PROVO — In her treasured journal that she calls “Kitty,” Anne Frank writes, “I want to go on living even after my death.”
And through “The Diary of a Young Girl,” an unexpected best-selling phenomenon translated into 56 languages, Anne lives. The beloved diary is a real-time account of her family’s two-year struggle to avoid the Holocaust carnage and among the first insights to help comprehend the incomprehensible.
But time hasn’t been as kind to the dramatization of her literary achievement. With its strict retelling of the diary events, the 1954 play, “The Diary of Anne Frank,” is a dated, conventional melodrama. The creative team behind BYU’s production of “The Diary” seems to be aware of the play’s inherent flaws and confronts the viewer with long narrative projected on both sides of the set at the onset, during scene breaks and the conclusion of the play, along with the mournful wailings of live cello playing throughout.
But it is the capable staging and sturdy performances of the collegiate cast that salvage the presentation. The set, lighting and costumes are proficient and revealing. Director David Morgan keeps the pace brisk, and the audience is able to connect with the characters to make the play effective.
The core of “The Diary” is the dignified Otto Frank, who organizes the safe haven and serves as peacekeeper and Anne’s confidant. The professional-level abilities of Jeff Dickamore explore the patriarch’s tender heart and make the character emotionally colorful. As Edith, Ashley Jean Bonner fully denotes the anguish of Anne’s mother, from the struggles with her daughter and the intruders to her family’s daily life.
Becca Ingram skillfully balances playful child and maturing young girl as Anne. Her confident acting makes Anne appealing and believable, especially in her interactions with her doting father and her budding romance with housemate Peter van Daan. Graham Ward is at first overly self-aware but warms to Anne’s interests as the introverted Peter. With the script giving little for the Margot Frank character to do, Brittany Stahly plays her as shy and awkward.
Revealing, controlled performances from Adam Meyers and Carla Kirk disclose emotional layers to Hermann and Petronella van Daan, making their frailties understood. And Carter Thompson makes Mr. Dussell a prissy opponent to Anne.