MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Family Community Theatre will present The Hiding Place June 18-21, bringing the true story of Dutch Christian Corrie ten Boom and her family's efforts to shelter Jews during World War II to local audiences.
Director Linda Schrag said the production is based on the book written by Corrie ten Boom, who documented her family's experiences in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam.
"It's very accurate," Schrag said. "They have documented their stay there, and she was very honest about all the things that happened to the family and what they did."
The story follows the ten Boom family as they become involved in the Dutch resistance, hiding Jewish people in a secret room built within their home. Eventually, the family is betrayed and arrested, leading Corrie and her sister Betsie to imprisonment in the Ravensbrück concentration camp.
Schrag said one of the most important lessons from the story is understanding how events such as the Holocaust became possible.
"The thing that you take away from that time in history is that things like this can happen in the right circumstances," she said. "It could happen again."
While the play addresses the horrors of war and persecution, Schrag said its central message is one of hope and faith.
"Corrie's message came a lot from the time that they were actually in Ravensbrück," Schrag said. "It's a story of hope when you're in a dark place like that."
The production features a cast ranging in age from 6 to their mid-70s. Because the story spans decades of Corrie ten Boom's life, three actresses portray the character at different ages.
"We actually have three Corries," Schrag said. "We have the child Corrie, we have the young Corrie, and then we have the Corrie that is an adult."
Schrag noted that portraying the emotional realities of concentration camp prisoners, resistance members and Nazi soldiers has challenged cast members to better understand the perspectives and fears of people living through the war.
Many cast members have researched the historical figures they portray, bringing additional insight to their performances.
"It's been an encouragement to me to see that they are taking this seriously and they want to play their parts well," Schrag said.
This marks the third time Schrag has directed The Hiding Place. She first directed the production in 2002 and later assisted with a 2008 staging.
Performances are scheduled for Thursday, June 18, through Saturday, June 20, at 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday matinee on June 21 at 3 p.m.
Tickets are available online or may be purchased at the theater beginning one hour before each performance.