Anne Frank: Within & Without
Center for Puppetry Arts' World Premiere explores extraordinary life

“I do not think of all the misery, but of the glory that remains. Go outside into the fields, nature and the sun, go out and seek happiness in yourself and in God. Think of the beauty that again and again discharges itself within and without and be happy.” 
– Annelies Marie Frank

ATLANTA, (Dec. 14) – How do you survive when you have to go without your friends? Without your freedom? Without the world you know? You go within… Center for Puppetry Arts associate producer Bobby Box does just that as he explores the inner and outer worlds of an extraordinary life in the new production Anne Frank: Within & Without, presented January 19 – 29, 2006, in cooperation with the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust. Inspired by Frank’s indomitable spirit, Box creates a celebratory piece that is not just about death, war or "that poor little girl," but rather acts as a meditation on hope and all that is good in humankind. Anne Frank: Within & Without is recommended for ages 12 and up.

   Telling this story with puppets offers a truly unique perspective, one that would be impossible to achieve with human actors. For instance, the Nazi soldiers are portrayed by a large puppet that looms over the Annex, whose faceless presence begs the question: what kind of people would do such a thing? And perhaps, more disturbingly, what kind of people are we? In illuminating the past, Anne Frank: Within & Without opens a dialogue on the present. 

   Box, who writes and directs the play, drew inspiration for the production from visits to Amsterdam, where he conducted much of the research for the show. From the stories and history he learned while visiting Anne Frank’s home and the places where she spent her youth, Box vividly captures the essence of a spirited adolescent who tried to make sense out of an irrational world. 

   “My desire to visit Amsterdam was two-fold. One, I wanted to walk the streets that Anne walked and see the sights that she saw firsthand, as opposed to just reading her account. And two, by doing so, I hoped to bring a sense of authenticity and intimacy to this production,” Box said. The Secret Annex, where Anne and her family spent years in hiding, is re-created through projections, rod puppets and figures in a large “dollhouse.” Here, audiences meet an inquisitive, precocious young girl whose hopes, dreams and belief that “people are truly good at heart” carried her from one uncertain day to the next. Anne’s entire story is depicted, from her German birth to the “diary days” when she hid from the Nazis in Amsterdam, to her ironic shuffling between camps, and most poignantly, to her lasting legacy today. 

   Puppeteers Janet Metzger and Hope Mirlis perform in view of the audience. The set, designed by Elaine Williams, is sparse, yet individual pieces are intricate in their design. Puppet designer Jason von Hinezmeyer’s doll figures evoke the 1930s, while violinist and composer Chip Epsten offers an impassioned soundtrack, a fitting counterpoint to Anne’s life. Lighting design is by Liz Lee; sound design by Mimi Epstein. Go behind the scenes of Anne Frank: Within & Without at http://www.puppet.org/perform/intheworks.shtml.