Musicals That Make Me Cry

Rather unexpectedly, I'm crazy about this musical. I've seen both the movie (which I own) and the stage production (which I preferred for its immediacy) and the final scene makes me cry every time.

This show is about the writing and signing of the Declaration of Independence -- not a subject calculated to arouse strong emotion, I would have thought. In fact, I avoided this show for a long time because it seemed too inherently boring (worthy, yes, but definitely not fun).

I was wrong. 1776 humanizes this event, revealing the people behind the paper and giving them dimension. It provides a context for the event itself and give it life and urgency. Biographers strive for this and they do provide a wealth of detail and information that can make you understand people, motivations, and events. This show takes it a few steps beyond.

The show opens in Philadelphia during the hot, gelatinous summer of 1776. Members of the Second Continental Congress are sitting in an airless room trying to avoid the flies and suffering through John Adams' harangue about their lack of progress in declaring independence from England. He's annoying them all (even Ben Franklin, who is a good friend) and the opening song consists of everyone telling him "For God's Sake, John, Sit Down!" This crystallizes relationships and context from the beginning and definitely makes one grin. Adams leaves the room in disgust and (Piddle, Twiddle, and Resolve) proceeds to complain to God, saying that he could accept a plague of locusts or flood or famine, but "instead you sent us Congress. Good God, Sir, was that fair?"

The humor of that song segues into into a poignant epistolary exchange between John and Abigail that tenderly underscores their Ionging to see each other, the privations that are being endured, and the strong bond of love that they share. It shows our founding fathers as young men (some younger than my nephew -- who is just beginning his working life -- although Adams was a "senior" 41) struggling to figure out how to create a new nation. As the story progresses, their sacrifices become apparent. It's difficult not to be moved by the sincerity and the struggle.

One of the show's central themes is the separations endured by families. The strong love between Adams and his wife Abigail is key to the story. They are never physically together in the show; their "dialogue" is in the form of letters, and much of it is taken verbatim from the actual correspondence. The love song Yours, Yours, Yours moves me every time.

The film has a wealth of humorous moments (like the Lees of Old Virginia) that contrast with songs poignant (Mama Look Sharp which talks of a young soldier dying on the battlefield calling for his mother) and disturbing (Molasses and Rum, about the issue of slavery, which was a hotly debated topic from the beginning).

For sheer frivolity, He Plays the Violin, Martha Jefferson's description to Adams and Franklin of her husbands methods of courtship is a delight. And the quill-passing byplay as Adams inexorably guilts Jefferson into writing the Declaration of Independence when all he wants to do is go home to, er, visit his new bride is very funny and very human (Jefferson: "But Mr. A., I burn!" Adams: "So do I." Everyone (in surprise): "YOU, John?")

Is Anybody There?, sung by Adams, begins in quiet despair as he reflects on a letter from George Washington in the field in which he asks, "I Anybody Out There?" Adams reflects on this and then, as his own vision of a new nation takes over, the song rises to a crescendo of hope and determination. Absolutely stirring.

The final scene, in which the Declaration of Independence is signed...

I won't describe it. I'll just say that you need to experience it, so get the movie if you don't have it.

So did you ever hear the story of the Johnstone twins?
As like each other as two new pins.
Of one womb born, on the self-same day.
How one was kept, and one given away.

Did you ever hear how the Johnstones died...
never knowing that they shared a name
'til the day they died.
Their mother cried, 'My own dear sons lie slain.'

Did you ever hear of a mother so cruel
there's a stone in place of her heart?
Then bring her on and judge for yourselves
how she came to play this part.

The Willy Russell musical Blood Brothers begins with these chilling words from the narrator, whose doom-laden voice threads through the entire show. Right away, it's clear that this is not going to be a show with a happy ending. But before you dismiss it out of hand as too depressing to be watched, STOP. It's definitely a dark show, but there is plenty of humor and a reasonable amount of upbeat action. And the music has the kinds of tunes that stick with you.

The story is about a young woman who marries young and within a few short years has 7 children, with number 8 on the way. Her husband leaves her and she struggles to support her large family. (The entire exposition occurs during one catchy song at the beginning.) She is managing -- just -- until she discovers that she is carrying twins.

At this point, her employer, Mrs. Lyons, who has been unable to conceive, offers a self-serving solution: she will take one of the babies. Her husband is out of town for an extended period and she will pass the child off as theirs. Mrs. Johnstone's reluctance and fear are overborne by her employer's rosy picture of the good life that at least one of her children will have. The deal is struck, and her silence is invoked when Mrs. Lyons tells her that she must never reveal the truth or both children will perish instantly. An old wives tale, but one that Mrs. Johnstone believes.

The children are born and, reluctantly (in a song that always makes me cry), Mrs. Johnstone randomly chooses one to give away. She keeps Mickey; Eddie (Edward) is handed over. Of course, Mrs. Lyons then fires Mrs. Johnstone so that she won't have contact with her son.

Despite these precautions, the two boys meet and become best friends. Linda keeps quiet about it, but Mrs. Lyons discovers the truth and prevails upon her husband to move them away.

Of course, Mrs. Lyons is battling fate and she is destined to lose. Some years pass, and then the Johnstones are relocated to "the country," and a new, better life. The family moves to the same part of the country as the Lyons family and the boys meet again, and again become best friends. The pair becomes a trio when Linda becomes a friend; eventually both boys fall in love with her. She is drawn to Mickey, so Eddie conceals his feelings and leaves to study at University. Mickey and Linda begin a relationship and, inevitably, she gets pregnant. She and Mickey marry, and soon thereafter, he loses his job. Panicking, he gets involved with one of his brother's criminal schemes and is caught and sent to prison.

When he gets out, some 18 months later, he is depressed and lost -- subject to rages and generally not much fun to be around. Eddie reenters the picture and does his best to be a good friend to everyone. But the circumstances are different and, in spite of themselves, he and Linda embark on a "light romance" (great song, by the way).

After that, events move rapidly -- betrayal, rage, revelation -- and the eventual tragedy that was prophesied at the beginning.

Crying doesn't begin to cover my usual reaction to this -- despite my knowing exactly what will unfold. Well, everyone knows what's going to happen -- the show makes that clear from the beginning. But you get caught up in the story and -- truthfully -- you kind of forget the initial warning. So even being prepared doesn't really prevent the shock. And I usually don't calm down until that actor picks himself up off the ground for a curtain call!

I wish this musical was available somewhere as a video. I've done my best to string the songs together in order, to give a flavor of the show. It really doesn't do more than provide an opportunity to hear the songs in a very loose context, I'm sorry to say. If you ever get the chance to see Blood Brothers, I recommend it.