Review: Ocean State Theatre Tells a Timely Story of Politics and History with 1776

Some events in history cry out to be made into a movie or a book or a stage play. Others don't seem like such an obvious choice at first glance. One might guess it would be quite difficult to pull off creating a musical out of the writing of the Declaration of Independence, of all things. But, as Ocean State Theatre Company proves with its current production, 1776 is both fascinating and fun, both engaging and entertaining, as it tells the story of the Declaration's creation and our country's birth.

As you can tell by the title, the musical takes place during 1776, the summer, specifically, in the city of Philadelphia, where the Second Continental Congress has assembled. Delegates from all thirteen of the colonies are on the scene, debating and discussing the question of independence from Great Britain. Leading the charge for that independence is John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and others. Those who want to stay loyal to Great Britain are led most vocally by John Dickinson of Pennsylvania, with a number of southern states on his side. The musical gives us a glimpse into all of the machinations of our earliest government, the wheeling and dealing and hopes and dreams of our founding fathers as they tried to create this United States of America.

To be fair, this isn't the kind of musical that every audience member will love. Yes, it's a tad long, at three hours including the intermission. Yes, there are long stretches of dialogue with no music, singing or dancing. If you are looking for that kind of musical, a nonstop song-and-dance show, this isn't for you. On the other hand, there are many things this show has going for it. It is absolutely entertaining. There are very funny, laugh-out-loud moments. There are a few wonderful moments of song, which I'll get to in a moment. And It is absolutely fascinating from a historical perspective, providing lots of nuggets and tidbits that lovers of history will enjoy. And while there are a number of historical inaccuracies and dramatic liberties taken, much of what happens can and should have viewers running to Google to learn more about these people and events.

The well-written book by Peter Stone does an excellent job keeping the audience interested and holding their attention, even during long stretches of dialogue. Stone includes a lot of political wrangling, debating and deal-making, all of which is still timely and relevant today. How much has Congress changed since 1776? Not all that much, apparently. There are many moments in the story that feel like Stone wrote them yesterday. Characters say and do things that we can easily imagine today's Republicans and Democrats saying on Fox News or doing on the floor of our modern-day Senate or House. It's a real credit to Stone that he's written these events in a way that is still so relatable and familiar, a way that never feels dated.

As for the songs, with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards, they are not as successful, as a whole, as the political storytelling. As mentioned, the musical numbers can feel few and far between, a turn off for some audience members. Not helping is the fact that there are only a few real winners here. "But Mr. Adams" is a hilarious debate over who should write the Declaration of Independence and features some of the best rhymes ever committed to song (predicate and Connecticut!). "He Plays the Violin" is a fun and lovely song featuring Martha Jefferson describing her love for her husband, Thomas. And "Momma Look Sharp" is a moving and beautiful song sung by a young courier about the horrors of war. The rest of the songs are very hit-or-miss, some amusing and entertaining, others entirely forgettable.

Keeping all of these elements, and the enormous cast, working together falls on the shoulders of Director Joel Kipper, who does an outstanding job, especially with his unwieldy ensemble. For long stretches of time, the stage is filled with all of these men, sitting, listening to and watching the main players, such as Adams and Franklin. Kipper has done an impressive of job keeping all of these characters focused and in the moment, listening intently and responding to events in appropriate ways. Along with his actors, he's also worked to give most of these characters their own mannerisms, qualities and habits, making most of them more real or human (there are some, truthfully, who vanish into the crowd, more a set piece than a person, but that's not the fault of Kipper so much as it's the nature of this musical).

Kipper clearly can handle the crowd scenes, but he also does very nicely with smaller or solo moments. There are beautifully staged scenes between the founding fathers and their wives, John and Abigail Adams as well as Thomas and Martha Jefferson. Even though there are many speeches, Kipper makes sure to hit the right dramatic notes and make sure each speech gets the attention and seriousness it deserves. Perhaps most impressively, he also manages to create some tension on stage even though, no spoiler alert here, we all know how it turned out. Still, even though the ending is clear, there are some very nice moments of drama and tension towards the show's end.

While the characters are delegates from each of the thirteen colonies, it's coincidence that the delegations of two specific states feature this production's finest actors and performances. Pennsylvania and Virginia are well represented here and it's not a coincidence that they include actors who are among the best of Ocean State's regulars.

John Dickinson of Pennsylvania is a fascinating historical figure who has been somewhat lost to time, at least in relation to the other founding fathers. His name and his works are not as familiar as those of Adams and Jefferson, but he played a major role in the events of the era. Maybe this fantastic portrayal by Christopher Swan will inspire some audience members to find out more about Dickinson. Swan brings gravitas with a capital "G" and absolutely commands the stage every time he speaks in another of his growing list of stellar performances.

