The Diary of Anne Frank

A very poignant real life story which really tugs at the emotions, Clacton ADS gave a very powerful production with a strong cast.

The set represented the rooms in which Anne Frank, her parents and sister, together with Mr & Mrs Van Daan and their son Peter, with a later occupant Mr Dussel. spent two years and one month in captivity.

The rooms were in a sealed off annex of Otto Frank’s office building in Amsterdam and concealed behind a bookcase.

It is very hard to imagine living in conditions where every move and day to day living had to be thought about, planned, and adhered to for fear that their hiding place could be discovered.

The stage set which, as always with CADS, was imaginative.   It was a difficult one to create as within the main room were smaller spaces classed as bedrooms for different people.   I did find that because the action took place well back on the stage it was difficult to hear the cast speaking at times.

David Lye as Otto Frank, the father, gave a strong yet sympathetic character, trying to keep the peace in some very tense situations. Frank also maintained a Jewish feel to the part as did Kathryn Cavender playing Mrs Frank.   Both gave excellent performances, and Kathryn’s anger at Mr Van Daan’s betrayal in taking more of the sparse food supplies than he should was very real and well played.

Ali Fusi as Anne Frank was excellent with a lot of dialogue to be learnt, and a part full of emotions.  Ali really got into the spirit of her character well and was very clear spoken with an ease in the part whilst trying to cope with all the restrictions and hardships she had to endure.

Jo Ford as her sister Margot was a gentle girl well played, and Matthew Ford as Peter Van Daan also gave a very creditable performance.

Mr & Mrs Van Daan played by Fiona Heaton and Keith Sippitt were two of the other occupants and fitted well into the casting.

Robert Eason as the Dentist, Mr Dussel, was a rather demanding man especially of the children, and expected respect from them.  He was a rather unforgiving man and Robert did very well in this part.

Bill Davies as Mr Kraler and Rosemary Sturgiss as Miep Gies completed the cast and were two trusted colleagues of Otto Frank who were aware of the hiding place and kept in contact, visiting them when it was safe to do so which was not easy with the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.

The ultimate scene when they were discovered had excellent sound effects off stage, ie doors being smashed down and a hubbub of noise from below the hiding place.  I think we expected the Nazi troops to burst into the room, but they did not appear?  It would perhaps have added more to the penultimate climax of the show?

Of the group of eight only Otto Frank survived the war.   Anne died at 15 years of age in Bergen-Belsen from typhus, only about two weeks before liberation by British troops in April 1945.

The diary was retrieved by Miep Gies who gave it to Anne’s father.It has been published in more than 60 different languages.

 A good choice for the group and well done on a very emotional show to rehearse and perform.The audience I am sure felt moved to tears at the end of the show with the sad ending in remembering the suffering so many people had to endure..

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