EXCELLENT! (Might contain spoilers)

One would not think that a community theater could deliver a production of such quality, but the Cypress Civic Theatre exceeded all of my expectations. Dale Jones has staged an impeccable representation of Anne's story, convincingly brought to life with a small but incredibly talented cast.

While there are no weak links among them, several of these talented actors stand out and contribute to making this tragic and important story so compelling - William Crisp's performance as Otto Frank is spot on, and his delivery of the ending monologue is utterly heartbreaking. Sheri Scialla as Mrs. Frank is totally believable as the frustrated mother of a blossoming teen struggling to deal with the additional horror of their situation. James Manley Green, Dawn Veree Marshall, and David (DJ) Palmquist are all solid as the beleaguered Van Daans. John S. Francis adds just the right amount of humor to the story as the dentist, Mr. Dussel, a late arrival to the annex. Also solid are Samantha Stedman as Margot Frank; Rachel Garfield as Miep Gies, and Ron McPherson as Mr. Kraler.

But it is young Tara Lynne Barr, as Anne, that is the soul of this production. The role of Anne Frank is typically cast older than Anne's actual age, as convincingly performing it requires a great deal of maturity and skill. Simply stated, Miss Barr is perfection - and she is only fourteen. Her transition from fun-loving former schoolgirl in Act 1, to blossoming teen forced to consider her potential fate in Act 2 is so believable that the audience is quickly drawn in and transported back to that horrible time. Kudos to Director Jones for casting Miss Barr in this role.

Finally, lighting, sound and other effects were all well coordinated considering the small space, which added to the claustrophobic atmosphere and realism.

I plan to see this production again.