Dear Kitty…
And so begin the memoirs of a young girl who never had the chance to grow up and be the writer she’d always dreamed of being. Anne Frank’s devotion to recording the daily life of her family and friends while in hiding from Nazis during World War II has touched the lives of millions all over the world. I still remember reading it the first time when I was in high school, hoping that somehow she would make it out alive, but knowing that was never going to happen. Her diary shows how a fairly immature spitfire of a girl begins to grow into a thoughtful, intelligent young woman while also reminding us just what a terrible time she was living through. The constant fear of being discovered; the interminable hours of not moving, speaking, or even using the toilet; the inability to get away from the same people day in and day out. For almost two years, Otto, Edith, Margot and Anne Frank lived with another family of three and a single dentist. Their very survival depended on the goodness of outsiders to provide for their every need. Their betrayal still rips a hole in my heart and I find myself hoping that the traitor, whoever he or she was, got their comeuppance in the end.
Before I begin the review, first let me apologize for the tardiness of it. It has been a crazier week than normal around here and I just haven’t had the time, or, to be honest, the energy to sit down and write. My aim is to always have the reviews up within 2 days of seeing the show, but here lately it’s been pushing closer to 4 or 5. Never fails. Life just keeps getting in the way of doing all the fun stuff! 😉
Friday evening was opening night for The Diary of Anne Frank at the Albright Theatre in Batavia. I was very happy to see that it was practically a sold-out performance and I have since heard from director JP Quirk that the entire weekend continued in the that manner. I recommend getting your tickets right away so that you don’t miss out. The Albright Theatre has done a very nice job with this production and it has the added bonus of being a great show for the teens.
Big props go out to JP Quirk and Jeffery Small for a great set design. I’ve actually been to the Annex and felt like they did a really good job at capturing the essence of it. There were multiple levels for action to place, my favorite being Anne’s bedroom right in the front corner of the stage. Lighting design (JP Quirk and Jennifer Ring) also worked well. I get excited about lighting when it makes me notice it! Either good or bad! And this was in a good way. It helped with the focus on stage, which seems like a given, but this went just that bit further and really enhanced the show.
The women had the strongest characters of the evening. Edith Frank (Beth Oberle) was brave and patient, having worked hard to accept their fate. Oberle had all the right characteristics for Mrs. Frank. I loved her wry observations of Mrs. van Daan at the beginning and her break down of tolerance when Mr. van Daan was caught in the kitchen. Mrs. van Daan (Erin Cauley) was slightly over the top and loud, just like the real Auguste van Pels (on whom the character is based). Cauley played up the flirtations with Mr. Frank as well as Mrs. van Daan’s determination to keep her expensive possessions, even when they were out of money. Margot (Laura Beitler) was quiet and pensive, the well-behaved daughter of the Franks. Beitler did a good job of showing how the relationship with Anne had changed over the two years of shared seclusion.
Of course, the star of the evening was Anne Frank herself, portrayed by Casey Watson. Watson did a wonderful job of internalizing the trials and tribulations that Anne was feeling. Watson’s delivery was effortless and believable. This young lady is bound for great things in the theater and even if nothing else had worked in this performance, she was well worth the trip out to Batavia to see it. I can’t wait to see what Watson does next.
There were, as always, a few things I’d have liked to change. The problem with portraying historical characters is that there really isn’t a lot of play in the interpretation of those characters. We know quite a bit about the people who lived in the Annex and therefore we are pretty bound to that knowledge when we begin to portray them. One example of this is Mr. Frank (Jeffery Small). We know that Mr. Frank was the consummate gentleman, that’s why people were willing to risk their lives to help him and his. He was always well dressed, even in threadbare clothing. He had impeccable manners and charisma to boot. Small’s portrayal was more of a tired man without the charm. I wanted a pillar for the foundation of this group, but too often I felt Mr. Frank just sort of blended in.
Another portrayal I didn’t find accurate enough was that of Mr. Dussell (Alexander Seymour). Now, to give credit where credit is due, I’ve heard Seymour stepped into the role very last minute. If that is indeed true, then of course he’s to be forgiven for not having a complete grasp on Mr. Dussell’s character. However, Fritz Pfeffer (the real life Mr. Dussell) was a complete and utter jackass, according to Anne. Every remark he made was intended to strike at its recipient. Seymour’s interpretation made each of those remarks a bit of joke, laughing them off and making sure everyone knew he was just kidding. Sadly, in the eyes of the 15 year old girl writing the book, he wasn’t kidding. Not once. I wanted Seymour to be less friendly, to truly be Anne’s antagonist in the story.
Overall, I had a great time. The history, the significance of this story touches me and I was not disappointed in my first time seeing it on stage. Anne and her family do deserve to be remembered, not just for their bravery but also for their humanity. It’s a good show to support, especially as $1 from each ticket will be donated to The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie, IL. Get out to Batavia and see it. I’m sure you will appreciate it, too
In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart. –Anne Frank
The Diary of Anne Frank is presented by The Albright Theatre in downtown Batavia and runs through March 12, 2011. For tickets and additional info, please visited their website here.
Waiting For Sondheim 