TribLIVE: The journey to American independence was long, occasionally tedious, full of conflict and intermittently redeemed by moments of humor, humanity and authentic passion.
The same could be said for the Pittsburgh Public Theater's production of “1776” that's playing through Feb. 24 at the O'Reilly Theater, Downtown.
3 comments:
I saw "1776" yesterday evening at the Public.
I think this reviewer hits many good points about the show, but she comments quite a bit on the script rather than the merits of this particular production. She does a good job with the cast though- they were absolutely spectacular, each with a very distinctive, interesting character to play. The show has more book than it does music, but this cast kept those scenes (well.. most of them) moving and interesting. I was also a big fan of the scenic design- a turntable allowed us to go both inside and outside of the congressional chambers in Philly, and the final moment was astounding with a large copy of the Declaration appearing as the delegates each sign it. Overall, a very enjoyable production- even more enjoyable given the $16 student ticket price tag.
The reviewer does sound like she has missed a few points. She did focus way too much on the plot. It can be easily looked up online. I want to know what was so interesting about this particular production of it. I would have never known that the set was a turntable. Now that sounds fascinating. I wish the reviewer talked a little more about Abigail Adams. She briefly states that she did not see enough of Abigail Adams. What does this say about gender status at the time. She could have also compared how the play relates to current events and how politicians act with the same frustration today. And I don't think the impatience at the end was a design/director's choice. I'm pretty sure the play was intentionally written with more dialogue than song.
From what the reviewer has said, it seems like the company did a fair job of tackling such a monumental task as "1776". The period-ness of the whole production can be seen through all the elements. Natural lighting and realistic interiors coupled with extensive props and intricate costumes drop the actor into the world of the play and allow for a from-the-heart performance. It's the kind of show that is usually a hit or a miss, and never in between. Glad to hear that they succeeded in this one.
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