Since its publication in 1947, “The Diary of Anne Frank” has been a haunting example not only of Nazi atrocities promulgated by Adolf Hitler during World War II, but a real-life reminder of the consequences of persecution. With those consequences and their causes in mind, Resistance Productions, a new island theater group, will present the staged reading of “The Diary of Anne Frank” at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bethel Church.
Longtime Drama Dock director Chaim Rosemarin, producer Trudy Rosemarin and actor Elise Morrill recently founded Resistance Productions. Its mission is to raise awareness of where the current political climate can lead if citizens are complacent and do not protect each other.
“I’ve been wanting to direct ‘Anne Frank’ since before the election, as it looked like we were moving in an unpleasant political direction,” Chaim said. “We need to show people where this leads, even if it doesn’t look like it at the beginning. This isn’t Germany in 1933, but the strongman government with scapegoats is the same. It started with the Jews, but it could be any targeted group. We are trying to draw a universal message out of this.”
Resistance Productions came together when Drama Dock could not produce the show. Rather than raise the funds to mount a full production, the new theater group decided to do a staged reading.
“The idea is not to be in competition with anyone, certainly not Drama Dock. They are our biggest (financial) supporters,” Trudy explained. “We just wanted a smaller, nimbler entity so we could do more edgy, contemporary and political plays. Staged readings are faster, easier and cheaper than full-fledged productions. Everybody has been really supportive and excited.”
The local cast brings together seasoned stage actors with three teens. The actors, in order of appearance, include: Charlotte Tienken as narrator; Harris Levinson as Mr. Frank; Bonny Moss as Miep; Stephanie Murray as Mrs. Van Daan; Marshall Murray as Mr. Van Daan; Elise Morrill as Mrs. Frank; Lily Robinthal as Margot Frank; Alivia Jones as Anne Frank; Gordon Millar as Mr. Kramer and Peter Kreitner as Mr. Dussell.
The funds raised from the reading will go to the American Civil Liberties Union, an organization that works to protect human rights.
“The Franks were German refugees, immigrants to Holland,” Chaim said. “It set me thinking about where we are now, where at any moment — all it takes is a tweet — anyone is a Jew, anyone a Syrian refugee, anyone a suspected terrorist. It just takes a finger to point at random. We think we are safe and have these rights and this constitution that will protect us. The Dutch had a constitution, too. And when the time came, it meant nothing. That’s the glue that binds Anne Frank to us here.”
Another key to the production, Chaim said, is that the Franks were saved by their Christian neighbors. Out of 100,000 Dutch Jews deported, only 5,000 survived. Out of 30,000 hidden by their neighbors, 20,000 survived.
“This is a community obligation,” Chaim said. “We have to watch out for and protect each other and remain alert to the dangers because it is the old story: First they came for the Jews, then the Communists, gays, dissenting politicians, etc. It was planned that way. Fascism has a life cycle, and it grows according to certain predetermined roots. As is said, ‘History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.’”
