Anne, Karen, and Marilyn on the Top of the World

Anne, Karen, and Marilyn on the Top of the World

I'm sure it is some kind of critic's faux pas to start a review in the way I'm about to, but I've decided to throw caution to the wind â┚¬â€œ since Frank Rich doesn't yet have a grave to spin in, and because it's Fringe (and at Fringe you tell the truth) â┚¬â€œ and say fuck conventional wisdom. Anne Frank Superstar & The Purpose of the Moon is nothing less than fantastic.

James Brendlinger finds a common theme in adapting his source material â┚¬â€œ â┚¬Å”â┚¬Â¦the effects of confinement and the loss of privacy faced by women in the 20th centuryâ┚¬Â¦Ã¢â”šÂ¬Ã‚ â┚¬â€œ but essentially the show is two one act plays. The first half is taken from a Tom Robbins short story first published in Playboy, the second half marries the story of Anne Frank to the music of The Carpenters.

Composed of nine interludes in which Vincent Van Gogh (Brendan Crowgey) cuts off his ear and sends it to Marilyn Monroe (Nichole Auger), eliciting a different outcome each time, The Purpose of the Moon would be at home alongside the works of Ionesco, finding truth in the absurd. At one point, Marilyn sews the Van Gogh's ear back on; the ridiculous act is both touching and romantic.

â┚¬Å”Absurdâ┚¬Â might be the word you'd use to describe the idea of telling Anne Frank's story with the music of Karen Carpenter, until the second part of this show begins and a live piano plays familiar notes. You suddenly realize that these are two women who left behind works of full of hope that are forever saturated with heartbreak because we know the end of the story; trust me, it won't be easy to remove the lump in your throat.

Cody David Price has directed his cast to understated, honest performances that serve the material well. Choreographing the set changes â┚¬â€œ which are fairly intricate, by Fringe standards â┚¬â€œ was a wise choice and rightly makes the techs part of the ensemble. The visceral experience of having live music (with arrangements by Sean Robison) cannot be overstated.

In strong ensemble, the interactions of Sarah Villegas and Anthony Pyatt, Jr., as Anne and Peter respectively, are particularly sentient. When the doomed lovebirds duet on â┚¬Å”We've Only Just Begun,â┚¬Â even the coldest heart in the room begins to melt. It is one of many moments in this show that might just have you whispering: fantastic.

Show: Anne Frank Superstar & The Purpose of the Moon
Theatre Group: Penguin Point Productions â┚¬â€œ Winter Park, FL
Venue: Pink
Remaining Performances:
5/23 Mon. 11:05 PM
5/25 Wed. 7:50 PM
5/28 Sat. 6:40 PM

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