The fast-paced Off-Broadway production of Slam Frank was skillfully directed by Sam LaFrage in the very confining Orpheum Theatre. He and his talented scenic designer, Adam Koch, created a multi-level stage that became many worlds, thanks to the upstage video wall background designed by Zack Lobel. They even managed to fit a small audience on stage to wrap around his acting troupe. To make the experience even more immersive, he took the action out into the audience on scattered platforms… and for one scene, up into the balcony.
Related article: A Set For Slam Frank, The Anne Frank Afro-Latin Hip-Hop Musical
LaFrage even employed a video camera (perhaps in homage to Jamie Lloyd) skillfully operated by the character of “the ASM” (Walker Stovall) who seemed to be everywhere doing a million different tasks for his director. LaFrage used his camera not only to augment imagery on Lobel’s video wall but also to broadcast his actors when they were performing around the various stages of the theatre.
The play begins when the ‘Artistic Director,’ played by the wonderful John Anker Bow (double-cast also as the bigoted Mr. Van Daan), of the musical's imaginary community theatre troupe enters the stage from the audience to tell us the premise of his play within a play. He introduces his color blind cast, and triggers the non-stop absurdities and distortions of the original Anne Frank story. I also loved that costume designer Sarah Lockwood had Stovall wearing a black tee-shirt emblazoned on the back in white, “LOCAL ONE.”
Jamie Roderick's lighting effectively augmented a myriad of moods in a variety of locations creatively directing our attention to the details important to each scene. Read more about that here: Lighting The Provocative Off-Broadway Musical, Slam Frank.
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Gear list, as provided by PRG:
- 27 ETC Lustr 2
- 13 ETC Gold
- 20 Martin MAC Aura
- 10 GLP x4 Bar 20
- 4 Astera Luna Bulbs
- 2 Ultratec Radiance Hazer
- 1 ETC Iom XE 20 console
Lighting crew:
- John Anselmo - Production Electrician
- Mack Woods - Associate Production Electrician
I MUST point out however; this musical is not for those who are easily offended, and it definitely will not appeal to all audiences. It’s highly provocative, excitingly unsettling, brilliantly irreverent, unpredictably offensive, and will trigger an uncomfortable mental/emotional jolt. No one is allowed to sit in their comfort zone. There is nothing in our current world that is not mocked and satirized…. nothing too sacred that can’t be laughed at. Think South Park, where everyone is a target. I MUST also point out the fully packed theatre gave a rousingly ebullient ovation after the show was over.
My ‘shock value bar’ is very low, and I have a high tolerance for lampooning, but I’m sure there are some people who will walk out. I’m also positive there was much post-show discussion, arguing, and reflection going on afterward among those who attended this little Off-Broadway musical. However, isn’t that what going to the theatre is all about? Isn’t art supposed to be challenging?