Editing 1776 (musical) (section)

== Critical reception ==
In his review of the original 1969 production, [[Clive Barnes (critic)|Clive Barnes]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote, <blockquote>On the face of it, few historical incidents seem more unlikely to spawn a Broadway musical than that solemn moment in the history of mankind, the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Yet ''1776''... most handsomely demonstrated that people who merely go 'on the face of it' are occasionally outrageously wrong....  ''[1776]'' is a most striking, most gripping musical. I recommend it without reservation. It makes even an Englishman's heart beat faster... the characters are most unusually full... for Mr. Stone's book is literate, urbane and, on occasion, very amusing....  William Daniels has given many persuasive performances in the past, but nothing, I think, can have been so effective as his John Adams here.  This is a beautiful mixture of pride, ambition, an almost priggish sense of justice and yet – the saving grace of the character – an ironic self-awareness.<ref name=barnes /></blockquote>

John Chapman of the ''[[Daily News (New York)|New York Daily News]]'' wrote, <blockquote>This is by no means a historical tract or a sermon on the birth of this nation. It is warm with a life of its own; it is funny, it is moving... Often, as I sat enchanted in my seat, it reminded me of [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] in its amused regard of human frailties....  The songs and lyrics are, as I have indicated, remarkably original.<ref>[http://www.1776themusical.us/reviews/review4.htm ''New York Daily News'' review of the original production] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413145353/http://www.1776themusical.us/reviews/review4.htm |date=April 13, 2014 }}</ref></blockquote>

The ''[[New York Post]]'' noted, <blockquote>In this cynical age, it requires courage as well as enterprise to do a musical play that simply deals with the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  And ''1776''... makes no attempt to be satirical or wander off into modern bypaths.  But the rewards of this confidence reposed in the bold conception were abundant.  The result is a brilliant and remarkably moving work of theatrical art... it is Mr. Daniels' John Adams who dominates the evening, as he did the Congress.  Peter Hunt's direction, the choreography of Onna White, and the setting by Jo Mielziner are just right.<ref>[http://www.1776themusical.us/reviews/review14.htm Original ''New York Post'' review] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413143856/http://www.1776themusical.us/reviews/review14.htm |date=April 13, 2014 }}</ref></blockquote>