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Anne Frank Visits Chaffey
By Carriann Love, Staff Writer
With Nazi Generals standing at attention at the doors to Gardiner W. Spring Auditorium and Jewish prisoners hiding from German soldiers in the crowd awaiting admittance to the Diary of Anne Frank, this performance was truly an eye-opening experience for most. The outside of GWS was
barbwired, and the air siren sounded loud and clear. This parody of tragedy gave realization to one of the most heinous time periods of our world's history.
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Even after the audience was seated, the Holocaust reenactment continued with patrons being pulled from their seats and dragged away screaming by the Gestapo. It was a nervous, solemn, and uncomfortable crowd that remained to witness the actual performance.
The production was scheduled for a short run, opening on November 18 and closing on the 20th, but that was not due to lack of interest. On the contrary, each performance was attended by at least a few hundred people.
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It took hours of rehearsal for Dija Dowling, Kip Reed,
Wendy Green, and Cory Fierro to perfect their roles.
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First auditions were held in GWS on October 6, 1999. This was an open audition for Chaffey students, and over 100 arrived to display their talent. These students were asked to read from the script for teachers Mr. Billman and Mr. Mazur.
With their discerning eyes and ears, the crowd of hopeful students was narrowed down to approximately thirty callbacks.
Second auditions were held just a few days later, on October 11, 1999. This time students were asked to read with a German or Jewish accent. Final decisions were made and posted the next day. All nine major roles were cast. Pam Deem (00) was selected for the lead role of Anne Frank. David Masterson (03) was cast as Peter, Rebecca Schiller (00) as Mrs. Frank, Cory Fierro (01) as Mr. Frank, Wendy Green (00) as Mrs. Van
Daan, Kip Reed (00) as Mr. Van Daan, Dija Dowling (00) as Miep, Ricky Tolson (00) as Mr.
Krawler, and Audrey Ireland (00) as Margot Frank.
"I don't suck! I don't suck! I don't suck," exclaimed Kip Reed after discovering he was cast. Audrey Ireland simply sighed,
"Oy vey."
Each of these students was required to be at practice everyday past 4:00 p.m. There were also backstage positions available, including student director, head costumer, and house manager, all of which were decided upon by both Mr. Masterson and Mr.
Billman.
Together, cast, crew, and directors were tremendously successful in educating adults and students alike by allowing them to experience first-hand what it must have been like to be a victim of racism during the Holocaust. However, the impact could only go so deep. At every moment, the audience was aware that the discomfort was only temporary, and they had the freedom to leave at any time. The 6 million who perished under Hitler's reign weren't so lucky. |
