By ALLISON GOURLY
Staff Writer
 

Suzanne Stern, a talented actress from Rochester, N.Y., was touching in her role as Etty Hillesum, a young woman who, during Nazi Germany's occupation of Holland, recorded her thoughts and dreams in her diary.

The play consisted of a collection of Hillesum's letters and diary entries, which she recorded until she was taken to Westerbork, a transit camp outside the German border. Hillesum was ultimately transported to an extermination camp.

The first act was relatively upbeat, and was set in a cozylooking sitting room, furnished with desk, armchair, framed pictures and vases of flowers. In this act, story focused mainly on Etty's thoughts about men, love, sex, art and literature.

The second act had a different tone, and a setting to match. The only prop consisted of a trunk, which a spotlighted Etty sat on while she spoke intense words on an otherwise dark stage.

The acting, sets and colorful costumes deserved applause. But the production was long and trying at times.

The play was tiresome for two reasons: I found the subject matter especially intense, and it was difficult to stay focused on one woman for two hours.

I looked around the audience when my mind drifted, counting more than five bobbing heads with their eyes shut.

Toward the end of the play, Etty said, "Spirits go up and down, but humor keeps breaking through." I know the subject matter did not allow for too much humor, but a little more of it may have kept my attention - and others' - a little longer.