There's no doubt that the most instantly recognizable Pennsylvania delegate is Benjamin Franklin and also no doubt that Mark S. Cartier is brilliant in the role. His Franklin is a bit eccentric, perhaps a bit crazy, and definitely very funny. Cartier also gives Franklin a edge of gravitas and seriousness, when it's needed, that makes it clear why men would have listened to and respected him.

The final PA delegate is James Wilson, played by the always-fabulous Tommy Labanaris. For much of the play, Labanaris doesn't have to do much, deferring to Swan's John Dickinson. But, at the play's end, Labanaris proves again why he's such a talented and fun-to-watch actor, creating a wonderful climactic moment for his character.

Hailing from Virginia are two delegates, Richard Henry Lee and Thomas Jefferson. Ethan Paulini plays Lee with a certain flamboyance that at first seems a bit annoying but then becomes endearing and lovable. It also gives him a certain uniqueness among the other, more stiff and serious, founding fathers. Paulini certainly gives the role a real sense of joy and playfulness. At the other end of the spectrum is Roger Reed, who gives Thomas Jefferson no sense of playfulness at all. His Jefferson is a perfectly serious aristocrat and gentleman, which Reed plays perfectly. He nails all of the acting and singing moments, whether it's participating in a group musical number or speaking up about changes to his famous document.

There are some other standouts among the rest of the ensemble. Who knows if the delegate from South Carolina was really smarmy and creepy, but Joe Depietro certainly has fun playing him that way. He's practically twirling his moustache in moments, and I mean that in a good way, and Depietro also has a great voice which is displayed during a lengthy solo number. Tom Gleadow is hilarious as usual as the Rhode Island delegate, which is also a fun bit of casting, having one of RI's favorite sons play its delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Mike Daniels has some very funny moments as Maryland's delegate, especially when he's too busy eating or drinking to concern himself with much else. And John Adkison is fabulous as the towering John Hancock, as funny at certain times as he is deathly serious at others.

One person not yet mentioned is actually the musical's central figure, John Adams. Here, Adams is played by Lou Ursone, who gives a performance that just doesn't work, though it's hard to put a finger on the exact reason. The script spends a lot of time talking about how Adams was obnoxious and disliked, a fact that has been debated by historians and scholars for some time. Ursone seems to have decided that he's just going to play that, "obnoxious and disliked," and little else. It's at times over the top and truly annoying, which may have been the point. He does, at least, have a beautiful, deep and resonant voice which he clearly knows how to use when needed.

Speaking of beautiful voices, mention should also be made of the only two female characters. John' wife, Abigail Adams, is played by Alison Mahoney, who has a spectacular and spectacularly powerful singing voice. Thomas Jefferson's wife, Martha, is played by Ocean State favorite Sarah Pothier, who is just radiant here. She makes the most of her brief time on stage, sharing one of the show's highlights, "He Plays the Violin," with Adams and Franklin and demonstrating fabulous and underutilized chemistry with Roger Reed, playing her husband.

Behind the scenes, the production is fine but not outstanding. The set design by Shawn Irish is simple and basic, pretty much just one room, though it's pulled off nicely. On the other hand, a projection at the end of the show, which seems like a good idea in theory, doesn't work well. Additionally, the costume designs by Emily Taradash are really all over the place. Some are gorgeous and lovely, others are just awful. It's true that variety and differentiation helps this kind of show, but what the heck is Jean-Pierre Ferragamo wearing? And why does Thomas Jefferson look like he's leading a high school marching band?

The other, more serious and nagging question throughout the show is about the accents. Was any attempt made to actually have any? Some of the actors seem like they are trying, with little to mixed success. Other actors don't seem to be trying at all. It makes one wonder if a dialect coach was brought or considered? For example, Kevin Patrick Martin is a capable and talented actor, it's safe to assume that he can pull of a southern accent. Frustratingly, it appears that no attempt was made to make him actually sound like someone from Georgia.

Accent issues aside, there are many excellent reasons to catch 1776, especially in 2016. Many audience members will find something to applaud, from the history buffs to the musical theater fans. And in this election year, it offers an even more timely and relevant look into the men who created this country, how they did it, and possibly even what they might think of how it's all turned out.

1776 will be presented at Ocean State Theatre from February 24 - March 13. Performances will be held Wednesday (except March 2), Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm, with matinees on Thursdays (except March 10), Saturdays at 2:00 pm (except February 27 & March 5) and Sundays at 2:00 pm. The theatre is located at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI. Tickets are $39 for preview performances and $39-$59 for all other performances. $30 "Rush" tickets are available on a limited basis one hour prior to curtain on the day of the performance. Tickets are on sale at the box office Monday through Friday from 12 noon - 6:00 pm, Saturdays from 12 noon - 4:00 pm, and from 12 noon until curtain time on performance days. Tickets are also available online 24 hours a day at www.OceanStateTheatre.org and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling (401) 921-6800.

Pictured (L to R): Lou Ursone, Mark S. Cartier, Sarah Pothier. Photo by Mark Turek.

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