1776 Reports

(3/1/98) I was in Manhattan this last weekend and saw the last performance of "1776" with Brent Spiner as John Adams. It was a wonderful show. With Brent, Pat Hingle and Linda Emond leaving the show ... it seemed that the entire cast gave a special effort to make this last show a memorable event.

Brent really blew me away with his performance. Since the last performance I attended in September, the actors have added many layers of depth to their performances. One new thing I saw ... and I'm not sure if it was just added to this performance or was something that developed over the run of the play ... was when the courier came in the last time just before the signing of the declaration, paused in the middle of the room, locked eyes with Adams for a moment, they nodded to each other, and the courier left. The other actors froze when this happened and it seemed as if the Adams and the courier were acknowledging what each other had sacrificed for their countrymen.

At the part where John and Abbie speak to and sing to each other for the last time in the play ... as the stage turned blocking Linda Emond from the audience's view, her voice could be heard singing out the last note of farewell for several seconds after the stage stopped turning ... Brent paused on the stage until the audience finished applauding.

The most touching event happened when the cast was taking their curtain call at the end of the play. Gregg Edelmann gave a lovely speech, announcing that Brent, Pat and Linda were leaving the play and gave a quote from the "Wizard of Oz" - I can't remember it exactly, but it went along the lines of "loving and being loved" and how the cast loved those three and would miss them. I took advantage of the standing, applauding audience as cover and took several photographs of the cast on stage at this point (See below for photos).

Before the play, and afterwards I met several other Brent fans outside the stage door while waiting for autographs. What a nice bunch of ladies ... they included "NYDiva" and her friend, "Butterfly" who hang out there a lot and the cast seemed to know on sight. In fact, several of the cast members stopped outside to talk to them when they came out the stage door. One of them, Michael Cumpsty (Dickinson) signed my CD for me. He asked if I wanted the playbill I was holding signed also and I made an idiot out of myself when I blurted out "No ... that's okay ... my friend asked me to get Mr. Spiner's autograph on this." :::: Open mouth insert foot::::

Merwin came out and I called out to him, trying to catch him this time, but he didn't hear me and was in a big hurry and scurried away before I could catch him. Another girl, Lisa, was standing next to me with a poster to be signed and a card for Brent. She's a friend of "LuvmyLinds" and knew Kath ... small world.

Brent came out last ... with Loree. He was very gracious, signed my CD and the playbill for my friend, Maggie, who he peeked over at when I pointed in her direction and told him it was for my "shy" friend. He joked around with the girls ... when one asked him when he would record a sequel to OYEB ... he quipped "Tonight ... as soon as I leave here." He even posed for a couple of pictures ... waiting a second for me when my camera battery started waffling and made me wait for the next shot (see below).

A lot of people were walking in and out of the stage door ... didn't recognize those not in the cast, except for Marilu Henner and her husband ... as she was leaving someone yelled out "Ms. Henner" and she turned and waved to them. Photos are (c) Eileen Jahna.

The next two photos were taken outside the Gershwin stage door (3/1/98) - the first one is Brent (signing my CD), Loree, and me (the back of my head anyway).  The second one shows Brent (signing Lisa's poster) and Loree (check out the bag Brent is carrying). Photos taken by M. Larsen. (c) M. Larsen

 

Report on 9/14/97 Performance of 1776

I attended the 9/14 matinee show of 1776 and I must say I thought everyone in the cast was wonderful. Merwin was magnificant. Gregg Edelman singing "Molasses to Rum" gave me goosebumps. Brent gave a high energy, impressive performance. During intermission, I scooted out to grab a drink of water and had to go around the checkroom way to get back to my seat because of the bathroom lines. I went to step around this woman, said "excuse me" and then realized it was Gates McFadden. She had that "Oh God I wonder if it's a Trekkie" look on her face, so I just nodded, said "hi" and went back to my seat. After the show she and Brent left the theater together. I talked with Pat Hingle for a moment when he signed my playbill and I must say, he is a sweetie ... very courteous and thoughtful. My only regret is that Merwin slipped by when I was talking to Pat.  Photos are (c) Eileen Jahna - do not take without permission.

  

The next two photos were taken at the Roundabout Theatre by my friend Maggie. I was standing to Brent's left but trimmed myself out of the pictures for the web page (I looked so goofy with that smile on my face.) The second photo shows Brent trying to give my pen to someone else. (9/14/97) (c) M. Larsen.

 

   

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