1776- Page 2

[jasonf]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 10:40am

Siamese Dreams -- according to the commentary track on the movie Jefferson DID leave Philly to go see Martha -- she didn't come up to see him.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 10:42am

ROCY HORROR is campy, 1776, is not.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 11:45am

Siamese Dreams -- according to the commentary track on the movie Jefferson DID leave Philly to go see Martha -- she didn't come up to see him.

Hm, really? I thought I remembered reading that Jefferson never left Philly for that specific intent, but I could be incorrect.

MCfan2, I don't see how a musical can include lyrics about a "congressional incubator" and the entire Lees of Old Virginia rhyme game of sorts without being considered at least a bit campy -- and I say this all as a fan. Sure, some of the passion on the part of the performers might negate the camp factor a bit, but the songs themselves... well, they reek of camp. In the best possible way.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:04pm

Wow, what can I say? To each his own I guess. I think the music is an indispensible part of the show and I can't imagine how you could improve thoss songs.

And I love the tone of the voices on that cast recording & film. I think some people fall back on words like "Campy" because we are unused to seeing that intensity of emotion displayed. We've all had moments in a film or on stage when the audience cracks up at a serious moment: The intesity makes them uncomfortable and they laugh. In 1776 you have men who are literally risking everything: Their fortunes, their family, their very lives, for this idea of liberty. They plunged a peaceful, idyllic continent into war- a hideous, bloody war at that, for an idea that no one was quite sure would work. Indeed, it didn't work for quite a while. No one thought 'America' would win against the greatest empire in the world, much less be able to establish a functioning democratic nation. And these men went for it. And these actors display that steely intensity. We're not used to that sort of committment any more, in life or on stage.

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:10pm

Excellent, Joe! Well, said.

I don't think the songs are campy at all. But I do think it's a little out of place to see our forefathers singing and dancing in this time of history - so maybe that's where the camp comes in..but then again...IT'S A MUSICAL!!!!

[MCfan2]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:25pm

That is very well said, Joe. See, I don't think word games constitute "camp" -- would you consider, say, "A Little Night Music" camp? And I don't think intensity does either. I think Joe summed it up really well.

[Jon]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:35pm

I particularly like the fact that the composer and orchestrator made a genuine effort to have the music sound appropriate to the period - the use of the harpsichord, for example, gives it the sound of a Mozart opera.

I think when people say some of the music is "campy", what they are really trying to express is that some of the men's ensemble sequences have a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta feel- which I think works quite well.

[jasonf]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 3:41pm

Very nice Joe - and I LOVE your choice of the word "commitment" at the end. :)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 3:59pm

Aw, Shucks!

>>Blush<<
Updated On: 7/20/06 at 03:59 PM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 4:15pm

Again . . . I would like to state that I LOVE the movie, just not the songs. I think all the actors are great and I agree that "acting" has gone down the tube on the broadway stage. They care more about looks, popularity, etc. then actual acting talent.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 4:37pm

some numbers (Read: The Lees of Old Virginia) are campy for a purpose, richard henry lee is a rediculously over the top character, if his song were even a modicum more serious that aspect of him would be totally lost.

aslo as to the off key singers, especially livingston and sherman in the revival i think it adds t the diversity of the congress far more than if everyone sang beautifully

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 7:38pm

I love the score. It's exciting and hypnotic, that cannot be denied. The theme for The Lees Of Old Virginia is so moving and well orchestrated. I just find myself transported back to the period.

Oh God. Am I ever Man In Chairing....

[WSS2]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 7:42pm

The music is friggin awesome. It is one of the best musicals ever written!

[Derek2]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 8:21pm

I recently did this show and played john adams. tough tough tough show to do. u really have to be in every moment. it really comes through to u when u think about how important the situation really is. i love the show. it can be a tad long, but its worth it. i love the score too. i actually wish there were more songs. is anybody there is my favorite. i loved performing it. anyway, back in the 60's, singing was as important as it is today, especially on broadway. it was mostly geared toward acting from what i see. and i dont know about everyone else but id MUCH rather see a good actor than singer on stage. a bad actor is just painful for me. william daniells is such an AMAZING actor. i totally forget he cant sing because im so into his acting moments lol. i just love the whole show!

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 8:24pm

Me freaking too :)

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 9:49pm

I love 1776. It is powerful, moving, and frickin' funny. There was a time when this was my number 1 musical. It's an amazing show. See the show. Get the revival CD. Buy the script. It is truly an excellent musical. Hell, it even beat Hair as Best Musical.

[jasonf]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 9:51pm

Rightfully so -- Hair has a great score, and certainly is important, but the book is completely fragmented. It's one of the few film adaptations where there was a HUGE change from the original show that I felt actually improved on the original.