The Diary of Anne Frank: A Play

Imagine you are working on a new revival of the play. How would you create relevance for an audience? What connections would you draw to contemporary issues? Why? Cite relevant evidence from the text to support your choice.

How would you prepare an audience today to see The Diary of Anne Frank? What do you think they need to know to understand the play? How might you teach audiences in a way that is both creative and respectful?

Choose one character other than Anne and follow their development throughout the play. How do they change? How do they stay the same or even refuse to change? What does their depiction tell you about how Anne saw them? Use specific details from the text.

Go through the play and reread Anne’s voiceovers and monologues. Choose one that you find particularly striking. Why did you choose it? Is it a quote from the original diary? What does it contribute to the play overall?

How would you describe Anne as a character? Describe her journey throughout the play and how she grows and changes. Research the historical Anne Frank. How was she similar or different? Cite specific examples from the text.

When Mr. van Daan is caught stealing food, the play presents a moral conundrum. Do you think Mrs. Frank is justified in wanting to make Mr. van Daan leave? Why or why not? How does their situation inform your answer? What other solutions might you propose?

How does the radio function in the play? What news and sound does it bring from the outside world? What do you think is the desired effect from using radio clips? Do you think it’s successful? Why or why not?

Watch one of the film versions of The Diary of Anne Frank. Compare and contrast the film and the play. Which do you think was more effective? Why? Use specific examples to support your stance.