Frances Goodrich (1890–1984)

More hard hitting than the original play. While I love the original, this version of the original does not let the audience by passive bystanders. Instead it keeps the horrific reality center while exploring the lives of these eight people in hiding. A hard reminder of the atrocities that have happened and the ones that could still happen.

The stage adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank, dramatized by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, is faithful to the words and tone of the source material whilst still adding the dramatic scenes necessary for a successful play. The scenery, as described, brings out the claustrophobic setting that those in the attic had to endure while hidden from the oppressive Nazi occupation in Amsterdam, and in such a setting the tension and bickering portrayed was sure to follow. The stage directions show more and dialogue for the actors are beautifully nuanced, hitting just the right notes of emotions throughout. The reader can easily picture the scenes as performed, and therefore have a greater insight into the actual events as depicted in Anne Frank’s diary. show less

I cannot tell you how many times I've read the play version... probably at least three times throughout all of school. Personally, the other copy I have (the definitive version) which is the actual diary is much better.

“The Diary of Anne Frank” by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett is a great read for any middle school to adult reader. It is a historic story about a young girl who took hiding with her family to escape being caught by the Nazis during the Holocaust. In this book, the details of the living situation in this attic and the seriousness of the fear that they lived is very suspenseful. It is a good book to connect middle school readers to what it was like for the Jewish community in this show more time and era. I remember reading this classic in middle school. I couldn’t get the images that were portrayed out of my head. This story is a must-read! I would give this book five stars! show less