The Diary of Anne Frank
at Deerfield Beach High School

Reviewed on March 7, 2019

Gabriela Coutinho
American Heritage School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

When humans' wars, persecution, and genocide rage, Anne Frank's words, "In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart," resound for their striking beauty. Such was the atmosphere that Deerfield Beach High School students honored in their production of The Diary of Anne Frank. In this glimpse into the lives of Jews hiding in a secret annex during World War II, the actors captured the frustrations arising from their precarious circumstances - as well as their hope.

Based on the true events described in Anne Frank's beloved diary, published under the title The Diary of a Young Girl by her father Otto Frank, the play centers around her account of life in hiding - a continuous strain of tension and anticipation - and reflections. While she matures, the light of hope and optimism within her remain shining bright, even as life in the annex becomes more difficult and she grapples with her evolving perception of her world and self. The play has told Anne's story since the 1955 Broadway debut, and its production proves more and more crucial as the Holocaust increasingly fades from the collective memory of younger audiences - as Deerfield's choice to mount the play reflects.

Leading the cast, Tori Adame as Anne Frank exhibited her innocence through a vivacious spirit and youthful physical and vocal characterizations, while bearing the weight of bringing Anne Frank's words to life during scene changes of narrations from her diary. Playing her father Mr. Frank, Alan Halaly was convincing as an older man and provided a vital fatherly figure to everyone in the annex, extending strength, moral support, and compassion. As his wife Ms. Frank, Alexis Freudenthal contributed to the tense atmosphere in the attic during clashes with the Van Daans, particularly in her enraged maternal reaction to the bread stealing. With particular physical commitment to the high stakes and stress of life in hiding for two years, Sarah Mellinger gave her Ms. Van Daan the overbearing, insufferable personality Anne Frank had described in her diary.

Despite some distracting background ad-libbing and missed moments of authenticity, everyone stayed in character throughout and successfully depicted what life in the secret annex was like. Together, the annex residents made an effort to cohesively establish the unusually extreme circumstances of their lives, namely standing out in the ensuing argument of the bread stealing, sigh of relief immediately thereafter, and terror when the Germans banged on the door at the end. The cramped feeling the set emanated and illusion of time passing through depictions of daily tasks in scenes and during scene changes further painted the play's world.

From lights up on a delicate first scene of remembrance and trauma to the memories flooding back through the diary's narrative, The Diary of Anne Frank allowed audiences to reflect on human nature when survival is on the line, as well as the monumentally devastating period in history which it revives. Deerfield Beach High School ultimately paid tribute to Anne Frank's story and words, helping her to indeed "go on living, even after (her) death," just as she had wished.

Michael Ryder
St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

The Diary of Anne Frank at Deerfield Beach High School creates a poignant representation of the doleful and important story of Anne Frank.

The Diary of Anne Frank takes place in Nazi-occupied Netherlands during WWII in an attic. The play is a stage adaptation to the famous non-fiction book of The Diary of a Young Girl written by Anne Frank. The stage adaptation was written by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett and opened on Broadway in October 5, 1955. The show went on for 717 performances, first in the Cort Theater, but then finishing off its time in Broadway in the Ambassador Theater. The play received many accolades including winning Best Play at the Tony's and getting nominated for Best Actress, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Director and Best Revival of a Play when it came back to Broadway in the Music Box Theater in 1997.

Playing the titular role of Anne Frank in Deerfield Beach High School's production of the play was Tori Adame. Tori succeeded in playing the vital role of this play with a childlike innocence and a childlike petulance. Tori wonderfully showed the innocence that Anne Frank was known for in her diary, and perfectly captured the tension between her and Mrs. Frank (Alexis Freudenthal). At the main character, Tori Adame led the cast with joy and optimism throughout their time hiding in the attic. Her character was only made better by the complement of Mr. Frank.

Playing Mr. Frank in this show was Alan Halaly. Alan took control as the voice of reason in this play greatly. Alan was able to stand out as a main character while also supporting Tori and her conflict with her family. Alan delivered his lines with tranquility, only adding to the feeling of the voice of reason during parts of the show where the annex members fought among themselves over growing tensions based on fear and cabin fever.

Deerfield Beach High School had many other good qualities like how Gloria Mendez (Margot Frank) showed the maturity that her character is written for. The set design was commendable and gave the show a "slice of life" feeling. Actors stayed in character all the way through the show even when their characters were in the background.

