HEBER CITY — Despite the firework restrictions across the state muting celebrations for the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence, Americana is on full display across Utah stages, and nowhere did that feel more true for me than in Heber City this weekend, where1776: The Musical was performed by Timpanogos Valley Theatre in the historic Heber Social Hall. The setting, performances, and context were packed with an appreciation for what the United States of America, through the lens of this play, is about – idealism in spite of imperfection.
Story
1776 with music and lyrics by history teacher Sherman Edwards and book by Peter Stone centers on John Adams and Benjamin Franklin rallying support from the delegates of the second continental congress to declare independence in the weeks leading up to July 4, 1776. The musical is high stakes without being overly serious, and does little to hide the flaws of these founders who demonstrated a myriad of human frailties from stubbornness and drunkenness to misogyny and racism. It paints a picture of men who are seeking for brighter hope despite being unwilling, or unable, to extract themselves from the complexities of the day.
Direction
Director Kristen Hughes leans into this in thoughtful ways. Her director’s note says, “The truth has not always been as polished or perhaps perfectly packaged as we would like to believe… maybe we ought to appreciate the revolutionaries… [as] real, complex people with personal shortcomings, divisive social loyalties, often motivated by soaring ideals as well as financial success or intense cultural bias.” Hughes’ direction of this show did this excellently, in a way that I’ve rarely seen a community theatre do. Each character mattered and stayed in character from start to finish. It was one of many uniquely good things about this production.
Acting
I cannot remember the last time I saw a play with so many men in it. As a theatre maker and educator, the lament of “where do we find men to cast?” is heard often. This show was full of men who found their character’s place and kept it engaged from start to finish. Sometimes these were simple defining traits such as The Rhode Island delegate Stephen Hopkins’ (Cary Hobbs) craving for rum, the neat and proper dining of Maryland’s Samuel Chase (Jared Wright), debilitating sickness and courage of Caeser Rodney (Don Doud), or the New York Delegate Lewis Morris (Ethan Munford) consistently abstaining – courteously – from every vote. These actors knew their traits, their loyalties, and their lines in a dialogue rich musical that was a character heavy undertaking.
The musical talent on display was also very strong. Be that Richard Henry Lee (Roy Buttermore) delightfully singing about ways to make adverb his name onto any number of things, or the rich and powerful sound of Edward Rutledge (Nathan Moulton) who sung about Jefferson’s hypocrisy in “Molasses to Rum” in what was one of the show’s most profound and high stakes moments. These men filled the house with character and strong musical ability in a way that elevated the show.
The show’s driving characters were just as strong as they played in a strategic tandem off of the other delegates. Benjamin Franklin, played by Gary Harter, both looked the iconic part, and had a boyish exuberance that helped keep the play moving. His barbershop style singing in “But Mr. Adams” was whimsical and had the audience laughing delightedly. Other moments of levity in both physical gesture and line delivery from Harter kept what could be a politically dense drama from being oversaturated in language. The engine of the show was John Adams (David Thorpe) and Thorpe delivered. He was impassioned from the jump and this was a prime example of an actor who understood the complex moving parts around him. Each time circumstances would change, the audience was carried along by Thorpe – and a highly supportive ensemble – who knew what the story’s emotional beats were and played them well. Thorpe showed passion, conflict, vulnerability and a host of competing interests in a play that, given the context, should feel like a slam dunk to go the hero’s way. This was a great performance by all.
Design
Technically, you couldn’t ask a lot more from a community production. Consumer Jolene Munford and her team of seamstresses put together some really dapper costuming that was period perfect and visually distinct by character. A team of hair and wig people made period style hair dos that withstood a long show with some heated discussion. Harter also designed the set that worked well in a space that is shallow and very wide. Moving stair units doubled as other sets and were well crafted flats that could be rearranged to show a variety of locations with easy identification for the audience. Light (Thais Nielsen) and sound (David Burrow) went off with only the most minor of hiccups and were better than any production I’d seen in the space in terms of design and execution.
Recommendation
The USA, like community theatre, like the represented characters, and like each of us, is imperfect. It’s a complex formula towards a difficult aim that has a host of challenges, and competing interests seeking to make our internal systems flare at provocation of many kinds. This play, both the text broadly and this specific TVT production, do a great job of reminding audiences why the nation is worth preserving at cost, in spite of the challenges it faces. It is with enthusiastic, heartfelt appreciation of the effort it takes to make good things happen that I recommend local audiences trek their way out to Heber to laugh, listen and remember what 1776: The Musical in this historic location has to offer a nation too often divided against itself.
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MORE INFO: 1776 The Musical is playing at Timpanogos Valley Theatre in the historic Heber City Social Hall (90 North 100 West, Heber City). Performances run June 24–27, June 29, July 1, and July 3 at 7:00 PM, with a July 4 matinee at 2:00 PM. Tickets are available through Timpanogos Valley Theatre’s ticketing link. For the most up-to-date schedule, tickets, and production information, visit the Timpanogos Valley Theatre website: https://timpvalleytheatre.com/upcoming-events/1776-the-musical