In ‘Franklin,’ a Founding Father’s flirtations with the French

Based on Stacy Schiff’s book “A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America,” the show tracks the political magic that Franklin engages in to lure backing, as he wends his way into the right circles to quietly negotiate. His work is far from straightforward, as he faces monarchists, not least of all King Louis XVI, who are reluctant to undermine another monarchy, as well as British spies, one of whom is positioned dangerously close to Franklin. In France, he is a beloved celebrity, thanks to his writing and...