Topic > A performance review of The Diary of Anne Frank

I had the wonderful opportunity to watch The Diary of Anne Frank on the last weekend of its production. This play, I can safely say, was one of the most enthralling experiences; From start to finish, the show kept me and the audience on edge. The title, as many know, refers to the diary that Anne Frank wrote during the period in which the two families lived in an attic for more than a year. The Diary would later serve as a symbol of hope for many Jews and, at the same time, illustrate to many the grave effects of the Holocaust. The show is set in the time of the Nazi German occupation and the harsh persecution of Jewish families such as the Franks. Through the use of stage units, acting choices, and costumes, this dramatic work conveys the significance of the uncertainty and human/family condition that the Franks and many Jews faced. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In theory, the most illustrative aspect of what the game communicated was through production design. The audience seating was structured to surround the stage at one hundred and eighty degrees (thrust stage); at the same time, the stage was leveled with seating, which gave the audience the feeling that they too were “technically in the attic”. It became more apparent as the show reached tense situations that I, and I'm sure the audience, felt the need to verbally speak and express opinions/thoughts to the characters as if we too were residents of the attic. There were also no walls in the set, which showed the audience what each character would do in their time alone. This was especially important for Anne, who at night “revealed” to the public how scared she was and how homesick she was. It is also at this point that excerpts from his diary in full light are projected right above Peter's room and spoken in his voice. This scenic unit provides the audience with a couple of things: she hides her feelings from her family (these only occur at night), she has feelings for Peter, and finally it gives viewers the chance to put themselves in her shoes, rather than in her mind . . His thoughts convey an overwhelming sense of fear he has regarding his family's plight. Furthermore, there was one object that clearly gave a sense of collective feelings: the window. The window was far away, on the second floor, in Peter's bedroom. The meaning of the window can be interpreted first and foremost as a symbol of hope, that outside the attic there is still a fulfilling life to live once all the evil has calmed down. At the same time, it represents discomfort because no one knows how long the occupation will last. It also didn't appear to be indicative of sunlight; rather, the light that filtered through was purely white and appeared artificial. If you read carefully, you see that this artificial light hints at a false sense of hope as the family, especially Anne, cannot accept the fact that they may never live a normal life again. Finally, every time the door leading outside is opened there is nothing but darkness, further underlining the unknown that disturbs Anne more than the others. Collectively, the deliberate placement of the audience and stage, as well as its members, highlights the uncertainty and anguish that Anne and the others had to deal with. Overall, it provides a detailed picture of how most Jewish families and minorities lived at the time. Aside from stage units, acting choices influence the.