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THEATER
REVIEW: Curtain Call Theatre gives 'Anne Frank' new vitality
By DRAKE LUCAS For The Patriot Ledger
Anne Frank's story is not new. Her World War II diary, first published
in 1947, has been translated into 67 languages. The play itself,
based on Anne's diary, begins at the story's tragic end.
But the Curtain Call Theatre in Braintree is able to present the
familiar story with fresh emotion, palpable tension and a polished
sparkle in Anne's eye. The play ''The Diary of Anne Frank,'' which
opens tonight, will run through May 21.
The intimate theater draws people into the crowded attic where the
13-year-old Anne hid with her Jewish family, the Van Daan family
and dentist Jan Dussel (Michael Pevzner) to escape deportation by
the Nazis in World War II Amsterdam.
The play opens in the silence of remembrance as Anne's father returns
to their hide-away annex alone after the war. David DaCosta carries
the character of Otto Frank with strength and compassion. He opens
the pages and begins reading as Anne's optimistic voice flows into
the theater.
The quarrels, fear and suppression of hiding are all seen through
the bright eyes of a spontaneous and eternally hopeful teenager
who narrates her experience of trying to grow up without a corner
to call her own or any of her friends with whom she shared childhood.
Anna Finklestein plays the part of Anne flawlessly with youthful
energy as she mimics the adults, sulks, and has a crush on the reserved,
shy Peter, played by Andy Oberbeck.
The haughty, materialistic Mrs. Van Daan (Toni Ruscio) and the selfish,
grumbling Mr. Van Daan (Mark Logue) are the bickering couple who
break the peace of the Frank family as they share the attic space
that is so small, people had to sleep on the floor. The crowded
set is well-designed to reflect a life of people living on top of
each other - literally. The loft beds provide a way to keep all
characters on stage, a technique that demonstrates the lack of space
and inability for anyone to be alone or move freely. No one suppressed
her emotion more than Anne who longed for expression in a place
of confining silence.
''When we get out of here, we're not going to remember how to dance,''
she says with naïve irony as she waltzes across the room. Gradually,
everyone lets certain customs be forgotten as they are kept inside
for 25 months and food and other supplies become more scarce.
The entire cast plays the scenes with remarkable sensitivity, and
sometimes even a German accent. They make the air tense at the ring
of a telephone, make the stomach drop at the sound of a truck pulling
up outside, and send a cold fear into the audience at the brusque
march of Nazi footsteps.
The story is dark and quiet but touched with humor and warmth. The
cast gave enough time to the dialogue to allow the interaction between
characters to develop, especially the tender closeness of Anne and
her father and Anne's romance with Peter. At the end, the audience
has grown with the characters.
In recent weeks, people around the world have memorialized the 60th
anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps to call
attention to and remember the millions of people who died at the
hands of Nazi cruelty.
Perhaps there is no better way than to honor the vibrancy, struggle
and creativity of those who lived. The Curtain Call Theater's production
allows the timeless characters of Anne's story to survive.
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK At the Curtain Call Theatre, 182 Commercial
St., Braintree. 8 p.m. May 14, 19-21. $14. 781-356-5113, www.curtaincallbraintree.org
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Copyright 2005 The Patriot Ledger Transmitted Friday, May 13, 2005
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