The Diary of Anne Frank
at Abington Friends School

Reviewed on April 19, 2018

Allegra Greenawalt
Harriton High School
Submitted for publication to Philadelphia Inquirer - 1

Through the eyes of a child, a glimmer of light can be found even in the darkest of places. In their riveting production of The Diary of Anne Frank, Abington Friends School explored both the difficulties and unexpected joys found in times of trauma.

Adapted from "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank, this play tells the true story of Frank's family and their attempted escape from German occupation of Amsterdam during World War II. Living in a secret annex with another Jewish family, the Franks must remain silent in order to avoid discovery by the Nazis.

With its many mature themes and messages, this play poses a challenge that is no easy feat to conquer in a high school. However, Abington Friends School certainly rose to the occasion and did the show immeasurable justice.

Kaiya Case lead the performance with a gripping portrayal of Anne Frank. Her youthful energy and enthusiasm allowed her to easily embody the historic child figure, while showing emotional range embracing the frustration and difficulties of her situation. Her courageous father, Mr. Frank, was laudably portrayed by Jack Sutherland, captivating the audience with his outstanding stage presence and mature demeanor. He shared a great chemistry with Case, as well as both Halle Jacobson (Mrs. Frank) and Emma Cameron (Margot Frank).

Living alongside the Frank family were the trio of Van Daans. As Mr. Van Daan, Michael Carpenter brought a combination of bold acting choices and dry comedy to the stage, adding an eminent depth to his already complex character. Naandi Jamison (Mrs. Van Daan) proved to be a caring mother to her teenage son Peter (Zachary Ford), and wonderfully contrasted her husband with an outgoing sass and sharp tongue. Also notable was Drew Jacobson (Mr. Dussell), whose lovable awkwardness and perfect comedic timing added some more tasteful humor to the production, while still keeping true to the story and struggles of the time.

Technically, the show was superb. With authentic food, a plethora of suitcases, and even a real live feline onstage, Prop Masters Seri Fleming and Kat Odoms designed and obtained a vast array of props that proved them more than capable of handling their large responsibility. Benjamin Goldstone also did a fantastic job with the lighting of the show, using cool blues and vibrant reds to add to the suspense of certain scenes. While occasionally an actor was briefly out of light, it did not distract from the overall quality of the production.

In a world where discrimination and injustice are still prominent issues worldwide, Abington Friends School's production of The Diary of Anne Frank reminds us that no matter our beliefs, gender, race, shape, or size, we are all human.

Julia Jennings
Upper Moreland High School
Submitted for publication to Philadelphia Inquirer - 2

Perhaps the most heart-wrenching stories in all of human history are those of the oppression and hatred inflicted by any one group of people against another. Abington Friends School's production of The Diary of Anne Frank brought to life one such story, and yet more importantly it brought into focus the love and joy that acted as a shining light throughout these times of atrocity, warming the hearts of all in attendance.

The Diary of Anne Frank chronicles two pivotal years in the life of a young girl, as she and her family must go into hiding in the cramped annex of an office building during the Holocaust. Although the story ends in tragedy, it shows the incredible and invincible joy and strength of the people who struggled against the impossible oppression of the time.

Abington Friends School brought this powerful story to life with incredible authenticity. The extraordinary cast seemed to live the story, remaining constantly onstage, in character, going about their daily lives regardless of whether or not they had dialogue in a scene, and even during the entire length of the intermission. Hebrew songs and prayers were delivered throughout the performance, and pictures of the real Frank family were occasionally displayed on a screen, reminding the audience of the real people who were forced to suffer the horrible injustice inflicted upon them.

Leading this amazing cast was Kaiya Case as the remarkable Anne Frank. Case captivated the audience, seeming to perfectly capture the irrepressible spirit and strength of the young girl whose words have been immortalized in the diary. As Otto Frank, her father, Jack Sutherland brought dignity and maturity to the performance. Sutherland's final monologue had an earnest authenticity that moved the audience to tears. Emma Cameron brought to life Anne's reserved sister, Margot Frank, with a quiet, gentle manner of grace despite the impossible circumstances.

As Mr. Van Daan, Michael Carpenter showed an amazing depth of painful emotion and anger, which contrasted well with the flamboyant and enthusiastic nature of his wife, portrayed by Naandi Jamison. Drew Jacobson brought the perfect amount of quiet humor to the performance as the somewhat sarcastic dentist, Mr. Dussell. Another surprise highlight of the performance was the live cat who portrayed Mouschi, the Van Daan's cat.

The sound design of the performance was flawless, creating a perfect balance of voices during dialogue, and an air raid so real that it frightened many in the audience. The set was impeccable, perfectly reflecting a more simple time and place with intricate attention to detail, creating three stories of a house. The production included spectacular props such as an old sink, an old-fashioned radio, and several time period lamps and bedspreads. Impressive dramaturgy was put together by Kaitlyn Arms, ensuring that the incredible story came to life with accuracy and true voice.

