Anne Frank Celebrates the Strength of the Human Spirit

The Ocean State Theatre Company presents the heart-wrenching story of the Frank family in The Diary of Anne Frank

Today, we carelessly use words like “heroic” or “courageous” to describe athletes and entertainers. Teenagers throw tantrums when separated from their computers or iPhones. So perhaps now might be a good time to revisit one of history’s darkest periods, which is exactly what Ocean State Theatre Company is doing with their latest production, The Dairy of Anne Frank.

Many first learned of Anne Frank and her memoirs as required reading from their high school summer reading list, a time when most were probably not best equipped to digest the poignancy of her struggles. Yet, as a matter of perspective, the 13-year-old Anne Frank ponders aloud a time “when adults fight and kids try to cope with problems kids our age never had.”

Her diary recounts the story of her family, along with another family, forced into hiding to avoid Nazi persecution during World War II. They remain in hiding for over two years until their capture and deportation to Nazi concentration camps. Anne Frank and her sister died of typhus while imprisoned; Anne was just 15 years old.

The pages of her diary were discovered after the war on the floor of the annex where her family had been hiding. Her father, the sole survivor of those from the annex, reads these painful memoirs and decides to have them published upon learning that was what she had wanted. This moving story depicts a courageous young girl full of hope, despite her dire circumstances, and celebrates the strength of the human spirit where, even after all she had been through, she concludes that “people are still really good at heart.”

OSTC’s production is, at times, funny and light-hearted, but packs a powerful final punch. Directed by artistic director Aimee Turner, the play moves at a good clip without ever letting up on the sense of tension or paranoia, nor does it overstate or belabor the point. Though a bit long, just a couple ticks over an hour, the first act seems to fly by.

The set is tremendous. Bare walls, constructed from small wooden slats with spaces between them, surround the stage marking three separate sleeping quarters. Light from the rooms peeks through the slats, casting shadows upon the kitchen floor. At night, the moon shines through a large window on the roof, the window panes outlined on the stage floor.

Though the story centers on Anne Frank, it is Mr. Frank, played by Mark Cartier, who stands out during the final preview performance before opening night. Mr. Cartier effectively underplays the role of the father, not taking away from the main story, that of Anne Frank, while providing much needed calmness and stability. It is Mr. Cartier’s reassuring tone and demeanor that make their capture even more heartbreaking.

Karen Gail Kessler, Mrs. Frank, also has many fine moments. While Mr. Cartier carries much of Act I, Act II is all Ms. Kessler’s. Her face constantly wears the weight and worry of a mother simply trying to hold things together. Yet, when she cracks in anger midway through Act II, she is so genuine that one wonders what took so long. When they are finally captured, her falling to the floor and sobbing makes for an extremely powerful yet cathartic moment — the hiding and constant worry has finally broken her; the outpouring of emotions become all too real, with several audience members moved to tears.

As Anne Frank, Olivia Gesualdi nicely handles a very difficult role, a role that requires her to grow and transform herself in a short period of time while making it believable; she succeeds. She ably portrays a young girl worrying about young girl things while also projecting a strength and complexity well beyond her years.

Tommy Labanaris, as Mr. Dussel, the selfish dentist who suddenly finds himself in the annex, provides some levity with his excessive paranoia and nervousness. Yet, Labanaris manages to make Dussel a sympathetic character.

And Rudy Sanda, one of the protectors of the annex, is great fun to watch as he takes a small role and makes it bigger. With an infectious affability, his presence personifies all the hope and optimism that allows the Franks and the others to make it from one day to the next.

The Dairy of Anne Frank runs through April 13 at The Ocean State Theatre Company’s new state-of-the-art theatre located in Warwick. For more information visit: oceanstatetheatre.org.