In this transcendently powerful new adaptation, Anne Frank emerges from history a living, lyrical, intensely gifted young girl, who confronts her rapidly changing life and the increasing horror of her time with astonishing honesty, wit, and determination. An impassioned drama about the lives of 8 people hiding from the Nazis in a concealed storage attic, “The Diary of Anne Frank” captures the claustrophobic realities of their daily existence – their fear, their hope, their laughter, their grief. Each day of these 2 dark years , Anne’s voice shines through: “When I write, I shake off all my cares. But I want to achieve more than that. I want to be useful and bring enjoyment to all people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go on living even after my death!” The Manluk Theatre is excited and honoured to share her story in this intense, historical production.
Characters –
- Anne Frank – a teenage girl from Frankfurt – The main character of the story. She received her journal as a gift on her 13th birthday and documented her thoughts, feelings and the events in the Secret Annex. She is very intelligent and perceptive, and she wants to become a writer. Anne grows from an innocent, tempestuous, precocious, and somewhat petty teenage girl to an empathetic and sensitive thinker at age fifteen.
- Otto Frank – Anne’s father. Otto is practical and kind, and Anne feels a particular kinship to him. After the Nazis came to power in Germany, Otto moved to Amsterdam in 1933 to protect his family from persecution. .
- Edith Frank – Anne’s mother. Anne feels little closeness or sympathy with her mother, and the two have a very tumultuous relationship. Anne thinks her mother is too sentimental and critical.
- Margot Frank – Anne’s older sister. Anne thinks that Margot is pretty, smart, emotional, and everyone’s favorite. However, Anne and Margot do not form a close bond, and Margot mainly appears in the diary when she is the cause of jealousy or anger.
- Miep Gies – A secretary at Otto’s office who helps the Franks hide.
- Peter Van Daan – The teenage son of the van Daans. Anne first sees Peter as obnoxious, lazy, and hypersensitive, but later they become close friends. Peter is quiet, timid, honest, and sweet to Anne, but he does not share her strong convictions. During their time in the annex, Anne and Peter develop a romantic attraction, which Mr. Frank discourages.
- Mr. Kraler – A man who helps hide the Franks in the annex.
- Mrs. Van Daan – Anne initially describes Mrs. van Daan as a friendly, teasing woman, but later calls her an instigator. She is a fatalist and can be petty, egotistical, flirtatious, stingy, and disagreeable. Mrs. van Daan frequently complains about the family’s situation
- Mr. Van Daan – The father of the family that hides in the annex along with the Franks and who had worked with Otto Frank in Amsterdam. According to Anne, he is intelligent, opinionated, pragmatic, and somewhat egotistical. Mr. van Daan is temperamental, speaks his mind openly, and is not afraid to cause friction, especially with his wife.
- Mr. Dussel – A dentist and an acquaintance of the Franks who hides with them in the annex. Anne finds Mr. Dussel particularly difficult to deal with because he shares a room with her.
- First Man – Extra
- Second Man – Extra
- Third Man – Extra
Production Crew – Set builders, stage crew, costumers, props, hair & make up