Sitting in the "Hall of Presidents" at Disney World, tourists wait expectantly for the curtain to open and reveal 43 lifelike, animatronic American leaders, gathered in a legendary caucus.

They fidget, talk amongst themselves, and then listen attentively as the current American president, George W. Bush, addresses visitors. He, and Abraham Lincoln.

In just over a month, we citizens decide who'll become the next august robot in the Hall of Presidents. The reassuring aspect about the famed attraction -- and history in general -- is that, in time, even presidents who were unpopular get absorbed into the pantheon with those who were popular. For better or worse, they are all presidents.

A similar swell of admiration and patriotism overcomes the viewer early in the historically based musical "1776," now at Circuit Playhouse.

Like the Hall of Presidents (installed in 1972), there is a great moment in the 1969 Tony-winning musical when our country's forefathers, assembled in the future Independence Hall, answer the roll call.

The American heart nearly bursts with pride. These are the names on the Declaration of Independence. These are the founding fathers! These men are heroes!

The charm wears off quickly. "1776" is a moving and timely reminder that this country was founded by a group of hot-headed politicians who just barely approved the document that would give birth to the United States of America, and eventually, the Hall of Presidents. And yet, they are all founding fathers.

The peevish John Adams, played by Michael Detroit as a perpetually irritated liberal, is thought to be "obnoxious and disliked" even by his friends.

Dave Landis portrays the sage Benjamin Franklin as a sanguine, sly old man, limping around on a gouty foot.

Justin Asher is a taciturn Thomas Jefferson, the unlikely author of the Declaration.

As dire war dispatches from Gen. George Washington insist that Congress do something, the audience feels a familiar frustration with a government run by elite, wealthy white men who appear to have only their own interests at heart.

When David Foster's smooth-talking patrician, Edward Rutledge, notes that the South always sticks together, the viewer bristles that their noble, unifying cause -- which nearly derails the Revolution -- is keeping their slaves.

Jason Spitzer, as unctuous and sinister as ever in the role of John Dickinson, is perfectly cast as the congressional villain, a cunning debater resolutely opposed to American independence.

"Why should we risk losing?" asks the man who already has wealth, power and status.

Director Robert Hetherington has assembled a cast worthy of an engraving, from Bill Andrews' authoritative John Hancock to Matt Reed's wishy-washy delegate from New York who abstains from every vote.

If the response from the sold-out, opening-night audience is any indication, "1776" has come at the best possible time, heralding an election year that could be a referendum on sweeping change in Washington.

The founding fathers in "1776" have much to add to the forthcoming debate over who will next get a seat in the Hall of Presidents.

-- Christopher Blank: 529-2305

"1776"

At Circuit Playhouse through Oct. 19. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m Sundays. Tickets are $15-$30. Call 726-4656.