Anne Frank (Alyssa Carr) writing in her diary. The Battle Ground High School Drama Club performs “The Diary of Anne Frank” at 7 p.m. Nov. 8-9 and 15-17.
From left: Mrs. Van Daan (Mackenzie Linville), Miep Gies (Trinity Weaver), Mr. Dussle (Chase Wrightson), and Peter Van Daan (Luke Henrikson) view a map while waiting for their rescue.
Mr. Dassle (Chase Wrightson) performs dentistry work on Mrs. Van Daan (Mackenzie Linville) with the help of Peter Van Daan (Luke Henrikson) during a dress rehearsal for “The Diary of Anne Frank” at Battle Ground High School. The Battle Ground High School Drama Club will undertake the tough task of retelling one of history’s most tragic stories this week.
14 Battle Ground High School actors are bringing one of history’s most tragic stories to life on stage with the portrayal of “The Diary of Anne Frank,” a story about a Jewish family forced into hiding by the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II.
Director Stephan Henry has taught in the Battle Ground School District for eight years.
“I thought this was a show we should do. It’s become, unfortunately, really pertinent right now with a lot of the things going on in the world, especially with the synagogue shooting a few weeks ago,” he said.
“These people (in Anne Frank) were going into what they thought would be hiding for a couple of weeks, maybe a couple of months, and ended up, basically, being trapped inside for two years. Never being able to go outside. Never being able to look outside,” Henry said. “The fact that they maintained their sanity and their humanity in the face of unspeakable odds; it’s truly one of the most heroic stories I could think of.”
Battle Ground Drama Club Vice President Trinity Weaver has been in every show since she was a freshman. She is serving as the assistant director for Anne Frank and playing the role of Miep Gies.
“Miep is very caring. I’m really glad to put out her message,” Weaver said. “Although she didn’t at all have it as harsh as what they had, she still had a lot of impact. She took care of these people. She was one of many that even during that dark time understood that they were people. They needed love and caring. They had issues and they needed to deal with them. She was very helpful throughout that time.”
Although this production is much different than the comedies and light-hearted stories the Battle Ground club has performed in recent years, Weaver believes there is no better time to retell this tragedy to an audience that has been desensitized by violence.
“This is a really important show to me,” she said. “We just want to put out that message of positivity and growth and understanding that people are people, no matter what their race or religion or any of that. No matter if they have green or blue eyes.”
Alyssa Carr, a junior, portrays the main role of Anne Frank. This is her first time on the big stage at Battle Ground High. She usually works backstage, but she seems like a natural.
“I’ve loved Anne Frank since I was little. I always did reports on her. And, it’s really exciting because I wanted this so badly,” Carr said. “I feel like I have a quirky personality already, but she was such a happy person, that I feel like I have to put a lot of energy into it, which is really fun. And it’s out of my comfort zone, because I don’t have a lot of energy, but I can get that way.”
Jerry Balch, a senior, tackles the role of the Nazi Officer flanked by henchmen Kenny Harmon, Jaden Denfield and Tanner Opdahl.
“It’s kind of freaky being the bad guy that everybody hates,” Balch said. “Especially being a Nazi because nobody likes Nazis. And having a swastika on my uniform, that’s pretty weird, too.”
