“The Diary of Anne Frank,” the gripping story of a Jewish family living in secrecy during World War II, is the fall production at Allen Community College. The drama shows at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Allen Community College Theatre.
The play, which is based on a true story, depicts the trials the Frank and Van Daan families endured during the war. The play takes place in Amsterdam, Holland.
Liesl Wilhoft has the lead role of Anne Frank. The college student does a wonderful job of portraying the 13-year-old. Anne is young and full of ideas and dreams. She keeps her thoughts inside her red diary that she keeps to herself. Her positive outlook during the war annoys the other tenants of the annex. Wilhoft grasps onto the innocence of Anne and excels in her role.
Craig Hendricks plays Anne’s father, Otto Frank. He is an educated man who makes sure his two daughters keep up with their studies. Hendricks presents Otto as a considerate, kind person. He connects with Wilhoft easily during the scenes they are together.
On the opposite side of the parenting spectrum is Emmaline Durand who plays Edith Frank. Anne has a strong relationship with her father but keeps her distance from her mother. Wilhoft plays the hostile teenager while Durand plays the hurt mother. Durand gives off a motherly essence on stage and leaves the audience hoping the mother and daughter will connect.
Margot Frank is played by Jeri Troyer. As the older sister of Anne, she is very intelligent and understands the heartaches that her family is going through. Like Anne, she tries to be light-hearted, but the weight of the world is never far away. Although Margot is quiet and reserved, Troyer makes her presence known on stage through her body language.
The Van Daan family are the other tenants in the annex. Peter, played by Nicholas Watson, is three years older than Anne, and pretends to not like her. The relationship between Peter and Anne is both comical and sweet. Watson puts on an annoyed, tough guy act around Wilhoft at first, but then he begins to open up around her.
Maggie Terhune, (Mrs. Van Daan), Jordan Garcia, (Mr. Van Daan) work well together as a married couple. Garcia is grumpy and easily frustrated, while Terhune is positive. They have great chemistry on the stage.
Matthew Wynn, (Mr. Dussel), joins the cast later in the first act but his presence in the scenes makes it feel like he was there the whole time. He plays a dentist who needs a place to hide during the war. Wynn delivers Dussel’s jokes perfectly.
Lauren Perez-Engel (Miep Gies) and Nick Thomsen (Mr. Kraler) are the two people that aid the families during the war. They bring them food and other items. Engel and Thomsen do a good job of providing moral support for the Franks and Van Daan families.
The play is directed by Susan McKinnis, an English instructor at the college.
Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students. Advanced tickets may be purchased at the Iola Pharmacy.
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