The morning after I saw "The Diary of Anne Frank" at the New Jewish Theatre, I heard someone on NPR talking about the idealism that blossoms in young adults and how they have this far-sighted view of what's possible. There she was in my mind again.
The 70-year-old story combines optimism and horror as adolescent Anne watches her world shrink and the horror grows. This is an adaptation of the original play written by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett from the diaries edited rather heavily by the only survivor of the group in hiding, Anne's father Otto. Wendy Kesselman did the adaptation, darker and more realistic, drawing on newer discoveries from the diaries and survivors' stories; it won a Tony for Best New Play.
Director Gary Wayne Barker's casting choices bring together some of St. Louis' best and a fine new face. That's Samantha Moyer, who plays Anne, taking her from age 13 to nearly 16, formative years in a young woman. Barker wisely realizes that 13 was a lot younger in 1942 than it is these days, and Anne still shows remnants of childhood in her thinking and behavior at that point. Moyer's wide-eyed enthusiasm morphs into adolescent sulks and passions with great accuracy.
Not surprisingly, she and her mother don't get along, a situation more concentrated by the stress and the close quarters. Amy Loui as Edith Frank doesn't understand this; her quiet elder daughter, Margot (Taylor Steward) never acted this way, but Edith tries hard to hang on. Ottto Frank, the father Anne clearly adored, is Bobby Miller. Miller's a guy we usually see in roles that evoke laughs. His gravitas here is a wonder to watch, a quiet man but one who's clearly the moral leader of the family and the group gathered in the secret annexe.
The Van Daans, the other family who joins them, have a teenaged son, Peter, Leo B. Ramsey, another age-appropriate piece of performing with hormones carefully held in check. The parents, who could easily be stick characters, are fascinating, Jason Grubbe, who dreams of cream cakes, and Margeau Steinau, a great cook but not always able to control her tongue. And then there's Mr Dussel, with Terry Meddows playing the tense, iritable dentist who can hardly stand much of anything. Meddows carefully underplays him so the eruptions often come as a surprise.
The complex set is the work of scenic designer Jim Burwinkel, and the very good period costumes from Michele Friedman Siler. Maureen Berry's lighting works well.
Time for a new generation to hear this story and begin to learn.
The diary of Anne Frank
through November 2
The New Jewish Theatre
314-442-3283
Jewish Community Center
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