The Diary of Anne Frank at CLC in Brainerd, MN

Quote of the Day:  Words spoken (written) by Anne Frank
I want to be a real writer some day.
I want to bring enjoyment to people, even those I haven't even met. I want my words to live on even after I die.

And, of course, they did. She tells Peter, "If I didn't write, I'd explode." I know how that feels. And, because of her need to write, her gift is shared with millions, years and years after her cruel and senseless death at age 15 in a concentration camp. I have felt a connection with Anne and her love of writing ever since I read the play for the first time when I was an 8th grader. I've seen the play performed several times, and this production at the local college/Brainerd community theatre was different. It is a newer adaptation of Anne's diary. I had a stronger sense of their religion and customs in this version. Anne speaks more openly about her body and sexuality, though not overtly, rather as most girls do as they're growing up and curious about their bodies and who they will fall in love with. I felt more of a tenderness between Anne and her mom towards the end of this production than I've ever felt. Usually, Edith Frank is portrayed as strict and critical. This Edith had a softer side. I understood better what her fears were and that Anne pushes her mom away, as many young teens do, and feels a closer connection to her father.

Another scene, new to me, was when the group pauses and listens at the end of the day. Anne is lying on the floor, writing in her diary, and puts her ear to the floor. We can hear the noises of people saying good-bye and closing the door. The people in the annex breath a sigh, then get up and move around. They find their shoes, start cooking dinner, and race to use the WC (bathroom).

I hear those words again, that Anne wrote, "I want my words to live on even after I die." I think of how many times and in so many places that this play has been produced. How many girls have played Anne and kept her alive through their portrayal of this young, energetic girl who wanted so desperately to see the good in all people. For more details on publication of her diary and productions of the play and film, start here at Wikipedia's Anne Frank entry.

Photo by Kelly Humphrey, The Brainerd Dispatch

 

I thought that Linda Nichols looked and sounded the way I picture Anne Frank. With her wide, beautiful, expressive eyes and sweet voice, you are drawn into her personality. She's innocent and honest and so wise beyond her years. Kevin Yeager played Otto Frank with the caring heart of a dad. I know he has daughters and the tears at the end felt real as he says, "My whole family is gone."

 

I missed seeing the scene from the older version where Otto holds Anne's diary and says, "Not Anne, too." The line, the action, the caressing of her words gets me every time. How painful it is to know you couldn't protect and save your family. Dear Mr. Frank, you kept them alive by sharing Anne's diary and giving us her story to experience again again so that we don't forget what hate and greed can do to people.

 

Thanks, Erik Steen for such a great performance. You directed a fine cast for this important story, one that has always touched my heart.

 

“The Diary of Anne Frank” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4-6 and Oct. 11-13. There are two matinees at 2 p.m. on Oct. 7 and 14.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for students, with general admission seating. For tickets and information about the show, contact the CLC Theatre box office at 855-8199 or by email at clctheatre@clcmn.edu. Tickets can also be purchased online at clctickets.com. (from The Brainerd Dispatch.)

 

Go. Create. Inspire!

 

Journaling Prompt:  What historical story do you keep feeling drawn to?

The Plays the Thing

Quote of the Day:  Even if it doesn't work out, I will still act because I absolutely love it! Caleb Christiansen on his dreams of making a living as an actor. He is playing Eugene in our local production of Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil Simon at the Central Lakes College here in Brainerd, MN. You can read my review of the show on my blogspot at The Brainerd Dispatch website.

Caleb as Eugene

Photo by Kelly Humphrey from The Brainerd Dispatch

What I love (and loathe) about community theatre is that the actors are in the show for the love of the art. They do it because they enjoy performing and bringing a story to life on stage. None of them ever get paid. In fact, they pay to be there with their time, transportation costs, grabbing some fast food on their way to rehearsals after working a full day at another job, or taking care of family. What they might lack in polish and pacing, they make up for in passion. These actors would rather spend their evenings in a dark theatre than out on a lake in our beautiful lakes country because they are filled up by this art form.

When I attend a local production, I am observing from many angles. I'm there as a reviewer, looking for the elements of the play that I want to highlight for potential audience. I'm listening for the lines that stand out from the show, the ones that are memorable and illustrate the themes. I'm also there as a playwright and director. Who up there is inspiring me to write? Who would make a good character in one of my plays? What do I want to write that would showcase their talents? Who looks like they'd be fun to work with? And, I'm there as an actor and audience member. I know I've connected with a play when I start to imagine myself in one (or more) of the roles. I am aware of my own emotional responses. What made me laugh? What made me cry? What gave me those feelings of dread, angst, worry, or love?

What gives me the most joy about attending live performances is seeing all the other people who came out for the show. They also left the comfort of their air-conditioned home, or the beauty of the lakes country to sit in a dark theatre and watch their neighbors bring a show to life. For $6.50 that's cheap entertainment, and sometimes the college offers $1.00 night. What does that even pay for? The cost of printing the program?  Maybe they could put out a tip jar for starving actors?

Now, the choice for my Favorite Photo Friday:

Mary and the Boys at Summer Camp

I had a great week at summer camp with my four sons. It's a church camp with a fine arts feel (for our week anyway) and a great place to spend time with family. We had grandpas, grandmas, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends (old & new). I'll write more about it next week.

Go. Create. Inspire!

And, support your local artists. Maybe even take one out to lunch. (Thanks, JeMA, for lunch yesterday.)

