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<\/a>Charlotte Bondy<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Visceral, Luminous \u201cDiary\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n“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!”<\/p>\n
—Anne Frank, from her diary<\/em><\/p>\n
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<\/a>Anne Frank, age 13<\/p><\/div>\n
The Diary of Anne Frank<\/em> is perhaps the most important play ever performed at Avon Playhouse, and every bit as relevant in today\u2019s times as it was when the gifted young writer, Anne Frank, first took up her pen to write about her experiences in her diary 83 years ago. Superlatives won\u2019t do it justice, but here\u2019s an attempt: from beginning to end, it is a flawless testament to human courage, optimism and resilience in its purest form \u2013 from the heart of a young teenager. At the opening scene, and again at the very end, Anne is holding her diary out to us, inviting us to share, to learn from history and not repeat its mistakes.<\/p>\nBased on that small diary with the red plaid cover discovered shortly after the end of World War II, Anne Frank<\/em> was published in book form in 1947 under the title The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank<\/em>. Then in 1955, it was adapted into a sensational play by husband-and-wife team Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich, who went on to win a Pulitzer Prize for their work. The play was directed by Garson Kanin and nominated for five Tony Awards, winning for Best Play.<\/p>\nSet in Amsterdam between 1942 and 1945, the stage is a portal to history through Anne\u2019s eyes, allowing us to witness what happens when fascism and hatred rule a society. We see eight Jewish people secreted away from the Nazis, for more than two years, in a tiny attic apartment above the warehouse where Mr Frank has a spice business. Nerves are on edge, relationships are strained under the unbelievable pressure. And the vortex around which the entire story revolves is the brilliant and vivacious Anne. Bouncing off the walls like a pinball, she struggles with family tensions, night terrors, jealousy, first love, her changing body, and being forced to grow up much too quickly.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Otto-with-Annes-Diary-300x169.jpg\")
<\/a>Michael Zois<\/p><\/div>\n
Her father Otto, who is her confidante, is a rock of stability. The relationship with her mother Edith is at the breaking point. Her older sister Margot is a wallflower compared to Anne but is a source of comfort. Another family sharing the \u201csecret annex\u201d are Mr and Mrs Van Daan and their 16-year-old son Peter, who becomes Anne\u2019s first crush. A late addition to the group is a shy dentist, Mr Dussel, who ends up sharing a room with Anne (to her great chagrin). Hiding them from the Gestapo are their saviors, a young Dutch lady named Miep Gies and Mr Krahler, both employees of Mr Frank. They are risking their own lives to save the eight Jews who depend so utterly upon them. Their link to the world is a small radio that offers music, news of the war and life outside. They wait, and wait, for peace.<\/p>\n
Eighth-grader Charlotte Bondy<\/strong> is simply incandescent as Anne. She has captured this role completely as we watch her character develop from a shrieking, obnoxious child into a thoughtful and idealistic young woman. Michael Zois<\/strong> as Anne\u2019s father Otto, who has the heaviest role to bear, offers a quiet dignity and wisdom. Her mother, played by Lisa \u201cD\u201d Denomme<\/strong>, displays alternating flashes of temper and patience. Maia Fetter<\/strong> is a sweet presence as the calm and soft-spoken Margot. Nicholas Furwa<\/strong> gives a solid performance as Peter, showing tentative affection and exasperation towards Anne, and everyone else. His parents, the Van Daans, played by Erica Suszek<\/strong> and Brandon Niemi<\/strong>, have deep conflicts of their own that explode like fireworks. Tagg Smith<\/strong> is convincing as the hapless bystander Mr Dussel. Judy Privasky<\/strong> as Miep and Steve Grady<\/strong> as Mr Krahler deliver strong and sympathetic performances.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Anne Frank, age 13<\/p><\/div>\n
The Diary of Anne Frank<\/em> is perhaps the most important play ever performed at Avon Playhouse, and every bit as relevant in today\u2019s times as it was when the gifted young writer, Anne Frank, first took up her pen to write about her experiences in her diary 83 years ago. Superlatives won\u2019t do it justice, but here\u2019s an attempt: from beginning to end, it is a flawless testament to human courage, optimism and resilience in its purest form \u2013 from the heart of a young teenager. At the opening scene, and again at the very end, Anne is holding her diary out to us, inviting us to share, to learn from history and not repeat its mistakes.<\/p>\n Based on that small diary with the red plaid cover discovered shortly after the end of World War II, Anne Frank<\/em> was published in book form in 1947 under the title The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank<\/em>. Then in 1955, it was adapted into a sensational play by husband-and-wife team Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich, who went on to win a Pulitzer Prize for their work. The play was directed by Garson Kanin and nominated for five Tony Awards, winning for Best Play.<\/p>\n Set in Amsterdam between 1942 and 1945, the stage is a portal to history through Anne\u2019s eyes, allowing us to witness what happens when fascism and hatred rule a society. We see eight Jewish people secreted away from the Nazis, for more than two years, in a tiny attic apartment above the warehouse where Mr Frank has a spice business. Nerves are on edge, relationships are strained under the unbelievable pressure. And the vortex around which the entire story revolves is the brilliant and vivacious Anne. Bouncing off the walls like a pinball, she struggles with family tensions, night terrors, jealousy, first love, her changing body, and being forced to grow up much too quickly.<\/p>\n Michael Zois<\/p><\/div>\n Her father Otto, who is her confidante, is a rock of stability. The relationship with her mother Edith is at the breaking point. Her older sister Margot is a wallflower compared to Anne but is a source of comfort. Another family sharing the \u201csecret annex\u201d are Mr and Mrs Van Daan and their 16-year-old son Peter, who becomes Anne\u2019s first crush. A late addition to the group is a shy dentist, Mr Dussel, who ends up sharing a room with Anne (to her great chagrin). Hiding them from the Gestapo are their saviors, a young Dutch lady named Miep Gies and Mr Krahler, both employees of Mr Frank. They are risking their own lives to save the eight Jews who depend so utterly upon them. Their link to the world is a small radio that offers music, news of the war and life outside. They wait, and wait, for peace.<\/p>\n Eighth-grader Charlotte Bondy<\/strong> is simply incandescent as Anne. She has captured this role completely as we watch her character develop from a shrieking, obnoxious child into a thoughtful and idealistic young woman. Michael Zois<\/strong> as Anne\u2019s father Otto, who has the heaviest role to bear, offers a quiet dignity and wisdom. Her mother, played by Lisa \u201cD\u201d Denomme<\/strong>, displays alternating flashes of temper and patience. Maia Fetter<\/strong> is a sweet presence as the calm and soft-spoken Margot. Nicholas Furwa<\/strong> gives a solid performance as Peter, showing tentative affection and exasperation towards Anne, and everyone else. His parents, the Van Daans, played by Erica Suszek<\/strong> and Brandon Niemi<\/strong>, have deep conflicts of their own that explode like fireworks. Tagg Smith<\/strong> is convincing as the hapless bystander Mr Dussel. Judy Privasky<\/strong> as Miep and Steve Grady<\/strong> as Mr Krahler deliver strong and sympathetic performances.<\/p>\n<\/a>