I think it’s utterly amazing how sometimes in our lives we will experience something; not ever realizing at that moment how it will contribute to an experience in our unknown future.
Back in the mid 70’s, while performing a musical review in Amsterdam, Holland, I had the opportunity to take a tour of The Anne Frank House.
Sure, I had read The Diary of Anne Frank while in grammar school. However, it didn't deeply touch me until much later, when I was actually in the place where it all happened.
Walking though the house was like taking a voyage in a time machine that transported me back to history, where I could actually feel the past as it lingered in the air like a heavy blanket of memories, never wanting to be forgotten.
As we entered the Secret Annex, I literally found it difficult to breathe.
Back in the mid 70’s, while performing a musical review in Amsterdam, Holland, I had the opportunity to take a tour of The Anne Frank House.
Sure, I had read The Diary of Anne Frank while in grammar school. However, it didn't deeply touch me until much later, when I was actually in the place where it all happened.
Walking though the house was like taking a voyage in a time machine that transported me back to history, where I could actually feel the past as it lingered in the air like a heavy blanket of memories, never wanting to be forgotten.
As we entered the Secret Annex, I literally found it difficult to breathe.
Outside of occasionally hearing someone overcome with emotion, the tour was pretty much silent. It was as if we were walking through a sanctuary that was both sacred and horrendous, unable to express what we were feeling.
It was incomprehensible to me how these eight people lived in such a small space for over two years.
A rear view of The Anne Frank House.
The Secret Annex is that tiny window you see on the roof.
It was incomprehensible to me how these eight people lived in such a small space for over two years.
A rear view of The Anne Frank House.
The Secret Annex is that tiny window you see on the roof.
The bookcase hiding the Secret Annex.
I vividly recall walking through this doorway, feeling chills running up and down my spine.
Anne’s room.
She share her space with Fritz Pfeffer (aka Mr. Albert Dussel). She enjoyed collecting photographs of movie stars that she glued or taped on the wall above her small bed. It was her way of escapism.
She share her space with Fritz Pfeffer (aka Mr. Albert Dussel). She enjoyed collecting photographs of movie stars that she glued or taped on the wall above her small bed. It was her way of escapism.
A closer view of the wall.
Notice the photograph of actress Norma Shearer on the lower right-hand corner. Norma was one of Anne’s favorite movie stars at the time.
I remember gently running my left hand over the glass sealed wall; knowing at one time the hands of Anne Frank touched that wall.
The bathroom (WC) that was shared by all eight people during their time in the attic
An open page of the actual diary of Anne Frank.
Now, what’s really incredible about this story is that 20 years later, I ended up auditioning and getting cast in a professional theatrical production of the play version, The Diary of Anne Frank, which some of you may remember in this post. I portrayed Mr. Albert Dussel, the man who shared a room with Anne. And I can't even begin to tell you how honored and reverent I felt, portraying a real-life person who was a part of history.
This was one of those times in my career that I knew was Divinely orchestrated.
Because every night before the curtain went up, all I ever needed to do was to take a moment to remember what it was like to walk through that house in Amsterdam….
...and I was there.
“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.”
-Anne Frank
Have a beautiful week, everyone!
💗
*all photos found online.
