Characters
Lively, intelligent, hopeful outspoken, imaginative, emotional, and often rebellious.
Anne Frank
Anne’s Voice: In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.
Anne's hopefulness.
Anne: But, Peter, if you’d only look at it as part of a great pattern…that’s we’re just a minute in life…(she breaks off)...Look at us, going at each other like a couple of stupid grownups. Look at the sky now, isn’t it lovely?’
Anne urges Peter to take a moment to appreciate the sky as the adults spiral and the Green Police close in on the Secret Annex.
The Importance of Hope in Difficult Times
Vain and flirtatious, concerned with appearances and material possessions.
Mrs. Van Daan
Calm, rational, and compassionate.
Mr. Frank: It’ll be hard, I know. But remember this, Anneke. There are no walls, no bolts, no locks that anyone can put on your mind.
Mr. Frank's compassionate wisdom.
Anne (Violently rebellious): Margot! Margot! Margot! That’s all I hear from everyone…
Margot (Protesting): Oh come on Anne, don’t be so…
Anne (Paying no attention): Everything she does is right and everything I do is wrong!
The stage directions help us to understand the deep, sisterly bond between the girls.
The stage directions help us to understand that Margot is able to “big sister” Anne and dominate conversations with her.
The stage directions help us to understand that Anne is more emotional than Margot in this moment.
3
Mrs. Van Daan (Going to Dussel): What are you trying to say?
Mr. Van Daan: Oh come on! Stop wasting time!
Mrs. Van Daan (To Dussel): Don’t I always give everybody exactly the same? Don’t I?
Mr. Van Daan: Forget it, Kerli.
Mrs. Van Daan: No! I want an answer! Don’t i!
Dussel: Yes, yes. Everybody gets exactly the same…except Mr. Van Daan always gets a little bit more.
(Mr. Van Daan advances on Dussel, the knife still in his hand.)
Dussel and the Van Daans have an extremely tense moment when Miep brings a sugar cake for the Annex to share.
Mrs. Van Daan: What do you care? It isn’t yours…so go on, ruin it! Do you know what that coat cost? Do you? And now look at it! Look at it!
Mrs. Van Daan's materialism
The movie version of the play we're watching
Both the US Men's and Women's National Hockey Teams won gold medals by beating this rival nation.
Canada
Objects of unknown origins found in the air or sea are called UAPs...Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. This is a modern update of Unidentified AERIAL Phenomena, which itself was update of UFO which stood for...
Unidentified Flying Object
Flying Fish Cove is the capital of this jolly-sounding Australian Island
Christmas Island
In his anger against his father, Peter grabs a chair as if to hit him with it, then puts it down, burying his face in his hands.
The stage directions help us to understand that Peter is weak.
The stage directions help us to understand that Peter is experiencing an intense rush of emotion.
The stage directions help us to understand that Peter is violent.
2
Shy, awkward, withdrawn and insecure.
Peter Van Daan
Mrs. Frank: Try to be like Margot.
Anne: And have them walk all over me, the way they do her? No, thanks.
Mrs. Frank: I’m not afraid anyone is going to walk all over you, Anne. I’m afraid for other people that you’ll walk on them.
Group: Together/We’ll weather/Whatever tomorrow will bring.
(As they sing on with growing courage, the lights start to dim.)
The stage directions help us to understand that the group is having a good time.
The stage directions help us to understand that the group wants to be heard.
The stage directions help us to understand that engaging with their traditions is strengthening the backs* (making braver) of the group.
3
Mr. Frank (After a pause): It seems strange to say this, that anyone could be happy in a concentration camp. But Anne was happy in the camp in Holland where they first took us. After two years of being shut up in these rooms, she could be out…out in the sunshine and the fresh air that she loved.
The Importance of Hope in Difficult Times.
(Peter goes over to the stove with his star.)
Anne: What are you going to do with yours?
Peter: Burn it.
Anne (She starts to throw hers in, but cannot): It’s funny, I can’t throw mine away. I dont know why.
Peter: You can’t throw…something they branded you with…? That they made you so they could spit on you?
Anne: I know, I know. But after all, it is the Star of David, isn’t it?
Anne and Peter discuss what they are going to do with the Stars of David* (important symbol in the Jewish faith) they have been forced to sew onto their clothes.
What is the Loss of Identity Through Oppression?
Loyal, brave,practical. She risks her life to support the families.
Peter: “She’s always correcting me, always telling me what to do, how to act, what to say. I can’t do anything right.”
Peter's insecurity
Mr. Van Daan: Oh stop it please.
Mrs. Van Daan: Will you shut up?
(During this, Mrs. Frank and Margot have studiously kept their eyes down. But Anne, seated on the floor, has been following the discussion interestedly.)
The stage directions help us to understand that only Anne can hear what the Van Daans are saying.
The stage directions help us to understand that while Mrs. Frank and Margot know it would be rude to stare, Anne’s curiosity gets the better of her.
The stage directions help us to understand that the Van Daans argument is performative* (exaggerated for attention)
2
(She starts down the stairs.)
Anne: I’m going down to the office to get a pencil!
Mr. Frank: Anne! No! (He goes after her, catching her by the arm and pulling her back.)
Anne (Startled): But there’s no one in the building now!
Mr. Frank: It doesn’t matter. I don’t want you ever to go beyond that door.
Anne (Sobered): Never…? Not even at nighttime, when everyone is gone? Or on Sundays? Can’t I go down and listen to the radio?
Mr. Frank: Never. I am sorry, Anneke. It isn’t safe. No, you must never go beyond that door.
(For the first time, Anne realizes what “going into hiding” means.)
Mr. Frank is forced to remind Anne of the gravity of their situation and how important it is that she adjusts to a completely new existence.
The Absence of Normalcy
305 is the area code for this notable Southern US city, which gave us A-Rod, Dwyane the Rock Johnson, and Mr. 305 Pitbull.