Ever been in Philadelphia in the summertime? Over 90 degrees with 90% humidity?
The poor delegates to the Second Continental Congress in 1776 didn’t meet until 10 a.m., and they were usually late. They wore woolen clothing, coats and wigs. One group wanted to open up the windows to let some air in, but others complained that there were “too many flies.”
Imagine how miserably uncomfortable it must have been with no AC. Various factions could not agree on almost anything … even delegates from the same colony were divided.
Meanwhile, George Washington was sending dispatches about how inadequate his rag-tag army was pitted against the strongest military in the world, which included 35,000 German mercenaries.
The final vote for independence hinged on one person changing their vote to pass the resolution for independence, thanks to maneuvering by Franklin and Adams.
That’s the detail you’ll see in “1776 — The Musical” playing at the Timpanogos Theatre in Heber City through the Fourth of July. It’s a very timely, entertaining education about how we got here. With music!
You will probably think a little differently about that momentous event after seeing this play, which I highly recommend you do!
Full disclosure: I have a small part as the oldest delegate (except for Franklin), a cantankerous fun, old rum-drinking Quaker from Rhode Island about whom Adams later wrote, “He kept us together and entertained.” Type casting for sure!
Don’t miss this. Tickets are $12-$20. It’s the most appropriate thing you can do to celebrate 250! For more: timpvalleytheatre.com/upcoming-events/1776-the-musical
Cary Hobbs
Midway