'Diary' still a real tearjerker

In my visits to community theaters across Northwest Indiana, I've noticed actors will travel long distances to be cast in a musical.

Actors in dramas, on the other hand, seemed to stick close to home (theaters). Hammond Community Theatre's presentation of "The Diary of Anne Frank" is an exception to the rule, with a cast drawn from multiple theaters.

Soon after the Germans occupied Holland, Otto Frank (Don Taylor), his wife Edith (Jayma Kay Emerson), and daughters Margot (April Irizarry) and Anne (Paige Walker), went into hiding in a hidden attic in a warehouse he owned. Mr. Frank invited Mr. (Michael "Doc" Kuhn) and Mrs. Van Daan (Mary DeBoer) and their son Peter (Jason Siegfried) to join them.

Soon after, they also took in Mr. Dussel (Andy Leahy). They were assisted by Dutch citizens, Mr. Kraler (Patrick Owens) and Miep (Christine Widuger). Thirteen-year-old Anne, who wanted to be a writer when she grew up, kept a diary in which she documented the stresses and strains of life in the attic during two years in hiding.

Congratulations to community theater newcomer Walker, who is wonderful as Anne. Even though I've seen "The Diary of Anne Frank" more than once, it still brings a tear to my eye. The show continues to Sunday. FYI: (888) 210-7528.

The Porchlight Music Theatre's production of "The Fantasticks," a charming show, and one of my all-time favorites, will be playing at Theatre Building Chicago through Nov. 15.

A Narrator (Jeff Parker) tells the audience this is a simple story involving a boy (Sean Effinger-Dean), a girl, (Emma Rosenthal), two fathers, Bellomy (Ryan Lanning) and Hucklebee (Dan Ferretti) and a wall (The Mute -- Tanya McBride). The fathers, who know that saying no is the best way to make a child want something, build a wall between their two houses to make their children fall in love.

When things don't progress as quickly as they want, they hire a rogue -- El Gallo and a couple of henchmen -- to abduct Luisa so Matt can rescue her. The henchmen, Henry (William F. Raffeld), an over-the-hill actor who recites Shakespeare and his sidekick, Mortimer (Rus Rainear), a movie Indian with a Cockney accent who specializes in dying, are hilarious.

During one song, pianist, Tom King Clear and harpist, Jennifer Ruggieri, are joined by the entire cast playing percussion instruments. "The Fantasticks" score includes wonderful tunes such as "Try to Remember," "Soon It's Gonna Rain," and "Plant a Radish." No matter what your mood, "The Fantasticks" should make you happy. FYI: (773) 327-5252.

The opinions expressed are solely the writer's. Reach her at laughingcat_98@yahoo.com.