Ann Frank...the musical

there is a musical production in Spain about to open that is based on the life (and the diary) of Ann Frank.

they have recieved the blessing of the Ann Frank foundation, but are still coming under protest and scrutiny b/c it is a musical about the holocaust.

The only living relative of the Frank family (an 82 year old cousin living in Switzerland) has said he will not see it.


What is your take on this? Do you feel it's disrespectful?

My take:

I don't think the fact that it's a musical makes it disrespecful. No one is singing in the rain. No one is dancing up the walls. The songs are mornful and plaintive. the set seems to be very much in touch with the climate of the time.

Perhaps people naturally associate musicals with friviolity, but they don't have to be. I don't see why it is disrespectful simply b/c the pain of a young girl is put to music.

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

Eh, I don't think this is an appropriate story to put to music. I'm sure it won't be upbeat music, but it feels a little too "Springtime for Hitler" to me.

But I was really moved when I saw broadway production, so that may be coloring my opinion.

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

I think music is one of, if not the most powerful way to communicate and evoke emotion.

I think this is a beautiful tribute to her life and her suffering.

I also think it is important to keep her story alive.....

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

gut reaction: feels wrong
nothing to base it on besides gut reaction.

then again, i don't know all the details.

i hope it's done respectfully.

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

Well, this is how I felt when I heard that The Color Purple was becoming a musical. My stepson is actually going to see this for school sometime next month.

As long as its done tastefully, I think its fine. I'm assuming its not going to be happy, upbeat music. Not all musicals are happy and upbeat.

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

Would anyone's feelings change if it was a piece of music that was written in honor of Ann Frank? I think that there is definitely no right or wrong answer. Music is so subjective and whatever is tasteful to one person might be distasteful to another. It's kind of like the debate of whether or not to publicly perform and play Wagner's music in Israel. Some say it's just music, other's say that he was an antisemite, so therefore his music shouldn't be performed even if it has no words.

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

for those that think it's in poor taste, have you ever seen the Mel Brooks movie musical, To Be or Not To Be? what are your thoughts on that.

It is just sad to me, that expressing a POV in the way your talent allows, would show you to be in poor taste...a singing cannot express what a writer can, b/c their emotions come from their mouth and not the pen in their hand????

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

My first reaction was that it's a horrible idea and that it totally downplays the severity of the whole situation and era... then I thought about Miss Saigon and Les Mis. and decided that if done right, it would totally appropriate and could be seen more as a tribute than a mockery.

I think referring to is as a musical (even though that is exactly what it is) makes us think it's going to be happy songs and silly dances... we have to look beyond how the play in and of itself is categorized.... KWIM?


PS... it's "funny" that you brought this up today... read this article.

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

I wouldn't have a problem with it, as long as it's tastefully done and the music part of the production is somber. I mean, think about it - Fiddler on the Roof, although comical in some areas, also has a somber undertone and portrays exactly how sad life was for Jews even before the holocaust, and most of us don't have an issue with that musical. Same goes for the Pianist - this is one of my absolute favorite holocaust movies, and much of the movie was intertwined with music. In fact, the CD is one of my favorites, and everytime I hear a song from the movie, it doesn't evoke joy, but evokes the heartfelt sentiment of the movie. I would hope the musical would have the same intent, and reaction.

I don't see it as being much different than a big hollywood production of a holocaust story, like Schindler's list - of course the underlying motive is profit, but it also, at the same time, serves a significant and meaningful purpose, to honor those who endured these hardships, and to keep the memories alive. The only difference her, is setting it to music, which, if done properly and with the proper respect and gravity, is, in my opinion, a wonderful way to keep the memories alive and well.

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

As long as it's tasteful, why not?

I actually had to think about this for a while -- but then I realized that musicals like Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, and others deal with very tragic stories powerfully and tastefully. If this is well done, I can't image it would be much different in my book.

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by CoopersMom01

read this article.

wow. it's so heartbreaking.

