| re: The only awful lyrics in the show: | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 05:07 pm EDT 07/06/21 | |
| In reply to: re: The only awful lyrics in the show: - showtunetrivia 08:35 pm EDT 07/05/21 | |
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| Abigail’s comments are, as with many of Edwards’ lyrics, derived from the letters between the Adamses. There was indeed a dysentery epidemic: little Thomas Adams had it, and survived; John’s brother Elihu and Abigail’s mother died in the dysentery epidemic that hit Braintree that summer. The line about smallpox was also relevant. That was spreading like wildfire throughout the colonies in 1774-1777. John had been inoculated (a painful experience); I think Abby was, too. But that summer on her own, she took the four kids to Boston to get them vaccinated against smallpox. Ben Franklin forever regretted he did not get his son inoculated; he would die of smallpox. All the more reason why I find it quite ridiculous and even offensive that Abigail would sing those lyrics about HER AND JOHN'S OWN CHILDREN suffering from or being in danger of dysentery, flu, and smallpox to a sprightly little tune that sounds like it would be more appropriate for a list of what kinds of flowers are growing in her garden. I might complain about Edwards’ line “What else is new?” as it makes John seem either uncaring or, in a kinder light, relentlessly focused on his mission. You MIGHT complain about the fact that John responds to the news that all of his children have dysentery, one of them "keeps turning blue," another of them has measles, Abigail herself is coming down with the flu, and there is a smallpox epidemic (on top of everything else) with the flippant remark "Uhh, madam, what else is new?" And all of this at a time, more than 250 years ago, when all of those diseases and conditions were far more dangerous and less treatable than they are today? I really didn't expect any argument to my calling out these terrible lyrics, especially not from people I respect, but.....well, there you have it. And in response to someone else's utterly pointless comment above: I'm well aware that a director of a Broadway show can't actually DEMAND changes in lyrics, but the director can certainly request them, even strongly request them, and the usual situation is that the writers will try very hard to comply. There are dozens if not hundreds of famous cases of this having happened. |
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