The 1997 re-write of The Diary Of Anne Frank is having its Philadelphia-area debut here in a controversial production. The results are arresting, justifying the gutsy choices. The new adaptation shows us an Anne Frank who is strong and outspoken and part of a family that is obviously Jewish, in contrast to the old version where the Anne was saintly, and the Jewishness was submerged in universal generalities. The story, as you will recall, covers two years from the time the Jews go into hiding until they are discovered by the Nazis and sent to concentration camps. The actress cast as Anne, Eve Moening, is clearly not a teenager. She appears to be in her 20's, though her body language is exuberantly adolescent in early scenes where she is supposed to be 13. I found it possible to accept the age difference and was impressed with the strength that Moening brings to the characterization. Her Anne is the most riveting I have ever seen. She is often an abrasive (but endearing) pest. For a change, she is not a passive figure but properly dominates the play.
The set, too, is different from previous productions. Instead of realistic, claustrophobic rooms, we see representational groupings of furniture on a raised platform surrounded by a blue sky that the characters never get to see. This emphasizes the imprisonment of the Jews and underlines a speech where Anne says metaphorically, "I see us as if we were a patch of blue sky surrounded by menacing black clouds."
Tom Teti is a sympathetic Otto Frank, though he's too soft-spoken. Ceal Phelan as Otto's wife is appropriately subservient. Allen Radway and Jean Korey are extroverted and tempestuous as the Van Daans, providing a nice contrast with Mr. and Mrs. Frank. Graham Smith is an excellent Dussel, the dentist. Anneliese Euler as Miep Gies is unusually outgoing and creates excitement when she announces that Allied troops have landed and liberation might be close at hand.
The optimism that she kindles, as we soon find out, is misplaced and tragedy quickly follows. The new, downbeat ending is more truthful than the previous pollyannaish speech about all people being "essentially good."
