Anne Frank's Pansexual Twist Sparks Controversy in Germany
A New Take on a Historical Figure
The demand for the American musical "Slam Frank" has reached an impressive level, prompting the New York production to extend its run by two additional weeks. This unique play features a character named Anne Frank performing on stage at the "AsylumNYX" theatre, six times a week. In this production, Anne is portrayed as a pansexual Latina with an oversized yellow Jewish star on her chest.
In "Slam Frank," the German Jew is depicted through dance and rap, sharing her experiences while in hiding in Amsterdam, which served as the basis for her famous diary. Rather than relying on traditional dramatic elements, the production centers around hip hop and irony, offering a fresh perspective on a historical figure.
Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt am Main in 1929 and 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 passed away in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in the spring of 1945.
Satire with a Minimal Budget
"Slam Frank" presents itself as a form of satire, aiming to mock inclusivity and "wokeness." The author and composer, Andrew Fox, who is Jewish himself, seeks to illustrate how social debates can distort history. At 38 years old, Fox is directing a theater group that is creating a play about Anne Frank. Throughout the production, the show often slips into absurdity, with characters pinning large Jewish stars on their clothing or continuously discovering new oppressed minorities.
Despite the controversial portrayal and a marketing budget of just $60, the play has almost sold out, demonstrating the public's interest in this provocative take on a historical figure.
Backlash and Defense
The provocative portrayal has sparked a strong backlash. An online petition has been created calling for the play to be canceled 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," and claims that "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."
The composer explains that he was inspired by a 2022 Twitter dispute regarding Anne Frank's privileges as a white girl. As reported by the New York Times, the musical focuses less on the Nazis and more on Anne Frank's self-realization, an approach that many viewers find challenging to accept.
