Anne and Emmett

[Number23]

A few days ago, this OP was posted on DU re: the shooting at the Holocaust Museum in DC.

The shooting of that guard was sickening on so many levels, but it somehow gets even worse when you see that the shooting took place on what would have been Anne Frank's 80th birthday and on the opening night of a truly remarkable sounding play called "Anne and Emmett."

According to the web site:

Anne and Emmett is a one act play written and directed by Janet Langhart Cohen (and) is an imaginary conversation between Nazi child victim Anne Frank, and child victim, Emmett Till of the Jim Crow southern United States. http://anneandemmett.net/

Picture of Ms. Janet. She's purrrty. And she's also the wife of former Sec of Defence William Cohen.

Anybody seen this play?? Is it half as fantastic as I think it sounds?? It's been many years since I've read the Diary of Anne Frank but I think that book leaves a powerful impression on everyone who reads it. The murder of Emmett Till is something that will haunt me forever. I will never be able to forget the savagery shown to that child. The idea of them meeting and having a conversation is just magical to me.

[Kind of Blue]

1. I've got the chills running up and down

thinking about those 2 kids meeting to talk about what happened to them. The photo of Emmett Till in his coffin still haunts me, as well, Number 23. Thanks for the link!

BTW, I love the Cohens, too, and Ms. Janet is a real looker!

[Number23]

2. I know!! I love that you get why this sounds so fascinating!

When I saw that OP in GD, and saw what the play was about I actually starting daydreaming about what that conversation would be like. I got chills. These two kids, so young, but who have been privy to such unimaginable, unbearable savageness and hatred. What would they talk about?

Their stories are so similar but completely different. Almost the entirety of Anne's family was killed; Emmett died alone at the hands of monsters. But both died as a result of systemic, institutionalized racial and religious oppression that took the lives of so many and caused God only knows what type of economic and spiritual burden for members of their respective groups. My mind literally boggles at the thought of what their conversations would be like.

Wanna help me with my campaign to get this play to come to Australia?? :)

[Kind of Blue]

3. How can I help? Please let me know.

I'm all the way in California. I'd love to see it here. But if you've got an idea cooking, let me know!

[Number23]

4. Well, the first step in my diabolical scheme is to spam their web site

with repeated requests for them to go global, starting with Australia of course. :)

My second step is to wave around a verrry generous donation offer if they do tour down under. Surely, these folks realize how far $50 can travel in terms of 7-11 snacks for the crew.

If that still doesn't work, I'll sic the Aussie government on them. The agency that focuses on arts and culture certainly could use a shot in the arm, if you know what I mean. This is something that I think every school child in every corner of the world should see.

[Kind of Blue]

5. Well, I will join you in the global request bombardment

and add in kind to your more than magnanimous sum of 50-bucks! :) Seriously, I would love to see it in San Diego, and will contact them about it. I'm sure they are just disgusted about what happened at their venue and on opening night. So it will be cool to let them know that the madman did not damper or silence Anne and Emmett.

[Number23]

6. I absolutely agree.

DU'ers were saying that when Ms. Janet was interviewed by CNN on the museum shooting, that she was so shaken she had a hard time speaking. I can imagine that every performance they do now will have extra poignancy and meaning.

And I just don't see how they can turn away TWO magnanimous donations that add up to a whopping $100! Actually, with the current economy and the devaluing of the Aussie dollar, our total is more like a whopping $85. But that will still buy alot of Cheetos at 7-11...