Humanity, Hope

Two productions in less than 24 hours:  August, Osage County last night and The Diary of Anne Frank this afternoon.

Osage County is a descent into the nightmare side of the American Dream. Each member of the family escapes in her/his own way -- pills, drink, fantasies - adding to layers of anger and fear instead of scraping them away. We laugh at them, trying to distance the truth they embody - even as we recognize ourselves and our relationships.

Anne Frank reveals how what we pay attention to makes the difference between happiness and despair. Anne focuses on how to better herself, on the moments of sunshine that creep through the shutter-cracks. Her hopeful attitude infected the audience: during the epilogue in which Mr. Frank reveals the fates of everyone who stayed in "the annex," we were all holding our breath, hoping somehow that this time, he wouldn't tell us that Anne was dead. When he did, even though we knew it was coming, it felt as if the air was momentarily sucked out of the room.

The power of stories honestly and fearless told.....