"1776" is the collective name of a 1969 Broadway musical and its 1972 film version. This is a comedy with a spoof style.

Script: Peter Stone

Lyrics and music: Sherman Edwards

Contents[hide]

1 Broadway premiere version

3 Plot

4 Historical facts

5 Impact

6 Recorded version

7 See entry

8 External links

[edit] Broadway premiere version

Performance time: March 16, 1969 - February 13, 1972 ,***1217 games. This version was nominated for five Tony Awards in 1969, winning three: Best Musical, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor, and won the 1969 Drama Desk Award for Best Screenplay and Best Costume Design.

[edit] Derivative version

In 1972, Columbia produced a film version of the play, with a total length of 180 minutes (abridged when it was first released). The actors in the film version basically use the original cast of the Broadway premiere version.

The play was staged in London in 1970, mostly using Canadian and Australian actors. The version received critical acclaim and an album was released.

A rearranged version of the play was staged on Broadway in 1997, starring Brent Spiner. The rearranged version received three Tony Award nominations that year and the Drama Desk Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Because the subject matter is educational and the singing is not difficult, the play is often performed by schools in the United States.

[edit] Plot

Act 1

May 8, 1776, Philadelphia, it was a hot and humid sauna weather, and there were too many flies. Opening the window, the representatives of the Second Continental Congress were still gathering in the Congress Hall in twos and threes, drinking, playing cards and chatting. No one cared about the agenda of the day - the issue of compensation for a dead donkey. Representative John Adams of Massachusetts stormed in and slammed the door, accusing everyone of ignoring British bullying, especially the fact that his repeated proposals for independence were not even discussed publicly. The delegates, unable to stand his commotion, demanded with unprecedented unity that he shut up and sit down (1 Sit Down, John).

Adams rushed out of the hall in disappointment, complaining that the Parliament had only been messing around for a year and a half, and that being led by such an institution would be worse than a plague or a great flood. He began to write letters to his wife Abby who was far away in Massachusetts. He imagined Abby appearing on the side of the stage, urging him to quickly solve the problem of independence and go home to reunite with her.

Adams asked her if she had organized the production of saltpeter in the rear as he said. She answered simply no. Why not? "Our problem is more urgent. During the war, we can no longer buy sewing needles. If you don't send needles, don't ask for saltpeter." "Saltpeter!" "Needle!" "Saltpeter!" "...Needle." Adams was helpless. 's agreed. The two confessed their love to each other and were reluctant to leave, and Abby finally disappeared. Members again asked Adams to sit down, and this time he did so silently. (2 Piddle, Twiddle and Resolve / Till Then)

Act 2

The next day, Adams went to see his friend Franklin, the Pennsylvania representative, and found that he had missed the meeting and was hiring someone. portrait. Franklin believed that the independence resolution could not be proposed simply because Adams was "obnoxious and disliked" and that someone else would have to be found to propose it. Adams firmly opposed it, but after thinking about it carefully, he had to ask Franklin if he had any candidates. Franklin innocently said no. Before he finished speaking, an orange-red rider came over on Pegasus. It turned out that he had invited Richard Henry Lee, the Virginia representative.

Franklin pretended to ask him why the independence bill could not be proposed. "Simple, because John is annoying." So what should we do? Li, who was overconfident and bursting with national pride, immediately decided that he was the best person to propose the bill. Because Virginia is the first state in North America, and he is also the FFV (First Families of Virginia), "Our Li family is at the forefront in terms of scholarship, agriculture, industry and commerce, domestic affairs and diplomacy." Li immediately mounted his horse and ran to Virginia to ask for authorization. (3 The Lees of Old Virginia)

Act III

June 7, 1776. At 10 o'clock in the morning, Dr. Hall, the new representative from Georgia, arrived on time. The venue was very chaotic. Hopkins from Rhode Island called the administrator to bring in rum, and the three representatives from Delaware argued endlessly. The administrator asked Hall where he stood on independence. The youngest delegate, Edward Rutledge of South Carolina, said, "With South Carolina, of course," and pulled Hall over to introduce him to the Deep South states, which he claimed had always been on the same page. Hall would not reveal Georgia's attitude. Two other Pennsylvania representatives, Dickinson and Wilson, expressed firm opposition to independence. In order to cater to Dickinson, Wilson sometimes even couldn't help but second resolutions proposed by his own state.

