Saturday, March 28, 2009

Review: The Diary of Anne Frank

The Diary of Anne Frank was recently opened at The Warehouse Theatre in Greenville. I saw it last night since the other shows this weekend were sold out and this was the last weekend, for it.

IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!

The story is one that everyone knows, a Jewish girl named Anne Frank was in hiding during the holocaust until she was found. And also, everyone knows that she had kept a diary which she wrote down her story of hiding in strong detail. but what makes the play so amazing is because it's a play. Because of the theatre, this story can be presented in many different ways to show Anne's story again and again, a story that needs to be known.
At the Warehouse, the set was designed the fully see the secret annex from one point-of-view. The set designer did a great job paying attention to detail showing all of what the Franks and the Van Danns had. Along with this top notch set, was the top notch acting and directing. Paul Savas directed this show for the third time, and did the best with this performance. And his cast couldn't have been better. The cast brought the story to life making you feel you were the two families experiencing every laugh, tear, and heart-pounding message of Hitler's invasions. Through the first act, you felt save knowing this was only the first half of the show, nothing terribly bad could happen. Though these presumptions were correct, things change at the end of the second act during the capture. A moment you knew would happen, and a moment you were waiting for, but at the end, you couldn't turn away. The scene was directed beautifully by Savas. He staged the children being in the attic of the annex with the adults in the main room. The nazis invaded the annex as the children were unaware of what was going on until the one nazi went to the attic and took the children. The scene built up with a song from the 3rd symphony of this Polish composer (not knowing his name right now is killing me softly) which swells as the nazis attack. This scene ended the play before Otto Frank came in at the end to tell of how each Frank and Van Daan died.
Overall, I can't say enough about this production but that everyone who has seen it are lucky. This show is one that when performed to its peak, it takes your breath away. And this specific theatre deserves to take a bow.
I was told to be expected to cry in the show, and...let's say I was still shaking when I gave a hug to my friend, Emiley, who played Anne Frank. I thanked her, and I thank the Warehouse Theatre for telling a story that has to be told.

P
C

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