Wendy Kesselsman Play Summary

The script masters manifesting the challenges of going into hiding. There were a lot of expenses, sacrifices, and dangers in doing so. Moreover, there is a lot of tension when so many people are living confined in such close proximity. Wendy Kesselman's direction of this play is stirring, heartfelt, and full of love. She focuses her audience's attention on a particular scene, while keeping life going in the naturalistic production. Hence, in spite of the absence of physical action, there is never a tedious moment.

All of the actors are always in character, even when the focus is elsewhere. Anne's sister, Margot, is shy and introverted, living in the shadow of her more loud and energetic sister. Anne's mother struggles to connect with her younger daughter, and is often hurt by Anne's intermittent cruelty. Despite this, she persists in helplessly loving and bears the frustration of her maturing daughter. Ms. Frank is constantly on edge and exhausts herself with fret. Anne's father, a man of dignity and strength, can be counted on to do the right thing. He is the moral anchor for everyone. Mr. Dussel is habituated to his privacy, and sometimes struggles to share a room with extroverted Anne. As the play progresses, Anne learns to give space to the edgy dentist. …show more content…
Looked at without bias, the play vignettes everyday life. All through, there are many disputes over why the food is the same everyday, people huddled around the radio, Mr. van Daan smoking, or discussions on how long Anne gets to spend in Peter's room. What makes their everyday life different and significant is that it has to be lived in secret. The director deserves credit for making the audience feel like a part of this distinct and loveable