Abington Friends School's The Diary of Anne Frank gives the audience a unique and necessary window into one of the worst tragedies in human history. It tells us the story through the eyes of a child who wants to be loved and remembered. Through all of the tragedy and heart-ache, The Diary of Anne Frank reminds us of the joy and light that is within all of us, and the truly invincible nature of the human soul.

Evan Braasch
Bordentown Regional High School
Submitted for publication to GPC Website Review 3

Close your eyes and imagine you are being hunted. Every day, from eight to six, you must remain completely silent, trapped in an attic with two families and a dentist. You cannot speak, run water, throw out trash or flush the toilet -- you cannot even move unless absolutely necessary.

It is impossible to accurately convey the anxiety, uncomfortableness and sheer terror felt by European Jews in hiding during World War II, but Abington Friends' production of The Diary of Anne Frank came close.

This show is much more about people in hiding than the hiding itself. Abington did a wonderful job of establishing the individuality of, and the complex relationships between, each person. From nuanced character choices by the cast to advanced spotlight cues by the crew, the stories of these eight people truly came to life.

As the narrator of The Diary, Kaiya Case excelled in the enormously complex role of Anne Frank, bringing a childlike sense of energy and innocence to the stage while also displaying her grim knowledge of what was happening at the time. Jack Sutherland (her father, Otto) played a character near opposite to hers: mature, ever-optimistic; and yet the two could not have gotten along better.

Another heartwarming relationship in the Annex was that of Anne and the shy Peter Van Daan (played by Zachary Ford), who had the audience cheering after their first kiss. Peter's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan, played by Michael Carpenter and Naandi Jacobsen, tended to show a more natural human reaction to hardship, always in argument. Carpenter's dry, sarcastic tone made every one of his comments either hilarious or heartbreaking, given its context. Last, but certainly not least, was the quirky character of Drew Jacobsen, the dentist, and the silent but strong nature of Anne's mother and sister, Elizabeth Baah and Emma Cameron.

As mentioned earlier, the tech crews of this show deserve every bit as much applause as its cast, from its varied blue and red lighting, along with its gradually increasing morning light, to its realistic and seamless sound cues. Finally, each and every one of the countless props in this living space for eight people was set correctly and looked natural.

Abington's performance provided a heavy but necessary reminder of the strength of people in unbearably hard times, and that "in spite of everything", they are "truly good at heart."

Trinity Pike
Upper Merion Area High School
Submitted for publication to GPC Website Review 4

Hatred, violence, and cruelty characterized the historical tragedy of World War II. As Nazi Germany pursued the persecution of Jews, millions of lives were lost. Abington Friends School's production of The Diary of Anne Frank was a respectful tribute to these victims of injustice and brutality.

Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett adapted the play from The Diary of a Young Girl, a journal kept by Anne Frank during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam. For two years, Frank, her family, and four other Jews hid in a secret annex to escape oppression. In order to prevent discovery, all eight inhabitants spent days in silence, lived on meager rations, and sacrificed comfort and privacy. As a result, both tension and camaraderie emerged.

Abington Friends approached the production with profound empathy and maturity. All annex inhabitants were portrayed with a nuanced realism, authentically depicting both hopeful and tragic moments in Frank's life. To contribute historical background with emotive power, somber vocals accompanied projections of Frank's archives. Creative technical elements complemented excellent performers.

Kaiya Case (Anne Frank) captured the youthful optimism of her character without sacrificing emotional depth. Tiptoeing across couch cushions and giggling into her diary, Case was a vibrant presence who often brought positivity to the stage. As anxiety and fear began to burden her outlook, her father, Jack Sutherland (Mr. Frank) provided comfort. Alternating between affectionate warmth, pragmatic order, and haunting misery, Sutherland demonstrated his versatility as an actor with the man's multifaceted identity.

All eight annex inhabitants displayed thorough characterization. The core ensemble performed for the entire duration of the show, and even acted silently through intermission. The audience became familiar with elegant, melancholy Halle Jacobson (Mrs. Frank), quiet, worrying Emma Cameron (Margot Frank), gruff, sarcastic Michael Carpenter (Mr. Van Daan), and awkward, funny Drew Jacobson (Mr. Dussell). Whether as one unit, separate families, or pairs of individuals, the cast collaborated effectively to give each dynamic its own unique depth. From the Van Daan's fiery arguments to the intimacy between Anne and Peter, everyday life was captured with a genuine lens.

Technical aspects of the play were well-executed. Sound by Sydney Smith and Cameron Hodges was consistently balanced, featuring precisely timed sound effects. From the soft blues of moonlight to the harsh red of invasion, Benjamin Goldstone, Michael Bradley, Corey Naitove, and J. Dominic Chacon developed simple, but effective lighting designs. Seri Fleming and Kat Odoms collected numerous, complex props, including a cage holding a live cat. A wealth of research was made available for audience members through dramaturgy by Kaitlyn Arms.

Solemn yet compelling, Abington Friends' The Diary of Anne Frank gave a voice to one of the darkest chapters in human history. With powerful cast and crew contributions, the play reminded many of the despair and hope behind adversity.