Kafka’s Amerika Comes Alive at Open Fist Theatre
Franz Kafka, who never visited the United States, wrote his first novel in the early 1900s, introducing 17-year-old Karl Rossmann. In the Open Fist Theatre's production, Ethan Remez-Cott plays Karl under the direction of Emmy Award–winning director Dietrich Smith.
Smith has reimagined Kafka’s story as a stage play, blending Karl’s fantasy of becoming invisible with the pace of American life. Karl’s story begins with his banishment from Germany due to a family scandal, triggering his dream of a new start in America.
“‘Amerika’ was the first work of Kafka’s I ever read, and I instantly fell in love with its adventurous, comedic spirit. It has a youthful energy that’s unique in his canon. According to his diary, one of Kafka’s inspirations for this novel was Charles Dickens, specifically David Copperfield. I hope I’ve captured the bold Dickensian style that he so masterfully turned to his own ends. It’s a great story, and inherently theatrical. And being a tale about the trials of an immigrant, it has an ever-increasing relevance.” — Director Dietrich Smith
The production features a shifting set that showcases remarkable technique and imagination. It creatively employs music, lighting, real and imaginary characters, sound effects, and rapid scene changes.
Running just over three hours, the play is longer than most but maintains a fast pace that keeps the audience fully engaged throughout the performance.
Summary
This imaginative adaptation vividly brings Kafka’s youthful, immigrant tale to life with bold direction, inventive staging, and a gripping pace that captivates for its full duration.