STAGE REVIEW 'The Diary of Anne Frank' is a tragic story of the Holocaust

The cast turned in a fine performance.
By GARRY L. CLARK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
NILES -- Victorious. It isn't a word you would generally associate with the story of a young victim of the Holocaust, but it becomes that when coupled with the name of Anne Frank.
Her story, of course, is horrific and tragic. But her ultimate victory, even in death, was portrayed beautifully on stage Friday at the opening performance of "The Diary of Anne Frank" at Trumbull New Theatre.
Frank's story is victorious because the preservation of her thoughts, her dreams and her reality has brought the world a richer knowledge and first-hand record of the difficulties of a life lived in hiding. She was hiding because her family committed the unpardonable sin against the Nazis -- they were born Jews.
Her diary, made all the more poignant because of her eventual death in a concentration camp, spills over with the exuberance of youth even as it acknowledges the loneliness of hiding in a small annex above her father's business in Amsterdam. It was there that Otto Frank, his wife Edith, their daughters, Margot and Anne, hid themselves away along with another family, the Van Daans, and a dentist, Mr. Dussel, for over two years during World War II.
Cast: Anne, portrayed by Heather Wells, is a vivacious young girl in her early teens who fills her diary with the daily events in the lives of the little group that lives in constant fear of discovery. The diary is also filled with the glorious dreams and passion of a girl on the brink of womanhood. Even as hope fades, she tries to maintain her optimism. Heather did a good job, although at times her delivery was a bit too fast paced.
Her father, Otto, was excellently played by Gordon Wepfer. His heart-wrenching monologue in the final scene was nothing short of brilliant.
Equally good as his wife was Rene Penn, who gave her character a bit of timidity but also a resolve to protect her family at all costs.
In fine form as Mr. Van Daan was Tim McGinley, and a strong performance also was given by A. Reanae Lockhart-Hughes as Mrs. Van Daan. Jim Collins was also good as the Van Daans' son, Peter. Ed Bellin was suitably nervous and distraught as Mr. Dussel.
A quiet, perfectly understated portrayal of Margot was rendered by Mary Allison.
The part of Miep was very well played by Monica Lott, and Jim Kilgore was more than equal to his task as Mr. Kraler, another of the families' helpers in the outside world.
Rounding out the cast were Bob Walls, Ray Nuhfer and Patrick Vrontos.
Debra Godiciu Nuhfer serves as director for this production with assistance by James R. Penn.
Anne Frank's story is not a happy one. It is tinged with a melancholic wistfulness of lives wasted and dreams of what might have been had it not been for the Holocaust.