Dickinson called independence treason and sneered at Adams, who had suddenly been quiet for two weeks. Adams couldn't bear it and told Franklin that if he couldn't wait for Lee one day, he would propose a resolution himself.

÷General Assembly Chairman Hancock and Secretary Thompson announced the start of the 380th meeting. Chairman Hancock first declared a ban on alcohol for Hopkins of Rhode Island, welcomed Dr. Hall, and then asked the absent-minded Virginia representative Jefferson to report the temperature. Jefferson reported a "humid 87 degrees (30°C)" and announced that he would return home tonight to meet his new wife after six months of separation.

A dirty little messenger delivered General Washington's battle report from the front. Washington worried that his troops were tired and short of ammunition and would be unable to withstand the British attack on New York. Everyone was frustrated when Lee finally rushed in and brought the Lee Resolution passed by Virginia. Dickinson proposed an extension for the "24th time".

Lee's resolution was immediately approved by Massachusetts (Adams), Virginia (Lee and Jefferson) and New Hampshire (Barrett). Since this was a southern proposal, Sherman of Connecticut also voted in favor. . Delaware's three representatives voted 2-1 in favor. New York's Morris, as usual, "respectfully" abstained from any resolution. Pennsylvania was opposed by Dickinson. Chase of Maryland said that if independence was offered, of course he would support it, but the hope of victory in the war was too slim, so he voted against it. Rutledge saw little reason to rush into action at the moment, so South Carolina objected. North Carolina, which has always followed South Carolina, also voted against it. Hall was in a dilemma. He personally supported independence but the Georgia Legislature opposed it. He didn't know how to vote, but this time he decided against it. The vote was 5 to 5 plus 1 abstention. Hopkins of Rhode Island happened to be back from the toilet and was still drunk. He claimed that he had never heard of anything so dangerous that it could not even be discussed, so he voted in favor. The resolution finally made it to the table, and the Chairman gratefully lifted his ban on alcohol.

The most enthusiastic representatives made their position clear: Dickinson was proud of his mother country, Britain. He strongly opposed "rebellion" and "treason" and was only willing to write a petition to the King of England. Adams and Franklin believed that they only had the name of being British and that their rights had long been deprived of them; besides, a year had passed since the Battle of Lexington, and the war was breaking out in full force. It was too late for reconciliation now. Rutledge was unwilling to allow the Deep South states to accept independence from Northern leadership; Chase still had no confidence in the strength of Washington's army.

The debate became heated. Dickinson fiercely denounced Adams as a "madman" who incited people to abandon "Lionheart, Chartism, the Tudors and the most civilized and noble country in the world" for a little tax money. Adams countered that Dickinson was a group of "cool, considerate men" who hid in the end and watched from the other side. When the fight got heated, the two of them waved their canes and fought each other. Caesar Ronny, the old representative from Delaware, managed to pull them away, but he suddenly fell ill because he was too excited. Representative McCann from the same state sent Ronny back to his hometown, so there was only one representative left in Delaware, and he opposed independence. Rutledge immediately moved for a new vote. In order to delay, Franklin asked his secretary to read Lee's resolution again. At this point, the New Jersey delegation, which had been absent, arrived and voted in favor. 6 to 6, New York "respectfully" abstained again, and Adams reminded Chairman Hancock (born in Massachusetts) to exercise his decision-making power. Seeing that the resolution was about to be passed, Dickinson suddenly proposed that an issue as important as independence must be unanimous, and "no colony should be forced to separate from the motherland." Delaware seconded the motion, and the result of the vote was still a tie. Chairman Hancock was worried that the states that opposed independence would have to fight for Britain, causing the Revolutionary War to bear the original sin of fratricide. He voted in favor of Dickinson, "Decision unanimously< /p>

The resolution was passed.

