What I liked
Very rarely do you see a show that is so complete in its realization that all its parts work wonderfully together without much room for critique. Movement, acting, costumes, lighting, set, story. All worked together to make this beautiful production.
What I didn't like
That the Mark Taper Forum hasn’t staged this show yet.
My overall impression
This is a heartfelt look into the innocence and precociousness of Anne Frank in the days leading up to her fateful escape into the Annex. Unique movement vocabulary, articulate acting, and clever staging illustrate the story of this clever girl whose life was ended too soon. But we aren’t shown the parts we know already. We are instead given a chance to see her as a fully dimensional being, and not just as a symbol for the tragedy of war. We delight in her curiosity, we feel for her, and we know what awaits her- the play makes you love this girl who you know history will take away. This is one of those rare moments where, like in Romeo and Juliet, knowing the end at the beginning does not take away from the story at all. In fact, all understanding of what happened is further enriched by this newfound investment in getting to know Anne Frank’s personality. And there is something so pure, so rich, in witnessing that. Bravo.