Journaling Prompt:  Why do artists give away their time and talents for free? How can we better support our local artists?

Excellent Community Theatre

Quote of the Day:  Atticus is the same at home as he is at the office. Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird. It's a line I remember from the first time I read the book. It says so much about Atticus' character. I also like, "You got the walkabouts, Jem?" Made me chuckle. And, "Stand up, Miss Jean Louise. Your daddy's passing by." When Atticus exits the courtroom and Scout is sitting in the "colored" balcony. That one's from the book. I didn't hear it in the play.

Scout and Atticus

photos by Steve Kohls of The Brainerd Dispatch

Scout and Calpurnia

Central Lakes Community College had a marvelous production of To Kill a Mockingbird which opened this weekend. I went on Saturday night with a friend. It's done at the college, but also includes community members. The young lady who played Scout was outstanding. Two other boys are in it, and they were terrific. The actors all played their parts so realistically. I was emotionally involved with the play from the start. I felt fear, anger, sadness, and I cringed at the racial slurs and ached for the injustice. This play is heavy on the male roles, and the director Dennis Lamberton found excellent actors to fill them. The man who played Atticus hadn't done anything in theatre in over 30 years. I would have never guessed. His performance moved me to tears.

They have performances this week, Wed. through Sun. Click here for ticket info.

Then, on Sunday, my son Bobby and I drove over to Alexandria for their community theatre production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I had done some acting on that stage when I lived in that area. I knew the director, Ann Hermes, and several of the actors, including my friend Pete Woit. Again, the performance was outstanding. What an incredible group of men that Ann found to fill these roles. I find this story to be terrifying. While some of the actions of the patients are humorous, it has heavy themes and strong language. The evil nurse has all the power. Her mission is to control, not heal. All the actors played their parts to the fullest. I was amazed at the three main characters, Nurse Ratched, McMurphy, and the Chief, and how believable they were.

They will be performing Feb. 17-19, in Alexandria. Click here for tickets info.

Often when I watch plays, I look for roles that I would want to play. I didn't see anything for me in either of these plays. They were heavy on male roles, like I said, and nothing for a woman my age. That's a common problem in many classic plays. I wrote a play that I would want to see and act in. It's about women, ages ranging from 18 to 65. I couldn't help but think about our show and how these women are already playing their parts so realistically that we aren't always sure if they're responding to a line as their character or themselves.

Live performances really make you think. They draw you into the story and you feel like you're part of the show as townsfolks, jury, patients, or coffee shop patrons.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  When have you gotten lost in an artform?

1940's Radio Hour Review

Quote of the Day:  Radio can be like that - people adopt you - and he became friend and family to so many people. from the obituary of Tom Keith in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, a quote by his friend and co-worker Dale Connelly

C.J. Anderson playing Lou Cohn in the GLAPA production of

1940's Radio Hour.

He dedicated his performance to Tom Keith, sound guy extraordinaire for Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion, a man he met and admired.

I admired and marveled at the sound effects table, and artist, in this show.

That toilet plunger was too much.

I was cackling at this scene!

I think he's making a storm.

Doesn't this look like fun?!

I want to be the sound "guy" some day.

The 1940's Radio Hour was community theatre at its finest up in Pequot Lakes this weekend. I attended the Sunday afternoon show, which can be more subdued than an evening performance, but it wasn't. It was full of life and energy, beautiful costumes, and interesting scenery. I love it when the band is on stage, as in this show, so that they are part of the effect. They are cast members. Three cheers and a hand massage for the pianist. I know how hard you had to work! The music and musicians were phenomenal.

I don't care how old you are or what era you grew up in, this show has something for everyone from sentimental songs to ridiculous sight gags that the "radio" audience couldn't see. It felt like we got a behind the scenes look at live radio, with the wit and whimsey like in Noises Off, and the lively pace of A Prairie Home Companion. You might blush as Ginger Brooks (Wendy DeGeest) delivers her ad for Eskimo Pies, oh my. One of the band members is playing his last show before going off to war (the setting is WWII). When he's about to exit, the stage manager asks if he wants to take his guitar. He says, "You take care of it for me until I get back." This, after songs like Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, and I'll Be Seeing You. (Goodness, I'm wiping a tear even as I type this.) Those were highly emotional times, portrayed accurately by this talented cast.

Some of these set pieces are real, some are made with styrofoam, by the talented "Mr. Syrofoam" Tim Leagjeld.  Can you tell which is which?

Don't miss your chance to support your local community theatre and watch your friends and neighbors in a new role.  When they aren't on stage, they're filling important roles in our community as teachers, students, business owners, employees, parents, and grandparents. They do all this work (and, it IS work, I burned calories just watching them) for the love of the art. The younger actors who played Connie Miller and B.J. Gibson were so cute.  They danced together like Bobby and Sissy on the old Lawrence Welk Shows (grandparents, please explain this to the youngsters).

The best part about community theatre is that people are out there having a good time. They get to do their art for a while and leave those other roles at the stage door. They're escape is our entertainment. Thank you, GLAPA, and all the people behind the scenes. I had a lovely afternoon in your company.

Click here for more info on GLAPA and next week's performance schedule of The 1940's Radio Hour.  You'll be glad you went.

I'd love to get my fingers on this typewriter and start clacking away.

My grandma had one like this.

I loved the sound of it and how the keys would stick together if you pushed more than one at a time.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Plan out the sound effects to something you're writing or creating. Look around your house. What could you use? Make a sound effect recording, just for fun.