Woodland’s theater program has done it again, and produced a beautiful theatrical performance enjoyed by parents and Woodland students alike. However this year’s director, Tom Simonetti, has raised the stakes, expanding his targeted audience to an arguably tougher crowd, eighth graders.

What’s more is this year’s Fall showing tells the monumental story of Anne Frank and her family’s lifetime in Nazi Germany. Anne Frank touches on sensitive topics, and sends great messages surrounding power, humanity, and loss. Would eighth graders be able to maturely appreciate Anne Frank? Or perhaps we overestimated Woodland’s future Freshman.

The Eighth graders went into the play with pre-existing knowledge pertaining to Nazi Germany and Anne Frank from school, and many agreed that watching Anne Frank helped them to visually comprehend this period of history better.

Audience member John Anderson said, “It showed how they had to hide from the Nazis.”

“It was good. It was immersive. It helped me paint a good picture of what happened during the Holocaust” stated theatergoer, Max Laudadio.

Moreover, Anne Frank transformed numerous minds; many Long River students had a changed perspective regarding the Holocaust upon the play’s conclusion.

“I could feel for and understand how every Jewish person’s life was affected by the war even if they weren’t necessarily found yet.” Laudadio said, “just like the hiding and obsessive behaviors like nightmares, every noise freaked them out which really depicted how horrible the situation was.”

Anderson commented, “It changed because I really feel bad for the Jewish people that had to hide and got caught; and how bad the concentration camps were.”

What’s even more is Anne Frank provided an invaluable educational experience that many of these kids learned from exuberantly.

“I learned that it took a while for the war to finally end,” Anderson remarked.

While Laudadio said, “I learned what a Jewish person’s life was or what it was like during the Holocaust in World War Two.”

Another audience member, Brendan Fielder commented, “I learned that they would have to be quiet at every little thing; like when the sirens turned on.”

Simonetti conducted Anne Frank so the audience sat on the stage. This lets the audience feel the characters; their emotions, struggles, and circumstances were made palpable to these kids.

“It helped immerse the audience but it was quite uncomfortable,” Laudadio declared.

Anderson said, “I think sitting in the audience would have been better because a lot of people were uncomfortable and couldn’t pay attention.”

Although the idea to immerse the audience in the play was well intentioned, this younger audience unfortunately didn’t benefit from it.

“I think sitting on the stage weakened my experience because most of the time, at least for me, and the people around me personally, we were more focused on trying to make the seats more comfortable than the actual play,” Laudadio remarked.

Furthermore, Anderson chimed in saying, “I think I would’ve been way more comfortable in the audience.”

“I personally think it would’ve been better in the audience, and some people got chairs which was sort of unfair,” Fielder agreed.

Along with the seating there were also some parts of the play not liked by this particular audience.

“I didn’t like when the coat got the liquid spilled on it; that was pretty sad,” Laudadio said.

“I disliked probably when that little Anne Frank girl was being annoying” Fielder stated.

Meanwhile Anderson commented, “I hated when the Nazis came in.”

Aside from the seating arrangement and a select few moments in the minds of some, the play was an overall positive experience for Long River students, and many had positive, favorite moments from the production.

“My favorite part was when the dentist came” Anderson said.

Fielder said, “I liked when that one person would bring them stuff or something like that and bring them nice clothes or something.”

Anne Frank left a positive impression on many eighth grade students. Some of which have even been inspired to join.

“Yes I would join the drama club. I would want to act” Fielder eagerly pronounced.

Ultimately, Anne Frank positively influenced the eighth graders. They experienced theater culture, enriched their knowledge surrounding Anne Frank’s life, and gained Woodland’s drama club some new and upcoming members.