Bringing history to life
TVCC theater season kicks off Thursday
By Sara Mattos
Argus Observer
Sunday, November 4, 2007 2:04 AM PST
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| The cast of ‘The Diary of Anne Frank ‘— Phoenix Bonnell/Mr. Dussel (back row, from left), Kylie Montee/Miep Gies, Kris Maloney/Mrs. Van Daan, Frank Maloney/Mr. Van Daan, Charles Tate/Otto Frank, Tiffany Grooms/Margot Frank, and Daniel Greif/Peter Van Daan (front row, from left) and Ali Osborn/Anne Frank — got into character late Tuesday afternoon at Meyer-McLean Theatre. The play kicks off the theater season this week, with the first show opening at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Meyer-McLean Theatre, Ontario. |
Ontario - Light. Sound. Wardrobe. Script. These are just a few things on the mind of Treasure Valley Community College Director of Theatre Studies Katie Bennett.
Bennett, along with a cast and crew of about 20 people, will start the theater season off this week by presenting “The Diary of Anne Frank” by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett.
Newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman, the play, which opens Thursday and continues through next Sunday (see detail box for more information), will bring to life the insightful writings from this young girl’s diary.
Bennett said there are many reasons why a director picks a play. One obvious reason being significant material, she said.
“It’s a fascinating story about a family in hiding during World War II, and it is an important story because it is about human rights and human right abuses. It is always important to be reminded of what can happen, and should not happen, and yet, still is happening in the world,” she said. “So, in that sense, it is always important work to present.”
Bennett said from the perspective of a director at a small college, she thought the play would also be appropriate in terms of casting.
“It is, kind of, an even number of men and women, and it’s got a mix of older and younger characters, so I thought I could cast it and give a significant number of roles to my students,” she said.
She added she was able to get quite a few TVCC students involved, as well as three high school students, two members of the college staff and a local minister and his wife.
“I am really happy with the balance of the casting,” she said.
Bennett noted 16-year-old Ontario High School junior Ali Osborn will play Anne Frank.
“I’m really excited because it is a lead part, and it’s a great part,” Osborn said of her role. “I’ve done a lot of plays before, comedies and musicals, but never anything serious. I’m a little scared I won’t do it justice.”
But, despite Osborn’s apparent jitters, Bennett said she is doing “great!”
Bennett added, rehearsals — taking place for the last six weeks — grew to be challenge at times, but she also confirmed, “It’s going to be a good show.”
“The cast is working hard, and they are, really, a bunch of kind, giving, intelligent people that have been a pleasure to work with,” she said.
Bennett said her concept in terms of the set is more abstract, as opposed to realistic. She added she tries to create a piece that has a lot of charisma, something that draws the audience in.
“I really like doing intimate plays and bringing the audience really close,” she said. “My primary goal as a director is to keep that movement and sense of pace within the reality of the show to create the builds to where there is conflict and drama.”
Bennett added the play will be about an hour and 45 minutes in length, which will include an intermission or two. She also noted that audience members will be on-stage during the performance for a “Theatre-in-the-Round” experience. She said seats will be limited for each of the four performances, so individuals are urged to get tickets in advance.
Osborn said she encourages the community to come to the play, not only to see how daily lives could be more difficult, but also to learn the lesson of seeing the optimistic side of things.
“It’s really an eye-opener to see how different things were for them and see how difficult it was for them. And, despite everything, she (Anne) saw the good in everything, and she took the optimistic side of the situation. I’m really proud to be in this play,” Osborn said.
Bennett added there will be moments of both joy and pain in the play, just as there is in the diary.
“I hope people will be moved, and moved to awareness and/or moved to action,” she said of the community response to the play.
She noted the play is a coming-of-age story and said she wants the community to know it’s entertaining, not boring.
“It’s a well-written script, based on a very well-written diary, and it’s a true story. And, it’s an important one,” she said. “I want people to come and experience this story, rather than just reading about it. (I want them) to actually see it come to life before their eyes and be a part of it and experience it with these characters.”
