1776

From: "will stackman" profwlll@yahoo.com

Subject: Quicktake - "1776" by Peter Stone & Sherman Edwards

Date: Sun, Sept. 10, 9:37 PM

Quicktake on 1776

     On the 5th anniversary of 9/11/01, reviving Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone's Tony winning "1776" in Massachusetts is an interesting patriotic opening to the Lyric's season. In this Commonwealth which has been opposed to the now dwindling national majority in favor to military response the American Revolution not merely legendary. This country of immigrants, borne from a continuation of Cromwell's parliamentary insurrection century earlier in Britain, is still in a sense debating to competing concepts of liberty and property which bedeviled the Founding Fathers. Just who owns what--and even who--has not been settled yet to everyone's satisfaction. Director Spiro Veloudos has chosen the right moment to bring it back.

    The cast of this current production of "1776", which seems to be becoming biennial hereabouts, leads off with Peter A. Carey as an engagingly acerbic John Adams, with J.T.Turner from the North Shore as a jovial Benjamin Franklin, equally determined to press for Independence. Eileen Nugent returns the Lyric as Abigail Adams, John's "dearest friend." The author of the Declaration--at Adams urging--Thomas Jefferson is played by Terry O'Malley, whose better half, Martha, is played by Jennifer Ellis. The opposition is led by Frank Gayton as John Dickinson, one of the Pennsylvania delegation, and from South Carolina, planter Edward Rutledge, played by local favorite Christopher Chew, whose aria about the triangle trade of molasses, rum, and slaves is the show's penultimate number. Timothy Smith, as irrepressible Richard Henry Lee, an FFV, enlivens the first act. Not only is this the largest cast on the Lyric stage to date, it's also perhaps the strongest, from John Davin as ailing Cesar Romney of Maryland to B.C. student Andrew Glynn, the weary Courier, whose simple ballad about a dying soldier closes the first act.

    Janie E. Howland's somewhat abstract set avoids making Independence Hall seem oppressive, music director Jonathan Goldberg keeps the the tunes lively, and Ilyse Robbins finds appropriate choreography for the several moments that require it. Gail Astrid Buckley makes the hired period costumes suit the cast and Scott Clive's lighting is effective. The technical support and a fine ensemble of local talent makes for a vivid history lesson as we face up to another possibly decisive mid-term election.

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"1776" by Edwards and Stone, Sept. 8 - Oct. 14

Lyric Stage Co. at Copley YWCA Theatre

140 Clarendon, (617) 585-5678
Lyric Stage