The production ran into problems though multiple times throughout the show. At the beginning of the show there seemed to be microphone problems that cut the audience off from lines that were said due to low volume, but was fixed and stayed consistent throughout the continuation of the show. Actors would sometimes add awkward pauses and weird beats into the lines and added filler dialogue that would get uncomfortable and repetitious. Often were conflicts created out of nothing without enough build, and anger shown by the body was not shown with the voice and vice versa.

Even with these mishaps, Deerfield Beach High School's production of The Diary of Anne Frank was a beautiful commemorative piece that was able to power through hurdles to tell the beautiful story.

Tai Beasley
Coral Glades High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

"I want to go on living, even after death." One of the most coveted goals in life, written by a young and vibrant Anne Frank. Her diary entries allowed some of the most personal details of the devastating effect of the Holocaust to be revealed and shared for generations. Deerfield Beach High School's rendition of The Diary of Anne Frank tells the story of a girl during one the worst tragedies in history, and how with love, resilience, and unwavering hope, she lived even after death.

Adapted onto the stage from the book Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, The Diary of Anne Frank premiered in 1955 at the Cort Theatre. Written by Frances Goodrich, this drama transferred to the Ambassador Theatre in 1957, and closed after 717 performances. The play then traveled the United States, and was nominated for several awards, winning a Tony for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The plot takes place in a Nazi- occupied Amsterdam in 1944 and 1945. Anne is given a diary for her thirteenth birthday, in which this amazing story is recorded. The Franks and the Vaan Dann's are forced to take refuge in a basement to escape the relentless pursuit of the Nazi's. Every day is a blessing, and every loud noise a question of whether life will continue another day. Tensions are high as cramped quarters, limited food, and speaking below a whisper causes problems for the families, but Anne's spirit brings them together until the very end.

Star of the show, Tori Adame (Anne Frank) captivated the audience with her vibrant mannerisms and childlike, upbeat inflection. Adame's bright facials captured the true essence of a young Anne, while her dominant and often sassy personality was perfectly portrayed by her bold physicality. Her incredible duality allowed realistic and unique relationships with every cast member to be formed. Alan Halay (Mr. Frank) successfully personified the leader- like and level-headed quality of his character. The duality of his stern yet caring personality was embodied by his character choices and especially emphasized in scenes with Anne.

Another memorable actress, Sarah Mellinger (Ms. Van Daan) completely commanded the stage with her shrill outbursts and bold character. Mellinger completely immersed herself in the materialistic and maternal mindset of her character, and consistently had great intonation throughout the play. Chad Chambers (Peter Van Daan) depicted a reserved character that blossomed as the plot went on. The progression of Anne and his relationship was successfully illustrated in his physicality and voice.


The multifaceted set was both a unique and effective way to move the story along. The "unpacking" of its parts as the play proceeded added detail and authenticity to the ‘slice of life' plot. In addition, the use of audio of Anne's diary entry's for scene transitions created a beautifully nostalgic ambiance and fostered continuity to the story. The frequent audio issues were apparent, and the whispering from side scenes being caught on the mics was often distracting, however the cast and crew never ceased to push through them.

Congratulations to Deerfield Beach High School for their moving production of The Diary of Anne Frank, for not only teaching us the beauty and pain of impermanence, but the value of family and hope.

Nicole Sugarman
JP Taravella High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

The Holocaust, a tragic era of genocide marked by constant fear and painful loss, is a recurring reminder of the lingering possibilities of present inhumanity guided by distorted beliefs. Deerfield Beach High School's poignant production of "The Diary of Anne Frank" served as a chilling reminder of the viciousness of which society is capable. The history of this horrific event must never be buried. Thanks to the writings of Anne Frank, and other figures chronicling the terrors of the period, there will always be somewhere to turn for reminders of this unconscionable time in history.

Premiering at the Cort Theater in 1955, "The Diary of Anne Frank" is the stage adaptation of the book "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank. The play follows Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl in Amsterdam living under the Nazi regime, as she and her family are forced into hiding in the attic of a warehouse for two agonizing years. During this time, Anne kept a diary in which she discussed the struggles of her life as a budding teenager, as well as the perpetual fear she was experiencing.

