It’s the third play I’ve seen about Benjamin Franklin in a year, but what can I expect in a city where he was the most famous resident. This one, “The Sound of America,” recognizes in an off-handed manner his great achievements, but the focus of it is Franklin as a struggling musician whose music is radically affected by the famous lightning strike, hitting the key as it hung from the kite. From there, this unusual piece (which takes place in the 18th century) links music and history in a most unusual, fascinating, and uproarious way. Created by Randall Lane and Todd Schwartz, FringeArts is producing this world premiere.
How much do you know about Ben Franklin? I know he was one of a few men who signed both The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution. I know he helped create volunteer fire departments, free libraries, and the University of Pennsylvania. I know he was a printer and an inventor. In Philadelphia, there’s a bridge and a boulevard named after him. And I think I know what he looked like from artists’ renditions of him and from the hundred-dollar bill. Kohl Pilgrim, who portrays Franklin, doesn’t resemble the great man at all and only the tricornered hat reminds us that it is the 18th century. But Pilgrim is fantastic as he relates tales of the man and sings and plays the guitars with his musical friends as they get bookings and as they sing songs that this Franklin has written.
And what songs they are! As he creates a band and performs basic Rock’n’Roll, he achieves a level of notoriety. Mostly, he was writing songs for others, but then, he made money by performing with his own band.
After arriving in Philadelphia, walking the 99 miles from New York where he’d first gone when he left Boston, at 17, then “discovering” much about what lightning could do, he used it in creating an electric rock music and becomes America’s Rock star. Move over Elvis Presley.
We learn about his illegitimate child, William. We watch as he gets involved with Deborah Read, still technically married in the eyes of the church, and they enter a common law marriage that will last until her death over 40 years later.
He uses Poor Richard as his alter ego and the composer of his songs. His band is often called The Junto (a name of a club created by Franklin in 1727 for self-improvement), and they perform at The Leather Apron Club (paying homage to the band members who worked in trades requiring leather aprons.)
They play with the events of history in these 23 most creative songs by Lane and Schwartz. The lyrics by Randall Lane could easily be worthy a major prize like the Pulitzer or Nobel, as won by Bob Dylan.
In the second act, the competition between American and British Rock takes center stage. It is another British Invasion. There is music. There is history. There are characters. There is an exceptional ensemble of singers and instrumentalists. At the start, of the play, I thought it might only appeal to a younger audience. (75% of the crowd was younger than I see at most other plays). Even the short playbill is worth looking at before the show commences, lest you miss a line or two. But this is a great show that is sure to grab everyone’s attention. It’s got a bright future! Ben Franklin was human, but he was also a Rock Star- America’s first!! And he really did create, in a metaphoric sense, the sound of America.
“The Sound of America”by Randall Lane and Todd Schwartz at FringeArts, 140 N Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106) 215-413-1318, July 1 to August 1, 2026
Philadelphia Theater Reviews by Frank Burd 