Like I've said before, I have been to a concentration camp (Dachau) it is truly truly a haunting experience.

any way the holocaust and it's personal toll can be told and retold is fine in my book.

we usually first dehumanize, and then brutalize. showing people the humanity within the masses gives us pause.

without that, it will happen again.

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

Posted by jxnoscar

WOW, you visited one of the camps. SO powerful. I went two years ago with Jim to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. We didn't say a word to each other for over an hour after we left. It was beyond emotional. They had one area you walk through that had all of the victims shoes....thousands of them

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

I don't think its disrespectful at all...I mean music is a form of expression, whether happy or sad or mournful. Sometimes it can communicate feelings and emotions better than anything else.

Message edited 2/27/2008 11:32:25 AM.

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

I agree the music can evoke so much emotion. As long as it's done with sensitivity than I have no issue with it.

I think the term musical is becoming synonymous with happy-go-lucky performances. It's a good reminder that "musical" can mean dialogue with music accompanying it.

If it was "Ann Frank...the comedy", I would have a very different opinon.

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

i don't think its disrespectful at all. i don't think of musicals as being only comedic. As plently of posters have pointed out -- there are a number of musicals on somber topics.

if this play has the okay of the anne frank foundation - i think it is safe to say it is in good taste. if it did not have that endorsment and they were opposed to it -- then i would think it disrespectful.

i agree with the poster that siad that it is no different than having a movie about a serious topic.

personally, i'd love to be able to see it

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

My gut reaction was that it was entirely inappropriate, but then I thought about it more, and realized that if it is done in a respectful way, it could be very good. Many of my favorite musicals are about sad and difficult topics (Les Mis, Miss Saigon). I think that this one makes me hesitate b/c it hits me in a more personal manner.

Here's some food for thought...how would we all feel if 50 years from now they made a musical about 9/11?

Message edited 2/27/2008 12:19:03 PM.

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by PrincessP


I dont like the fact that they are not respecting the family members right to not want it done. But I guess we see that time and time again...nothing changes. Its all about the $$$.

he didn't say he didn't want it done. he just said (from what I understand) that he would not attend.

it was given the blessing of the Ann Frank foundation. they asked for that before they started production.

as far as it being too much like "Springtime for Hitler" while that I suppose is what you think of, it's NOT that type of musical.

I think this could be a beautiful way to portray Ann's story.

I was obsessed with the Diary of Ann Frank as a child. I wish I was in Spain to see it.

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

Wow. I've always wanted to visit the concentration camps since I first learned about the holocaust. It just feels important.

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

At first thought, I would think no. But if the songs are written and performed well, I would not find it offensive.

When I had been in college, I took a course that was only about the Holocaust. My final project was to interview a survivor. Not easy to locate a Holocaust Survivor in the middle of Syracuse who would be willing to talk, but I did. He was the dean of one of the colleges and saw his family killed right in front of him when he was a young child. I wish I kept the cassette.

What I do remember this man saying was that movies and shows about that time in history were not difficult to watch as they were visual representations of someone else's ideas. It was books with words that caused him more sadness as he was forced to recreate his own memories in his own mind and it was too much for him.

I was fortunate that all of my family was in this country and was not in Europe during the Holocaust. But as a Jew, it is my responsibility to continue to educate myself so I can teach my children what happened years ago. If people learn a lesson from a musical then it was a musical worth producing. Its the message not the medium. It was 6 million Jews and 6 million others. They should NEVER EVER EVER be forgotten. They should all rest in peace.

Message edited 2/27/2008 9:56:41 PM.

Re: Ann Frank...the musical

I'm sure it will be done tastefully. If nothing else it will teach a new generation about the holocaust. Keeping the momory alive to prevent it from happening again is the most important thning!

It kind of reminds me of Life is Beautiful- how the father kept his son's spirits up.

The 8th graders at my school read the play and perform scenes from it. It seems to have a great impact.

Bottom line is it is keeping Anne's words and memory alive!