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What Critics are Saying . . .
The Washington Post
". . . Hits High Notes. . . enjoyable production. . . personalities come robustly to life . . . as directed by the company’s producing artistic director, Mark A. Rhea. . . Mick Tinder is suitably dry and fervent . . . And Robert Leembruggen brings a jovial rakishness to Benjamin Franklin, a chronic slinger of bon mots who cannot resist ogling Thomas Jefferson’s beautiful wife (Carolyn Agan; James Finley is a callow Jefferson). Kevin Adams and Dave Jourdan lend gravitas to, respectively, the Loyalist Pennsylvanian John Dickinson and South Carolina’s vehement proponent of slavery, Edward Rutledge . . . Rhea does a nice job of underscoring this sense of restless, mundane life: His 20-plus actors move, group and, when appropriate, fidget convincingly on the handsome set (designed by Tinder), with its wooden chairs, candle-equipped tables and Puritan white columns. Costumers Emily Riehl-Bedford and Patricia Tinder enhance the atmosphere with impressively detailed period garb: satin coats, breeches, lace ruffs, buckled shoes, the works. (Wig mistress Lorraine Magee also rises to the occasion.) . . " Reviewed by Celia Wren
DCist
". . . 1776 . . . one of America’s most clever and underrated musicals. . . Keegan Theater has assembled a fine group of singers to rival any of those that specialize in more musical productions, such as Signature, would bring together. Even minor parts, such as the ever-abstaining Robert Livingston of New York, are given heft with actors like Chris Borton offering a rich tenor and fine stage presence. Another standout is Doug Wilder as the optimistic Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, who totally sells the appealing “The Lees of Old Virginia”. Carolyn Agan, instantly crush-worthy, is perfectly cast as Thomas Jefferson’s enviable wife Martha, offering a starry-eyed take on her husband’s attributes with “He Plays the Violin”. . . Director Mark Rhea’s 1776 offers a detailed set and fine, colorful continental costumes that underscore the ambitiousness of the production. Their spirited take is worth seeing, especially for reminding us of this intelligent work with its own brand of patriotism, one that awards dignity and consideration to opposing but compelling points of view." Reviewed by Missy Frederick
Metro Herald Entertainment
" . . . On stage, 1776 is lively, intelligent, and scintillating. This is particularly true under the brilliant direction of Keegan Theatre’s Mark Rhea, who understands the potential pitfalls and shortcomings of 1776 and turns them into assets. He starts by taking advantage of the full surface of the stage in the narrow and cozy Church Street Theatre. 1776 uses the deepest parts of the Church Street stage; in fact, having seen several productions there in the past, I was never aware that there was so much space available until now. The spatial depth permits Rhea to arrange and rearrange his cast into tableaux that frame the action. It also allows him to assign each of the supporting actors a personal space that helps define his characte . . . Mick Tinder’s John Adams. . .is solid, focused, stubborn, and discerning. Robert Leembruggen’s Benjamin Franklin is impish, flirtatious, and aware of his own celebrity. James Finley seems a bit wet-behind-the-ears as Jefferson, but then again, so was Jefferson. . . the character of John Dickinson, a delegate from Pennsylvania, here played by Kevin Adams. Adams nails the part. His Dickinson is erudite, determined, and plainspoken. . . there are so many good performances in 1776 that it seems unfair to single out just a few. . . Keegan Theatre’s 1776 closes its run on the Fourth of July. I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate Independence Day – or the days leading up to it – than by strolling over to the Church Street Theatre to see the show. Reviewed by Rick Sincere
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Potomac Stages
" . . . Under Mark Rhea, the Keegan company does a fully credible job of bringing these events to life and Robert Leembruggen makes the role of Benjamin Franklin fresh again. Add the fine voices of two women and you have a lot to enjoy. Patricia Tinder is a strong Abigail Adams . . . She pairs up with her real-life husband, Mick Tinder . . . their duet on "Till Then" is a delight. Carolyn Agan, as Martha Jefferson, parries with great wit in chit chat . . . and sings the lilting "He Plays the Violin" with charm. . . The real magic of this piece is the way Stone and Edwards manage to communicate the complexity of the issues and avoid making simplistic cartoons . . . Doug Wilder [as henry Richard Lee] is a lot of fun as he works his way through "The Lees of Old Virginia," . . . David Jourdan’s portrayal of slavery-defending Edward Rutledge is dramatically effective . . ." Reviewed by Brad Hathaway
DC Theatre Reviews
"Keegan’s 1776 is a pleasant and fitfully excellent production . . . This is Keegan’s first venture into musical theater in several years and 1776 is a good choice for the task. . . Keegan is well served by its choice of protagonists. Tinder as Adams has a high thin voice and a nearly operatic set of ticks and gestures. . . . . Leembruggen. . . gives us a wonderfully layered, textured Ben Franklin. It is swell to watch the work of an actor who has so thoroughly researched his character, down to signing the Declaration left-handed, as Franklin did. (Director Mark Rhea and dramaturg Trudi Olivetti presumably share some credit for this). . . .many admirable qualities: the work of Leembruggen and Mick Tinder and of the production’s two women, Agan and Patricia Tinder, and especially of James Finley as Thomas Jefferson. Finley has a beautiful voice, and seems to capture his awkward, brilliant subject perfectly. Better still is the wonderful book and score; and better even than that is the event it celebrates, which is our story, which is us." Reviewed by Tim Treanor
Arlington Weekly News TV
"The Keegan Theatre’s (DC) Church Street production of the musical, 1776,tells the story of the writing of the Declaration of Independence at the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia in 1776. Represented on stage are the 13 Colonies from New Hampshire to Georgia. John Adams of Massachusetts was the leader in getting the Colonies to break away from England. Mick Tender has played this role so many times, he owns it. Same is true for Tender’s wife, Patricia, who plays Abigail Adams. Robert Leembruggen is Ben Franklin (Pennsylvania) and according to Keegan artistic director Mark A. Rhea and dramaturg Trudi Olivetti, Franklin was a bit of a likeable sleaze. At least that’s how he’s portrayed here, taking nothing away from his importance. Adams knew that Thomas Jefferson (Virginia) was the most eloquent writer of the group and imposed on the newly married delegate played by James Finley, to write the Declaration. As a newlywed, Jefferson was understandably distracted by his beautiful wife, Martha, played sexily by Carolyn Agan. There’s a bunch of excellent actors rounding out this fine production." Reviewed by Rich Massabny
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