Comments on: 1776 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/04/21/1776-2/ DC's Liveliest Theatre Website Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:30:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Ted http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/04/21/1776-2/#comment-3239 Ted Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:34:43 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/04/21/1776-2/#comment-3239 Okay, I just came home from seeing this production. We were also treated to the "After words" discussion with the cast to which the majority of the cast (minus one or two of the smaller characters) attended. I have to second the opinion that the Olney production is great. This is the best musical that I have seen in my nearly 10 years of subscribing to Olney. The show is well cast. Some clear standouts include Chris Sizemore (Rutledge), Rob Richardson (Jefferson) and Harry Winter (Franklin) as well as both women Eileen Ward (Abigail Adams) and Jessica Ball (Martha Jefferson). This is one of the best performances that I've seen Harry Winter have (and I've seen him a lot in the last 10 years). I chatted with him after the show and apparently in the last couple of years, he's had some surgeries to clear up problems with sinuses and other problems. Prior to this, he was "just getting by" with the singing and now he's able to truly open up and sing. And I certainly noticed it. Congrats to Harry. I particularly wanted to single out Chris Sizemore because the role of Rutledge is so hard to get right. Not only was his singing powerful, gripping and enchanting, his acting had just the right touch to fully draw you into the charisma and power of Rutledge, so that you were caught in the spell when he started to sing. I've seen probably 8 different productions of the show and that was one of the most amazing performances of Rutledge I've seen. If you have the chance, go and see this production. Well worth it. Okay, I just came home from seeing this production. We were also treated to the “After words” discussion with the cast to which the majority of the cast (minus one or two of the smaller characters) attended.

I have to second the opinion that the Olney production is great. This is the best musical that I have seen in my nearly 10 years of subscribing to Olney. The show is well cast. Some clear standouts include Chris Sizemore (Rutledge), Rob Richardson (Jefferson) and Harry Winter (Franklin) as well as both women Eileen Ward (Abigail Adams) and Jessica Ball (Martha Jefferson).

This is one of the best performances that I’ve seen Harry Winter have (and I’ve seen him a lot in the last 10 years). I chatted with him after the show and apparently in the last couple of years, he’s had some surgeries to clear up problems with sinuses and other problems. Prior to this, he was “just getting by” with the singing and now he’s able to truly open up and sing. And I certainly noticed it. Congrats to Harry.

I particularly wanted to single out Chris Sizemore because the role of Rutledge is so hard to get right. Not only was his singing powerful, gripping and enchanting, his acting had just the right touch to fully draw you into the charisma and power of Rutledge, so that you were caught in the spell when he started to sing. I’ve seen probably 8 different productions of the show and that was one of the most amazing performances of Rutledge I’ve seen.

If you have the chance, go and see this production. Well worth it.

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