A New Take on a Historical Figure
The American musical "Slam Frank" has generated a massive amount of interest, so much so that the New York production has been extended by two weeks. Every day, six times a week, a character named Anne Frank appears on stage at the "AsylumNYX" theatre. This version of Anne Frank is portrayed as a pansexual Latina with an oversized yellow Jewish star on her chest.
In this play, the German Jew dances and raps about her experiences while in hiding in Amsterdam, which serves as the foundation for her world-famous diary. Rather than focusing on traditional drama, the production emphasizes hip hop and irony, offering a fresh perspective on a well-known historical figure.
Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt am Main in 1929. She fled with her family from the Nazis to Amsterdam. During the German occupation, the Frank family went into hiding. For approximately two years, they lived in the back of Otto Frank's father's company. In 1944, the family was arrested by the Gestapo. Anne Frank ultimately died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in the spring of 1945.
Satire with a Mini-Budget
"Slam Frank" positions itself as a satire, aiming to poke fun at inclusivity and "wokeness." The author and composer, Andrew Fox, who is Jewish himself, wants to demonstrate how social debates can distort history. At 38 years old, Fox is directing a theatre group that is creating a play about Anne Frank.
During the process, the production often slips into absurdity. Characters pin large Jewish stars onto their clothes or keep discovering new oppressed minorities. Despite the controversial treatment and a marketing budget of just $60, the play is nearly sold out.
Controversial Portrayal and Backlash
The provocative portrayal of Anne Frank has sparked a fierce backlash. An online petition has called for the play to be cancelled immediately, accusing the creators of trivializing the Holocaust. The petition states, "The musical turns the catastrophe of the Holocaust into a spectacle full of misinformation. The pain of millions of people is ridiculed."
Fox has defended the work, telling the UK outlet Daily Mail: "When our shows sold out weeks in advance, we had hoped that we would have to turn away dozens of hopeful fans in our queue for remaining tickets. After all the negative coverage, it's down to a handful."
Inspiration and Reception
The composer says he was inspired by a 2022 Twitter dispute about Anne Frank's privileges as a white girl. As the New York Times reports, Anne Frank is less concerned with Nazis in the musical and more with her self-realization, an approach that remains difficult for many viewers to digest.
Key Points About the Musical
- The musical "Slam Frank" has seen a surge in demand, leading to an extension of the New York production.
- Anne Frank is reimagined as a pansexual Latina with an oversized Jewish star.
- The play uses hip hop and irony to tell the story of Anne Frank's life in hiding.
- The production is a satire that critiques modern social debates and inclusivity.
- Despite its controversial nature and limited budget, the play is almost sold out.
- There has been significant backlash against the musical, with some calling for its cancellation.
- The composer, Andrew Fox, defends the work, stating that the negative coverage has reduced the number of attendees.
- The musical draws inspiration from a 2022 Twitter debate about Anne Frank's background.
- Many viewers find the approach of focusing on self-realization rather than the Nazi threat challenging to accept.