Student Writes Review of 'Anne Frank' Production

When Anne Frank received her diary just before going into hiding during World War II, surely she never imagined that it would one day be a source of inspiration for future generations.

Not only have her writings been translated into over 60 different languages, but they have been molded into a play, performed locally this past weekend by

"The Diary of Anne Frank" is a narrative of a young girl's thoughts and life hiding out from Nazis during WWII in Europe, interspersed with her observations about the people in hiding with her.

The group of Parkway Central student actors successfully portrayed nearly every detail of the production, and created a mood of hope, even through despair— something for which "The Diary of Anne Frank" is well-known. From the feeling of isolation within the cramped set, to the haunting diary entries between scenes, each aspect of the production worked to create the mood.

Playing the role of Anne Frank was Jocelyn Finkelstein. Her motivations and emotions were clear, and her actions seemed natural and unforced.  

Anne's father, Otto Frank, was played by Jake Blonstein. Blonstein acted the transition from hopeful father to bitter older man very well. His relationship with his daughters seem truly caring.

Small amounts of comic relief were provided by Mr. Dussel, played by Alex Tash. Dussel's sarcastic comments were well-timed in nearly every scene.

However, some of the other supporting characters struggled to find the same enthusiasm in their characters, and more than one actor was challenged to maintain a consistent accent. The family hid in an annex, or back room of an Amsterdam office.

Yet, there were moments when every person on stage seemed to find their niche, and those scenes were very moving.

Jacob Rosenstock was impressive as Peter. His chemistry with Anne was very strong, and their scenes together captured the eye.

The superior technical aspects of this show are also noteworthy.  

From running water on stage to the sheer amount of detail of the set, it seemed as though an actual annex was on stage. The props helped enrich the convincing set, filling the empty spaces and adding a feeling of completion. Sound and lighting were also very impressive for a high school production, with no mistakes noted.

Parkway Central High School put on a terrific production of "The Diary of Anne Frank." From Otto Franks first tears, to Anne and Peter's final kiss, the atmosphere was haunting, but somehow hopeful.

McCormick is a student reviewer and part of Cappies, a competitive training program for drama review writing. She attended a Thursday show, March 8.