack are fine recreations of Rococo-era fashions, and the scenic design of Milagros Ponce de León is strikingly similar to the chamber seen in the 1972 film version, though with classical columns added to give the proceedings a grander 18th-century feel. Music director Clay Ostwald conducts a superb orchestra that imbues the show with a classic Broadway feel.
The production, which runs through May 16, is a memorable semiquincentennial commemoration of the spirit and issues of the pivotal year 1776.
Historic Ford’s Theatre, of course, is itself a part of American history as the site of the Lincoln assassination. An interesting museum is attached to the theater, but arrive early, as there is little time during the brief intermission to see it, and it is closed after the play.
Matinee discounts are available on weekdays for people ages 60 and older. For tickets, see fords.org or call the box office at (888) 616-0270.
