Ben Franklin: He Did Stuff

In current times we lavish fame on the least deserving. Socialites, pop stars, and basically any child of privilege who can scribble her name on a perfume bottle fill our newspapers and magazines with fluff. It wasn’t always this way. Our founding fathers (and their extremely patient wives) actually did...

By Jamie Laughlin

April 3, 2008

[
        {
          "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
          "component": "16971022",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "15769925",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Rectangle 2x - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782206",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782207",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

In current times we lavish fame on the least deserving. Socialites, pop stars, and basically any child of privilege who can scribble her name on a perfume bottle fill our newspapers and magazines with fluff. It wasn’t always this way. Our founding fathers (and their extremely patient wives) actually did stuff to earn their notoriety. Take Ben Franklin, for example.

In addition to his roles as a political consultant, an academic, and a journalist, Ol’ Benny found the time to move science forward through study, research, and inventions galore. If anyone deserves homage through musical stage performance, it’s him. Today you and your kids (or inner child, should you be so lucky) can check out Frankly Ben: The Science of Achievement at Parker Playhouse (707 NE Eighth St., Fort Lauderdale) at 10 a.m. The play focuses on teen-angst-aged Ben (although, it’s likely that “angst” will be replaced by “inspiration” for the sake of the young’uns) before he, like, changed the world. So if you long to hear odes to kites and keys or ditties about how neat science is – this is the play for you. Tickets are a bargain at $3 (lap seats), and $6 (everyone else). Call 954-462-0222, or visit www.parkerplayhouse.com.
Tue., April 8, 2008

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning New Times Broward-Palm Beach has been defined as the free, independent voice of South Florida — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.