In trying to reconcile the influence of 1960s American culture on the original script with the present-day reckoning of racial injustice, “1776” struggles to define what it wants to be. Portions of the show are powerful, smart drama, while other scenes bleed into a comedic social critique, and many of the musical numbers turn into flashy pop-dance routines seemingly out of nowhere. “1776” is a patchwork quilt of clashing mediums and tones that ultimately can’t decide what genre it belongs in or what message it wants to leave with its audience.

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