The 1776 Revival in 1997?
The 1776 Revival in 1997?
The 1776 Revival in 1997?#1
Posted: 4/16/07 at 12:58am
How was it? I now very little about this show. I have never seen it but I have watched two clips on YouTube from the said revival and I find it very good. I watched the Tony performance and Merwin Foard on The Rosie O'Donnelll Show performing "The Lees of Old Virginia". How well did the show do in it's revival?
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#2
Posted: 4/16/07 at 1:04amI loved the revival. Most people who saw the original production, obviously found it inferior, but for someone new to the material, it was really refreshing for me. The show did quite well at the Roundabout, but was foolishly moved to the largest theatre on Broadway when it transferred (The Gershwin). I can't imagine how it played in that barn of a theatre.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/1/03
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#2
Posted: 4/16/07 at 8:17amI liked it a lot, but I loathed Pat Hingle, and Brent Spiner, as good as he is, just doesn't touch William Daniels. I don't think anyone can. Gregg Edelman did a great job as well. I saw it at the Gershwin but since it was when I was much younger I wasn't noticing the house itself and how the show played in it.
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#3
Posted: 4/16/07 at 8:38amHaving never seen it in any form whatsoever (including the movie) I was entranced by the revival. I saw it at The Gershwin, but our seats were quite good - 7th or 8th row, center, which in that theater is about as far back as I'd want to be sitting. I can't imagine how it played from further back or from upstairs. Well, yes I can. Like watching something from the wrong end of the binoculars.
Broadway Star Joined: 2/21/07
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#4
Posted: 4/16/07 at 9:31am
Saw it at the Roundabout. Brent Spiner was terrific. Yes, Pat Hingle was abysmal, mumbling his way through the entire show, totally destroying all of Franklin's wonderful lines. Gregg Edelman sounded good, but seemed lacking in the PERSONAL investment Rutledge should have in "Molasses to Rum." It came off simply as grandstanding. Unfortunately the production was noteworthy for having one of the most bewildering bits of casting in Broadway history in the lady who played Martha Jefferson. Another show, another role, perhaps...but she was no Martha Jefferson in voice, looks, or acting.
Overall the revival was quite effective. Even done half well, it's one of the most stirring musicals ever.
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#5
Posted: 4/16/07 at 9:51amWish I had seen it (preferably on a night where Pat Hingle was out. He sounds awful on the CD.)
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#6
Posted: 4/16/07 at 9:54amI didn't see Pat Hingle, I saw David Huddleston as Franklin, and as I recall he was absolutely charming in the role.
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#7
Posted: 4/16/07 at 11:22amI thought it was a little slow moving when I saw it
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#8
Posted: 4/16/07 at 11:57am
Would anyone like to agree with me that it would look better if 1776 was produced in 1996? 
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#9
Posted: 4/16/07 at 12:07pmI enjoyed it so much...the only disappointments were Lauren Ward (jefferson) and Foard. The most stunning and surprising treat was Emond as Abigail...she was stunning.
"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#10
Posted: 4/16/07 at 1:20pm
"The show did quite well at the Roundabout, but was foolishly moved to the largest theatre on Broadway when it transferred (The Gershwin). I can't imagine how it played in that barn of a theatre."
I was at the closing performance and it didn't work at all in the Gershwin. I felt completely disconnected to anything happening on stage. I love the show, but I was let down by the revival, which I think I would have enjoyed immensely in a more intimate setting.
Understudy Joined: 11/30/05
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#11
Posted: 4/16/07 at 1:50pmI saw this revival twice. Once right after the cast moved to the Gershwin (which is way too large a theater for this show), and once after all the leads were replaced. Needless to say, I really loved it. I thought Brent Spiner and Pat Hingle were really good. They weren't the same oversized personalities that William Daniels and Howard DaSilva were, but they give solid performances and served the story well. The replacement cast was quite good as well. I can't remember who played Adams, but he was more than serviceable, and Huddleston was quite good as Franklin. The real treat was seeing Carolee Carmello as Abigail Adams. She was such a warm presence and her little scenes were so moving. She also sang the crap out of her songs.
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#12
Posted: 4/16/07 at 2:22pm
The show was asmash at the Roundabout, so they moved it to the Gershwin hoping to sell even more seats. The result was they were selling the exact same number of seats but in a much larger theatre. I saw it at the Gershwin, and it played well enough - if you were in the front orchestra. I can imagine how removed you might feel if you were watching from the balcony.
