KAFKA.. AT OPEN FIST.. "AMERIKA or the man who disappeared.. WORLD PREMIERE!!

FANTASTIC! 

The opening scenes of "Amerika or The Man Who Disappeared" emerge with beautiful revelations of what it must be like for any first time visitor landing from Europe seeing for the First Time! The Statue  of Liberty. Three spectacular drops set the scene. 

Franz Kafka never visited the United States! This raises the question as to why he created this far out dreamlike fantasy from whole cloth? It's an adventure!!  There's a kid named Karl Rossmann (Ethan Remez-Cott). It's his story.  Down the rabbit hole,  It might be Wonderland?  Oz??  Kafka wants to make sure his audience is never on solid ground: uncomfortable.  As we  take Rossmann's journey with him, one cockeyed experience after another befalls him: even when something might look like good fortune!  .  

Author / adapter  / Director Dietrich Smith created this loopy scenario from Kafka's unfinished novel. AMERIKA Or The Man Who Disappeared.

 

Matthew Goodrich, Ethan Remez-Cott,
and Grace Soens
Photo by Amanda Weer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make no mistake.. this huge undertaking for The Open Fist will take you from an easy peasy couple of hours to another realm of time and space. Three acts.  

From the get go, young Karl Rossmann, as he sets foot on American soil, rushes back to the ship  to retrieve a missing umbrella down down down  to the steerage of the moldering German steamer.   Odd coincidences begin. 

 Amerika,  with a cast of thousands, makes no claim to make sense.  Karl is an Innocent Abroad in the best sense and is tempest tossed from the beginning. (Thank you, Emma Lazarus)..

 Frederica Nascimento's incredible set morphs from one location to another: a moving picture fantasy.. to coin a phrase.

Smith's highly stylized    presentation of the story's many characters  eschews any natural style. Over the top and loud with poor Karl  hurdled   from pillar to  post  'narrated' by truly wonderful Jay Ward style animations by  John Dilworth  that transition us from scene to scene.  Fine Art! 

A. Jeffrey  Schoenberg's costumes reflect the times beautifully. It must have been a Herculean effort! Wow!

Because of the way the ten cast members morph from one character to another, it's difficult to single out individual performances. Broad stylized presentations rule the day. Imaginative lights and sound. 

Bringing together cast and crew, also Herculean, this show will challenge your take on what Theatre can do. Make your way to Atwater!

CAST:

Ethan Remez-Cott	Karl Rossmann
Jeremy Thompson	Stoker / Mr. Pollunder / Head Porter / Staff Manager
Marc Jablon	Uncle Jacob / Head Waiter / Policeman
Jack David Sharpe	Mr. Green/ Schubal / Company Man / Best
Chima Rok	Delamarche / Ship Captain / Fergussen / Rennell
Matthew Goodrich	Robinson / Mack / Head Purser
Grace Soens	Therese / Angel
Debba Rofheart	Head Cook / Brunelda
Tambrie Allsup	Klara / Ensemble
Jade Santana	Giacomo / Student / Taxi Driver / Ensemble
Kelsey Kusinitz	German Woman /Ensemble...

With apologies to readers, this on line page has taken on a life of its own, not letting me properly credit the Crew of this fantastic show.  Please use the link below to see all of the credits for the play thanks to Lucy Pollok, the PR maven for Open Fist. 

https://www.lucypr.com/Projects/Web/Amerika_Program.pdf

 And. for some reason? This lnk must be copied and pasted instead of presenting as a direct link.  Dang.

Please page down for further information regarding tickets and location.

Open Fist Theatre Company presents the world premiere of Amerika or, The Man Who Disappeared, adapted for the stage by Dietrich Smith from the novel by Franz Kafka. Arriving in New York City on a steamer, 17-year-old Karl Rossmann strives to make his own way, even as he encounters a series of increasingly strange and bewildering experiences that turn his world upside-down.

WHO:
• Adapted from the novel by Franz Kafka by Dietrich Smith
• Directed by Dietrich Smith
• Assistant Director: Barbara Schofield
• Starring Tambrie Allsup, Matthew Goodrich, Marc Jablon, Kelsey Kusinitz, Jeremy Reiter II, Ethan Remez–Cott, Debba Rofheart, Chima Rok, Jade Santana, Jack David Sharpe, Grace Soens, Jeremy Thompson
• Produced by Amanda Weier and Derek Manson
• Presented by Open Fist Theatre Company, Martha Demson, artistic director
 
WHEN:
Oct. 17 through Nov. 22:
• Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturdays at 7 p.m.
• Sundays at 2 p.m.
• Monday at 7:30 p.m.: Oct. 20 ONLY

WHERE:
Atwater Village Theatre
3269 Casitas Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039
• FREE parking in the ATX (Atwater Crossing) lot one block south of the theater.

TICKETS:
$26-$45

HOW:
www.openfist.org
(323) 882-6912