1776
PERFORMANCE NOW THEATRE COMPANY /Lakewood Cultural Center:
March 18 – April 3
Performance Now’s production of “1776” is SPECTACULAR!!!
With book and music by Sherman Edwards and lyrics by Peter Stone, “1776” won the Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Direction (Peter Hunt) and Best Supporting Actor (Ronald Holgate) in 1969.
Based upon events that occurred during the Second Continental Congress that led up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence,”1776” gives us our founding fathers with all their human strengths and fragilities - warts and all!
With the much-disliked delegate from Massachusetts, John Adams, at center stage, we follow the arguments and actions leaning into a resolution for revolution.
The first Broadway show to have been seen by this reviewer after his escape from the boredom of Montana (the next night was HAIR), “1776” holds a special place in my heart.
I remember the cab driver asking me on the way to the theatre,‘how the f@#@ did I get a ticket for the Best Musical on Broadway?’ I told him ‘all you have to do is order tickets nine months in advance.’ He then shocked me by saying that he’d never attended a Broadway show in his life. But I digress.
By now Denver theatregoers must have become aware that any show directed and choreographed by Kelly Van Oosbree is going to be stellar. This is another example of Ms. Van Oosbree’s outstanding work!
Michael Travis Risner thrills with his performance in the role of John Adams. Few of the actors cast as Adams in recent productions have given such a powerful portrait of this much-disliked political force of nature.
In this mostly male-driven cast the fair sex is represented by Adams’ wife, Abigail and Jefferson’s new wife, Martha. Carolyn Lohr is an outstanding Abigail Adams. Her gorgeous voice blends sonorously with that of Michael-Travis Risner (John Adams) in their duet (Yours,Yours,Yours),a song descriptive of their longing for each other while separated due to her familial and his political duties.
Joyfully sexy and vocally divine, Colby Reisinger delivers an exhilarating Martha Jefferson with her singing of “He Plays the Violin.” Her gorgeous swirling frock, created by Susan Rahmsdorff-Terry, very nearly becomes a character all on its own.
Lars Preece is hilariously bombastic as Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. His number, “The Lees of Old Virginia,” is a real showstopper!
As Edward Rutledge of South Carolina, Jeremy Rill delivers a rafter-rattling interpretation of “Molasses to Rum.”
Brian Merz-Hutchinson is superb as John Dickenson leading the conservative faction of Congress in “Cool,Cool,Conservative Men.”
Wes Munsil gives us a portrait of Benjamin Franklin with a bawdy wit and beguiling charm that enchants.
“Momma, Look Sharp” closes the curtain on Act One with a tear in the eye for the fallen soldiers of the Revolution.
Jack Cordray Griffin’s tenor as the Courier, is heart-breaking and haunting.
The ear-pleasing score moves from whimsical to mournful to rousing as we look at such diverse questions as which bird should represent the nation, the debate about slavery and finally the signing of the Declaration itself.
Jordan Ortman’s music direction is stellar!
For tickets go online at performancenow.org or call the box office at 303-918-1500.
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