This year’s fall play, And Then They Came for Me, was an absolutely amazing show. The unique value of the play showed strongly as the plot was not centered on the life of Anne Frank, and took a new turn with the addition of on-screen speakers. Never before has video been incorporated into the performance, which gave the play a whole new dynamic. Watching excerpts of these Holocaust survivor’s documentaries gave the play a real-life feel like no other. The actors used this “prop,” if you will, in several unique ways. They spoke with and beyond the speaker’s statements, which was a creative and very effective way for the audience to connect the two. They also watched the video themselves for dramatic effect or asked questions to the speaker which we all watched the answer to. It felt like the speakers were really there at times. The video not only put the story in historical context, but it gave the audience someone to relate the actor to.

Let’s go on to the best part, the ACTING. The actors did a phenomenal job of embodying the two survivors and family as well as Nazi generals. Destiny Arlotta who played Eva began to shed tears while doing a scene about the disappearances of her father and brother. Savannah Kennelly, as Anne Frank, showed the contrast of her character before and after the Nazi invasion. Andrew Lott, playing a Nazi general, even gave background into how young German boys became such submissive, heartless drones. Every single student on that intimate Old ICI stage contributed to making the story so passionate and authentic. It was impossible not to get sucked in by such a captivating performance. If you were not able to make it to the play, look out for the next show! Drama club does not disappoint.

Although Pine Crest does a great job of providing us ways to personally connect with the events of the Holocaust, in other schools or with other subjects, the message could become less effective. When we as students are simply taught about events such as this by reading it in a book or hearing statistical values, it is easy to lose the emotional connection. Each member of the audience found that connection through watching And Then They Came for Me. This play put the audience in the lives of real people telling their personal stories about this real event, and it brought forth real emotion.