The show should be revived more frequently. The Booth or the Music Box might be ideal.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/1/03
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#13
Posted: 4/16/07 at 3:35pm
God, I wish I'd seen Carolee do Abigail. Sparrman, I actually forgot to mention that about Edelman. The performance I saw he was excellent, really into it. But I watched the show at Lincoln Center and another time and both times I was surprised at how much weaker his performance was. He seemed to just be doing that casual stomping thing he does with his foot - do you know what I'm talking about? - and otherwise kind of going through the motions. You really have to lose yourself in that song. It gets scary when it happens. And yeah, who the hell cast Pat Hingle? I thought he might have been drunk, but then I realized he always sounded like that.
I wish someone would revive it again! I'd love to audition. I'm working on mounting a production of it right now that I hope will put a new spin on things. We'll see how that goes.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/12/06
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#14
Posted: 4/16/07 at 3:36pmThis is one of my all time favorite shows! I absolutely love the revival recording, but I still like the original a BIT more. The movie is also fantastic. They really have done a good job with different mountings of this musical!
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/20/05
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#15
Posted: 4/16/07 at 3:40pm
Saw it at the Roundabout and loved it.
Especially their John Adams and Thomas Jefferson but they were all great. And I loved the opening number and also "He Plays the Violin."
Understudy Joined: 5/15/03
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#16
Posted: 4/16/07 at 5:57pm
You’re talking about my favorite show in over 35 years of theatregoing. I saw it so many times I refused to admit the number. And, believe me, the cast badgered me for the total!
I thought Spiner was truly excellent, but his replacement, Michael McCormick, was utterly magnificent (and a heck of a good guy). I could never warm up to the respected but unintelligible Pat Hingle. Huddleston was, for me, a vast improvement.
Hands down my favorite, favorite, favorite cast of all times. Tom Aldredge being at the pinnacle of my list, but very fond mention must be made of Daniel Marcus, Bill Nolte, Gregg Edelman, Carolee Carmello –ah heck – the whole lovely lot of ‘em.
I refer to the cast (affectionately, not possessively) as “My Guys” and they return the sentiment. Bless them!
To this day, I make a special effort whenever any one of them appears on the boards. Currently Bill Nolte and Kevin Ligon are in Producers; Mike McCormick and Mike Martin are in Curtains; James Hindman is in Mary Poppins; Carolee will be back in Mamma Mia in May, Merwin Foard is due in Little Mermaid; Daniel Marcus is doing a show at Westport Country Playhouse (and I’m going) and Richard Poe is in Journey’s End.
In short, they keep me hopping keeping track of them. To our mutual enjoyment.
Nydiva
(The Patriot)
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#17
Posted: 4/16/07 at 6:11pmWasn't Mr. Feeney in the movie?
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#18
Posted: 4/16/07 at 6:17pmWilliam Daniels was in the original production and film, yes.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#19
Posted: 4/16/07 at 6:48pm
Saw the original & revival
Enjoyed them both so I cannot say which was better. The film is probably one of the best & most complete stage to screen transfers. It proves you can use the original stars from Broadway even if they are not bug names. I cannot imagine any other actors replacing those in the film.
Broadway Star Joined: 2/21/07
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#20
Posted: 4/16/07 at 6:53pm
One of the "most complete" stage to screen transfers, certainly. But I think it's a pretty dreadful movie in cinematic terms. It's apparently one of the very few "big screen" directing jobs Peter Hunt did in a lifetime of TV directing.
And Donald Madden, splendid as he is as Dickinson, apparently was never connected with the show onstage.
Updated On: 4/16/07 at 06:53 PM
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#21
Posted: 4/16/07 at 6:57pm
I got the film on DVD for Christmas, but because I moved two weeks later and had to pack it, I didn't have time to watch it. I can't wait to get it out of storage! lol.
How was Merwin Foard in the show? I watched him perform "The Lees of Old Virginia" on The Rosie O'Donnell Show and I was put off by his voice at first, but after watching it a couple of times, I really liked him in it.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Terrance Mann play Lee in a toruing production in the late 80's?
Broadway Star Joined: 2/21/07
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#22
Posted: 4/16/07 at 7:01pm
Fascinating to look at the IBDb to see the replacements that went into the original production. George Hearn as Dickinson! John Cunningham as Adams! Gary Beach as Rutledge!
Shame Hearn never played Rutledge himself, though. I think he might have outshone even John Cullum.
Broadway Star Joined: 2/21/07
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#23
Posted: 4/16/07 at 7:02pmAs to Merwin Foard, I too was put off by his unattractive voice when I saw the revival. Decent performance otherwise, though.
Featured Actor Joined: 2/24/07
re: The 1776 Revival in 1997?#24
Posted: 4/16/07 at 7:25pm
I saw the original and also have the DVD - The Directors Cut with the missing footage that was removed because Richard Nixon didn't like it. Never saw the revival.
The film is one of the closest stage to film transitions that I have ever seen. The OBC is almost intact in the film. I saw it 6 times on Broadway and was there for the final show. William Daniels is my favorite John Adams and John Cullum is my favorite Rutledge.
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