A March to Justice: The Powerful Story of Parade - Addica Sharbono

-


Based on a true story, Parade captures the historical and emotional intensity of the Leo Frank Case. With music by James Robert Brown, the lyrics and orchestrations drive the storytelling in a way that intersects the historical and dramatic weight of the story. When Mary Phagen (Olivia Gooseman) is mysteriously killed, the town of Atlanta, Georgia is quick to accuse and convict Leo Frank (Max Chernin), a Brooklyn-raised Jewish man. While he is imprisoned, Lucille Frank (Talia Suskauer) continues to fight for the freedom of her husband. Through the hardships and challenges the Franks face, audiences are left wondering whether the truth can transcend the biases that have determined his fate.

Max Chernin was a standout performer who brought a haunting intensity to the role of Leo Frank, carefully capturing the character’s vulnerability with extreme depth.  His performance delivered a chilling portrayal of a man wrongly accused by navigating both his crisis as well as the weight of societal prejudice. Through the eerie series of songs during Leo’s trial, audiences witness how quickly the courtroom is swayed by public opinion. In “Come Up to My Office,” the severity of what Frank is accused of becomes clear, as Chernin masterfully portrays the villainous image the town imposed on him. The intense orchestration and the unsettling lyrics of the song added to the tension of the scene between Leo and the factory girls. His performances exposed the extent of the injustice and the scapegoating that led to Frank’s wrongful conviction, displaying how easily prejudice can skew the legal process.

Another standout performer was Talia Suskauer who brought a blend of strength and emotional depth to Lucille Frank. As Lucille, Suskauer not only embodied a loyal wife’s fight for justice, but she also captured an emotional journey of a woman navigating grief, love, and the relentless pursuit of truth. Her “What Am I Waiting For?” performance was particularly moving. In that song, Suskauer embodied Lucille's inner turmoil. With a gentle underscore, the song starts alongside Leo but quickly grows into Lucille’s song about her turbulence and uncertainty. What made this moment so compelling was how her performance allowed me to understand Lucille’s struggle. The rawness of her performance made the emotional stakes of the show feel real, allowing me a bridge to connect with her pain and hope. Throughout, Suskauer conveyed that Lucille was not just waiting for justice, she was taking the necessary steps to fight for it. 

Together, Chernin and Suskauer successfully lead the show and create an unforgettable emotional journey for audiences. By balancing their characters’ pain with moments of strength and hope, their chemistry and commitment to the story’s important themes made Parade a compelling and transformative theatrical experience. Through the moving story and the beautiful music, the actors conveyed a powerful message: “This is Not Over Yet,” and the fight for justice continues to resonate in our world today. Running now through January 26th at the Orpheum Theatre, Parade is a must-see!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Some Like It Hot: A True Tip-Tap Treasure - by Sarah Zyskowski

-
One of the better screen-to-stage adaptations of its time, Some Like It Hot is a must-see performance that recently danced its way to the Orpheum Theatre. Sending the audience back in time to the infamous Prohibition, Some Like It Hot follows two musicians on the lam who disguise themselves as ladies and join an all-female band. Based on the classic 1959 film, this show brings its audience on a chaotic musical odyssey across the country filled with dazzling choreography, sharp humor, expressive costumes, and a deeper dive into gender identity. What stood out to me right away was the sheer talent these actors expressed through the power of dance. The “Tip-Tap Twins” Joe and Jerry swept the audience off their feet almost immediately with the intricate tap number “You Can’t Have Me (If You Don’t Have Him)” bursting with energy and excitement. Perfectly in unison, the satisfyingly crisp sounds of Matt Loehr and Tavis Kordell’s outstanding tapping talent set the stage for this dance-heavy ...
Read more

Les Misérables Is a Classic For a Reason by Katelyn Keyes

-
If I had to pick one word to encapsulate the current National Tour  of Les Misérables , it would be “art”. The lighting, designed by Paule Constable, transformed every scene into a painting, I could almost feel the sunlight on my face. The darkness was also used to the show’s advantage, leading to a shadowed opening; Prologue , where the low, rhythmic chorus deeply communicates the tragic circumstances the main character finds himself under. Imprisoned for simply stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family, Jean Valjean (Nick Cartell) breaks his parole and flees, leaving him to be chased by a relentless Inspector Javert (Nick Rehberger). Along the way, we meet Fantine (Lindsay Heather Pierce), her daughter Cosette (Emerson Mae Chen, Greta Scheafer, and Delaney Guyer in various ages), and others fighting for France in the Paris Uprising of 1832.  The story is told mainly through song, which, while it does demand more of the audience’s attention to follow the story, really h...
Read more

Book of Mormon Review - Katelyn Keyes

-
  What a show. The Book of Mormon is a riot on absolutely every level, leading to equal amounts of laughter and shock. The plot follows two Mormon missionaries on a quest to baptize the citizens of a small Ugandan village. As this show was written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park, one can expect crude, R-rated humor, and the show lived up to every such expectation. The actors embraced the outrageousness of the plot wholeheartedly, leading to flamboyant dance numbers that put my jaw on the floor. One of this show’s greatest strengths was the dedication of the actors, a show this off-color could easily rely on the simple shock value of the content to carry the performance, but each actor was motivated and made sure the entire plot came across, not just the jokes. This full-out commitment was especially prevalent in the dance numbers, which were just big enough to be spectacular without being over the top or ridiculous.  The best example of this would ...
Read more