***** Over the years, I have been witness to many versions and productions of “The Diary of Anne Frank” as well as two film versions. In most cases, the audience might find it hard to imagine living in what was called a “secret annex” where by day, they had to remain shoeless and quiet and avoid using the bathroom. Could that be possible? Let’s face it- if your life depended on it, you would find a way. Chicago,s Young People’s Theatre of Chicago company is now presenting a Chicago Premiere of a new 75 minute adaptation of this story on the stage at The Greenhouse Theater Center.
This adaptation written by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman, is a shorter, terser drama that is geared you pre-teens and teens, allowing them to get te story in a way that they will grasp quickly. Going on a Saturday afternoon was a treat for me as there were far more younger people in the audience than an evening performance and with the theater set up with two sides of the stage area being seating, I was able to watch reactions during certain pivotal scenes.
Sharpley directed by Randy White on a cleverly designed set by Jonathan Berg-Einhorn, we can see how the upstairs of a building and the attic became home for 8 people during the Holocaust. We were made aware of what was going on by the narratives from the actual Diary as told to us by Anne (deftly handled by Esther Fishbein) and at the very end, by her father Otto ( played to perfection by Chicago favorite Adam Bitterman).
In the beginning we meet all of the “players” as they come to their “hideaway” to avoid the German’s and being sent on the trains. Otto has a loving wife, Edith (Caron Buinis) and another daughter, Margot ( keenly played by Juliano Liscio). The other family that is living with them is a business partner of Otto’s, The Van Daan family. Mr. (David Krajecki) and Mrs (Amy Striker) and their son, Peter ( Played in today’s performance by Trevor Hendrix, who did an outstanding job) who becomes a sort of love interest for Anne.
After living in their “attic” for awhile, their hosts, the Kralers (Tamsen Glaser and Jake Busse) bring in a dentist, Mr. Dussel ( deftly handled by Jeff Broitman) that forces them to re-arrange sleeping conditions, but as Otto Frank says, “we must help each other and save one life, when we can”.
The way that the set is arranged, with audience members walking through the hideout to get to their seats, people seem to get a different feeling about what the existence was for these people. Many years ago, Writers Theatre in Glencoe did a production in their studio venue at the back of a book store. This production had that same feeling. In fact, during the quiet period (day), I felt that I could not even open a candy and the ladies in front of me waited until the clock struck 6 to enjoy their bag of chips. We were all drawn into the picture that this production painted very well.
This is indeed a powerful production that tells a chilling story in a way that allows younger audiences to feel the feelings that a teen-ager who wanted her memory to live on even after her death to understand a little more about the events that they can only imagine.
Hats off to the props designer ( Nicholas Bartleson) and the costume designer ( Cindy Moon) for bringing to the stage items that made the story realistic, and to the sound (Kurt Ottinger) and lighting (Bridget Williams) for making it easy to see and hear on this terrific set. As Anne says in the very beginning, this escape was to be treated as an “adventure”. This production is just that, and a lesson in history as well!
The Chicago Premiere of this vital new one-act 75-minute adaptation draws on previously unpublished diary entries to create a more complex, authentic, and compelling version of Anne’s indelible story. Wendy Kesselman’s sensitive and stirring updating is more approachable and relevant for a new generation of older children while proving “richer and more resonant” for adults. This cast certainly understood the story and conveyed that from start to finish. The finish is one of great sadness for this family ( as it was for many others), but the fact that the diary was not destroyed allowed for generations to know more about this horrible moment in history and so allow that this will never happen again!
By the way- come early or stay after, but there is a wonderful display in the lobby
Fri, Feb 16:7:00pm
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