It’s yesterday once more

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">“I’ve reached the point where I hardly care whether I live or die. The world will keep on turning without me, and I can’t do anything to change events anyway. I’ll just let matters take their course and concentrate on studying and hope that everything will be all right in the end.’’ That was an entry in a diary on February 3, 1944.<br />The diaryist was Anne Frank, a German Jewish teenager who was forced to go into hiding with her family in an annex of rooms above her father’s office in Amsterdam during World War II.They spent 25 months there, were betrayed and deported to Nazi concentration camps. Nine months after she was arrested Anne died of typhus in Bergen-Belsen. She was 15 years old. Her diary saved by one of the family’s helpers was first published in 1947 and has ever since been an inspiration to all who believe in humanity. As Anne wrote, “It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart....’’ Out in Delhi, theatre director Roysten Abel was approached by the Dutch Embassy to direct The Spirit of Anne Frank and he jumped to the offer. He cast Zohra Sehgal, Shabana Azmi, Nandita Das, Anastasia and Mandakini to play the main characters and had a winner on his hands.<br />The play unfolds in a train, where five women travellers discuss the life of Anne Frank in the context of the increasing violence against women across India. Says Shabana, “As a professional this is an entirely new and challenging experience.’’ Adds the irrepressible Zohra, “Coming back to theatre is a great experience. I still feel young...’’<br />Explains Roysten, “Everyone is Anne Frank. The idea is that each woman embodies some of her spirit.’’ The good news is that this rivetting play will be performed at the Ambedkar Bhavan on December 13 and 14 to raise funds for the completion of the Ranga Shankara theatre complex. Says Arundathi Nag, “ I got this call from Roysten saying he would love to bring the play here. For me it means that the spirit of community is still alive, for these eminent theatrepersons have volunteered to stage the play here and contribute to the construction of Ranga Shankara.’’ Tickets will be available from Friday at Supermarket, K C Das and other outlets.<br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">allenmendonca1@indiatimes.com</span> </div> </div>