This past weekend, I had the pleasure of watching Trinitas’ production of “The Diary of Anne Frank,” not one, not two, but three times. This show was well put together and a really emphasized the importance of history and family. Let’s dive in!
As someone who loves anything historical, I was excited to see how Trinitas would execute this play.
Servite senior Parker Lee served as the dramaturg, the person in charge of ensuring a play is historically accurate. He expressed, “I believe historical accuracy, in a work like this, stands paramount. The search for such accuracy was never ideal: the agony of some stories drew me to dark places mentally. In spite of the grisly material and horrible evils I encountered in my research, I am blessed to have experienced life through Anne’s eyes. The post-mortem nature of her influence will forever feel tragic, but I’m glad we were able to revive her work together.”
Now onto the actual show itself. I was quite moved by the play’s message and how the actors connected with their complex characters. It was the perfect balance of historical reenactment, serious themes, deep symbolism, and hits of humor to keep the show from being too heavy.
Actors Makayla Palos Rodriguez ’24 and Bella Ambata ’27 were chosen to play Anne Frank in the show’s double cast.
Both girls did an extraordinary job bringing Anne’s character to life. Makayla brought the energy and positivity that Anne brought to her family members. I also loved how her acting choices, like her childish snorts and giggles throughout the first act, showed the character’s vibrant and playful personality.
Makayla said, “I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to portray Anne Frank. It was daunting at first, to be entrusted with telling such a beautifully tragic and important story… but, as I continued to delve into her life and who she was as a person, I was able to understand and relate to her on a whole new level, making this process even more special to me.”
In Bella’s performance, I was pleasantly surprised at how well she fit into the role, especially as a freshman actress! Her clear diction and youth added to the character, which made the show feel more real. Also, in Bella’s performance, I can’t recall a single time she made a mistake or messed up a line, which is astounding for this being her first show with Trinitas.
Bella explained, “I was so nervous walking into my very first rehearsal for ‘The Diary of Anne Frank,’ but I quickly realized that Trinitas is such an amazing and welcoming community. I am so grateful to have met such supportive, talented people, and work together to tell this inspiring story of optimism and belief in human goodness. I hope we made Anne Frank proud with this play and brought a little more love and tolerance into the world!”
One of the most remarkable parts of the show was the ending monologue done by the character Otto Frank, Anne’s father.
The monologue shifts the end of the play into Otto’s perspective, telling the audience what occurred after he and his family were caught. Both actors who played Otto did a fantastic job displaying Otto’s deep and hurt emotions through their facial expressions and small pauses between their lines.
Donnie Sarabia ’24, one of the actors who played Otto, said, “It was an honor to take on such a powerful character in a show that appears to be really appropriate for everything going on in the world right now. The cast was incredible, and we hope to spread Anne’s positive view of the world in even the most difficult situations.”
I’m not the only one who felt incredibly moved by their acting. After seeing the show on Saturday, Servite sophomore Peter Beerer remarked, “I really enjoyed how well the tone of the play was handled by the actors. The changes in their mood were well done, you could feel your own emotions shifting with the characters.”
I couldn’t agree more with Peter. I believe the most important part of any show is its impact on its audience. Hearing gasps after intense scenes, laughter from the characters’ silly remarks, or sniffles after Otto’s monologue brought joy to my heart, since it showed how much the performance touched the people sitting around me.
I want to give a special shout-out to Gabriella Thompson ’24, Philip Riebli ’25, Gabi Ramirez ’25, Mateo Oquendo ’24, and Matthew Ghebrial ’24 for their outstanding performances. Also, a special tech shoutout to Nia Delacruz ’24 and Nyah Vukoye ’25 for putting their heart and souls into stage managing this show.
To wrap everything up, the lovely Assistant Director Jaden Linares perfectly summed up the importance of this show, stating, “If there is anything this show taught me, it is that we’re all human. Yes, we’re taught to act as humans do — if you’re an actor– but we’re all just people living at the same time. Be observant. Tell others that you love them. Tell them why you love them. We only have each other, and Anne Frank has given all of us — and I — a chance to tell our stories. After all, ‘in spite of everything, people are truly good at heart.’ – Anne Frank.”