Playing the inquisitive Anne Frank, Tori Adame captured Anne's luminous spirit and ongoing optimism. Adame displayed youthful physicality and a beaming curiosity, aiding her honest portrayal of this well-known historical figure. Mr. Frank, Anne's father and the person she most wishes to please, was played by Alan Halaly. Halaly built a believable and compelling chemistry with Adame through his comforting nature and their loving interactions. By offering an encouraging and fatherly attitude to not only Anne, but the entire cast, Halaly created a sense of stability within the Annex.

Portraying Mrs. Van Daan, Sarah Mellinger embodied her character's overly anxious state of mind and possessive personality. Playing Mrs. Van Daan's son, Peter, Chad Chambers displayed impressive character development, demonstrated in his relationship growth with Anne. As Chambers allowed Anne to break through his rigid exterior, he exhibited an excellent character arc.

The annex residents, consisting of the Van Daan and Frank families, developed powerful inner relationships and established a convincing chemistry as a whole. Although some of the ad-libbing and whispering was distracting to the scenes, the actors remained in character throughout the entirety of the production. Actors would occasionally turn their backs to the audience, creating a barrier that blocked the conveyance of emotion.

Despite sound issues, including mics wavering in and out of speakers and some overpowering underscoring music, the show was technically solid. The set was visually pleasing and extremely functional, displaying the inside of all bedrooms as well as the general living area. The costumes, makeup, and hair fit the time period and assisted in developing characterization of every annex resident.

Deerfield Beach High Schools compelling production of "The Diary of Anne Frank" displayed moving themes of isolation, identity, and sacrifice. Anne Frank's power of observation and reflection upon not only the brutality of the time period, but also her own self, allow people to digest the era and its immediate impacts through the innocent eyes of a young girl.

Kelly Taylor
American Heritage School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

"I wish to go on living even after my death." The profound dream of Anne Frank shines out of her time beaten diary. Decades after her death, Anne continues to live on, in accordance with her beautiful dream, through dramatizations of her tragic story. Fulfilling Anne's wish, Deerfield Beach High School brought life to the innocent girl behind the wise words in their heart-wrenching production of "The Diary of Anne Frank."

Inspired by "The Diary of a Young Girl," the book that preserves the words once written upon the pages of Anne Frank's diary in an annex in Amsterdam, the play dramatizes Anne's descriptions of life in cramped confinement during one of the world's most devastating tragedies: the Holocaust. The production is set between the years of 1942-1944 in which the Franks, along with the Van Daans (another Jewish family seeking shelter from the terrors on the streets) and an elderly dentist by the name of Mr. Dussel, lived in hiding. Receiving a Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a Tony Award for Best Play, this highly acclaimed stage adaptation by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett took to Broadway in 1955 with a subsequent tour of the United States in 1957.

Growing as Anne through the progression of time, Tori Adame (Anne Frank) made the transformation from an immature and somewhat petulant thirteen-year-old to a strong, independent, yet loving fifteen-year-old with a constant childlike energy that captured the innocent spirit of the character. From swinging her legs to tapping her foot, Adame put on a lively and animated performance that perfectly exhibited the ray of hope that was Anne Frank.

Embodying a highly mature and well-polished young lady, Gloria Mendez brought a distinct sophistication to her role as Anne's sister Margot Frank. Mendez carried herself in a collected manner with a composed face and dignified posture. Her strict obedience and maturity placed an essential emphasis on Anne's immaturity and defiance of the behavioral norms for women at the time.

Working as a unit, the cast remained in a state of perpetual motion keeping individual scenes going in each of the separate rooms that never overpowered the scene in focus. Although the unscripted dialogue would occasionally detract from the beauty of the script, the improvisations of the cast as a whole continually drove the story forward and eliminated any extraneous pauses that might distance audiences from the reality of the play. Demonstrating the depth of their connection to each other as well as the story, the cast worked together in a phenomenal save when Mr. Dussel's kippah fell on the floor and, after another character naturally drew his attention to it, he kissed it, in line with the Jewish custom, before putting it back in place.

Highlighting the concept that her thoughts and dreams evolve with time, the insertion of voice-overs for Anne's diary entries effectively carried the scene changes through the passage of days, months and even years. The shifts in lighting also contributed to this effect by actively guiding the audience's focus between scenes.

Deerfield Beach High School's production radiated Anne Frank's hope and light granting Anne the opportunity to live on in the hearts and minds of audiences.