The secretary once again announced a new vote for the independence case, but was interrupted by Adams. Adams asked for an extension to write a formal statement for independence. Franklin seconded the motion, but the chairman asked them why, and neither of them could answer. Suddenly a voice said: "In order to put the common sense of things before the eyes of the world, use concise sentences to win their agreement." It was Jefferson, the Virginia representative who had been silent. The postponement resolution was again tied at 6-6. The chairman decided in favor and appointed Adams, Franklin, Lee, Sherman of Connecticut, and Livingstone of New York to form a five-member group to submit a notice within three weeks. Lee had just been elected governor of Virginia and was anxious to return home to take office. Adams immediately proposed that Jefferson fill the vacancy. Jefferson objected repeatedly, but the chairman turned a blind eye, approved and adjourned the meeting.

The question became who among the five-person team would write. It couldn't be Adams, because he was "annoying and annoying." Franklin, Sherman, and Livingstone also found various excuses to shirk, leaving only Jefferson, who just wanted to get home to his wife as soon as possible. Adams used both soft and hard tactics, praising his writing, reminding him of his responsibilities, and even threatening violence. Jefferson was helpless, "Mr. Adams, you are really annoying and annoying. You stood between me and my bride and forced me to kill someone." In the gloating songs of Franklin and others "Kill people, kill people", Adams Give Jefferson a pen and slam the door out (4 But, Mr. Adams).

Note: This scene contains more than 20 minutes of pure dialogue, setting a record for the longest period without music in the history of a musical.

Act 4

A week later, Adams and Franklin came to Jefferson's apartment and saw him in a depressed mood, unshaven, sitting among the waste paper on the floor. I didn’t even write the beginning. Fortunately, Martha, Jefferson's wife invited by Adams, arrived just in time. The young couple immediately became inseparable when they met, and the two people who were completely ignored had to evacuate.

Sitting on the steps of Jefferson's door, Abby appeared before Adams' eyes again. She asked him why he didn't invite his wife, and when he did invite her, she had to refuse. Due to the war and severe winter, the farm was almost unable to support itself, and the child was sick, so she couldn't even walk. The two exchanged love and vows through the air, and in the end, Adams still reminded her to make saltpeter (5 Yours, Yours, Yours). The song is entirely based on real historical correspondence between the two.

Franklin woke Adams up, and it turned out that he had slept on the steps all night. Martha just happened to open the window and the two men greeted her from the street. She had no memory of seeing them yesterday, but she was very happy to come out and meet them. The two of them couldn't figure out how the quietest "red-haired tombstone" in the whole council could win such a lovely wife. Martha replied that she loved his various achievements, but she could not resist "Tom's violin" the most. They danced a cheerful waltz, when Jefferson woke up, the couple stuck back together, and Adams and Franklin sang the violin carol and left again helplessly (6 He Plays the Violin).

Act 5

On June 22, 1776, the Independents adopted tactics of disintegration, and Adams was put in charge of Chase, Maryland. The little messenger came from the front again. Washington said that venereal diseases were spreading in the army and alcoholism was common. It was urgent for Congress to send a delegation to boost morale. Adams challenged Chase, would Maryland favor independence if it could be proven that the Continental Army could defeat the British? Chase accepted. Adams, Chase, and Franklin formed a delegation to the New Jersey front line, and other independent representatives also left immediately. Dickinson was in a good mood, congratulating the conservative representatives who, like him, insisted on being "calm, thoughtful people" who would fight to the end to defend their property and family lineage, "always to the right, never to the left" (7 Cool , Cool Considerate Men).

The representatives left, and the administrator sat on the chairman's chair, calling the little messenger "general." The messenger was born in Massachusetts. He sat at Adams' table and described the battlefield to the administrator. He told how his two good friends died in Lexington on the same day. One of them died in the grass at the foot of the hillside. His mother found him. It took a day and a night before the body was found. What was the child thinking before he died (8 Momma, Look Sharp)?

Act Six

Jefferson hid outside the Congress Hall, waiting for his secretary to read the Declaration of Independence. Adams and Franklin rushed back excitedly. They happened to catch a flock of wild geese flying over in New Jersey. The morale of the army, which had been staggering due to hunger, was greatly boosted. They fired a volley with no miss. Chase finally believed in the strength of the Continental Army and returned to Maryland to authorize it. Adams praised the Declaration of Independence, Franklin compared it to an egg, and the three began to argue about what bird would hatch. Jefferson suggested a dove, Adams said it was an eagle, and Franklin felt that the eagle represented European imperialism and proposed the brave turkey, a native of America. In the end, no one could defeat Adams, and the three celebrated the birth of the eagle together (9 The Egg).

