1776
A Musical Play by Peter Stono and Sherman Edwards
The Place The Chamber of Continental Congress, Philadelphia
The Time
May, June, and July 1776
Cat of Characters :
Member of Continental Congress: Means
against independence when the play opens.
Rhode Island
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Connecticut
New York
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
Secretary
Custodian and Bell ringer
Abigail Adams
Marthe Jefferson
New JersEy
President
John Hancock
Stephen Hopkins
Dr. Josiah Barlott
John Adams
Roger Sherman
Lewis Morris
Benjamin Franklin
John Dickinson
James Wilson
Caesar Rodney
Thomas Mckean
George Read
Samuel Chase
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Joseph Hewes
Edward Rutledge
Dr. Lyman Hall
Charles Thomson
Andrew McNair
A Leather Aprin , a Painter, a Courier
Reverend John Witherspoon
Scene 1 The Chamber of the Continental Congress
It’s another broiling May day in Philadelphia, and two matters are almost equally
troublesome to the members of the Continental Congress the flies that swarm in and the
incessant voice of John Adams on his feet again on his favorite theme of independence for
the colonies.
“Sit Down, John.”
Adams complains privately to the Almighty on this bumbling Congress.
As if by telepathic postal service, there is a musical dialogue between John and his wife
Abigail in Massachusetts.
“Till then.”
Scene 2 The Mall
Benjamin Franklin points out to Adams that never before in history has a colony broken
away from its parent country, He suggests that someone else should propose independence
to the Congress –just as Richard Henry Lee appears. Lee explains why he’s sure he can
succeed where Adams has failed.
“ The Lees of Old Virginia.”
Scene 3 The Chamber
It is now June and disheartening dispatches arrive fro General Washington. Lee at last
returns from Virginia with a proposal of independence. John Dickinson of Pennsylvania, for
reconciliation with England, moves to postpone the motion for independence.
Nearly everyone wants freedom from England if only there were no risk and Washington
had won in the field, No one wants to risk his neck alone, so a motion is passed that a
unanimous vote for independence is necessary. A committee is named to write the
declaration.
“But, Mr. Adams!”
Scene 5 The Chamber
Washington writes in despair over the army at New Brunswick, and the committee on
independence takes off to investigate.
A mock Congress is held by the Custodian, the Leather Apron, and the Courier.
“Momma look sharp!”
Scene 6 The Congressional Anteroom
Adams, Franklin and Jefferson sit hearing the original draft of the Declaration being read and
hacked to ribbons. Nevertheless, they are confident and debate the choice of our national
bird.
“The egg.”
There are 85 changes. Four hundred words are deleted. Rutledge of South Carolina rises to
object to what seems an insurmountable element in Jefferson’s Declaration—the freeing of
the slaves. This might bring economic ruin to the South. Shipbuilders of Boston take part in
the triangle trade.
“ Molasses to rum to slaves.”
The southern delegates walk out of the meeting. Franklin and Adams remain, and
Franklin concedes that the slavery clause will have to go.
A dispatch arrives from Washington asking for a reply to his last fifteen dispatches.
“Is Anybody There?”
Dr. Lyman Hall of Georgia enters and the voting begins.
A courier comes. Washington is forced to evacuate Manhattan. He has 5,000 troops,
none of them truly soldiers, against 25,000 of the trained enemy. It is July 3rd.
Finale.
Taken from “1776” record album cover.