Act 7

Starting from June 28, 1776, within a few days, the delegates proposed various deletions to the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson accepted them unconditionally, and the secretary no longer bothered to ask for his opinion. . Dickinson asked that the word "tyrant" be deleted when referring to the King of England. Jefferson objected, claiming that no matter what they said, the fact that the King of England was a tyrant would not change. He asked his secretary to fill in the crossed-out "tyrant" again.

As the chairman prepared to announce a vote on the Declaration of Independence, Rutledge suddenly stood up and denounced the slave chapters of the Declaration, defending slavery as "our South Carolina way of life" and mocking the New England states. hypocritical. It is true that they were not slaves, but who sailed out of Boston Harbor and carried Bibles and rum to Africa? Who was shouting at the slave market and transporting gold back to Boston? Who got rich in the triangular trade? He mounts the table and imitates the spectacle of a slave auction until a northern representative becomes exhausted and begs him to stop (10 Molasses to Rum). Rutledge walked away, taking away all the representatives from the North and South Cards. Dr. Hall from Georgia hesitated and followed.

Chase rushed back to vote for Maryland, and Adams, who was almost desperate, asked McCann to return to Delaware and bring back Ronnie, who was seriously ill. Franklin suggested that Adams delete the section on slavery, saying "it would be too extravagant to lose the whole war in one battle." A heated argument broke out between the two.

Adams climbed up to the bell tower to hide alone, asking for help from the imaginary Abby.

Abby comforted him with the words of her own letter: "Commitment, Abby, commitment! There are only two creatures of value on the face of this earth: those with a commitment, and those who acquire the commitment of others." At this time, the administrator called him to collect the mail: a pile of barrels with ribbons, and the saltpeter produced by Abby's organization of the Massachusetts Women's Society had arrived. (11 Compliments)

Adams' confidence was restored. He asked the administrator to send back the sewing needle, so that Franklin and Jefferson could seize the last moment to win over Wilson and Rutledge. Secretary Thompson opened Washington's latest letter, and Washington asked him why there was no reply to his past 15 letters. "Is there anyone over there?" Late at night, Adams sat alone in the Assembly Hall, silently reading Washington's words. Is anyone here? He has broken the boat, and what is coming will come. He can still see a glorious new country, free forever. But does anyone care? (12 Is Anybody There?)

"Yes, I care." Hall walked in. He recalled the words of British Congressman Edmund Burke, "The representatives of public opinion represent not only people's industries, but also people's judgment. If he sacrifices these, it will be a betrayal of the electorate." He decided to vote for Georgia according to his own will. Yes vote.

The formal vote on Lee's resolution has begun. McCann rushed back with Ronnie, and the three Delaware representatives voted 2-1 in favor. Rutledge raised the issue of slavery again, Franklin begged Adams to delete that section, and Adams let Jefferson decide, after all he had written the Declaration. "I wrote those too." Jefferson stepped forward and crossed out the section on slavery with his own hands. Rutledge voted in favor on behalf of the North and South Cards. Georgia also voted in favor.

In the end, only Pennsylvania remained. Dickinson was about to object when Franklin proposed majority rule. Dickinson objected, Franklin approved, and the decision fell to Wilson. Wilson found that if he opposed it, he would be forever remembered as "the man who prevented American independence." But unlike others, he really didn't want to leave his name behind. Dickinson sneered: "Is this how the country was built? Because a born unknown wants to remain unknown?" Wilson voted in favor, and the Lee resolution was passed unanimously.

The chairman asked all representatives to sign the declaration. Dickinson announced that his conscience would not allow him to sign the document. He still hoped to reconcile with Britain, but he decided to join the army to defend the new country. Adams led all the delegates to salute him, but he left without looking back.

July 4th. Chairman Hancock took the lead in signing, writing in the largest letters, "So that Fat King George can see clearly without glasses." The joyful atmosphere was interrupted by the little messenger. Washington reported that New York had been destroyed. His 5,000 old and weak soldiers were going to fight against 25,000 British troops. Only God knows what the outcome would be, but he was destined to lose these brave people.

The venue suddenly became solemn. The chairman ordered the bell to be rung, and amid the increasingly passionate tolling, representatives from each state stepped forward to sign in order from north to south.