[Note: Throughout this week, three cast members of "The Diary of Anne Frank" will give us a backstage look at the making of Uni's fall play. Senior Michelle Gao got the ball rolling Tuesday. Junior Lauren Piester continues the diary today. Contributing later this week will be sophomore Anna Gooler.]

THIS IS THE first Uni production in which I have really had a substantial part. I had a few lines in StudProd last year, but they were fairly easy to memorize, and my character was not extremely complex.

In this play, however, I've got more lines to memorize and cues to pay attention to. That's not the only thing, though.

As you might imagine, this is not a light play. It's intense, emotional, complex, and altogether draining. It's extremely difficult to do.

As Michelle mentioned on Tuesday, anything that someone messes up on, anything that is even kind of just a little bit funny, we laugh at as if it's the most hilarious thing any of us has ever heard, because we've got to. We have to take advantage of those moments in order to keep our sanity.

Up until today, we hadn't done a run-through without a lot of interruptions. We still had some issues today, but it was a lot more pulled together, and I was finally able to see the play for what it really is. Amazing.

I really actually very much dislike the story of Anne Frank, because I don't like depressing stories. I do like this play, though.

When I'm on stage and I'm supposed to be reacting to something, like Hannah Lake-Rayburn (Mrs. Van Daan) and Ethan Stone (Mr. Van Daan) arguing, I find myself really engaged.

I actually feel like I'm standing there in that little annex, watching them argue. I love to watch the arguments, because I forget that we're acting. I forget that my sweater is choking me to death, and that I really need some Chapstick and a drink of water. I forget that I have so much to do when I get home at 11 p.m. and that I really want to eat some of that yogurt in my lunch box.

I just stand there, not thinking about my next line, not thinking about what scene is next, but just listening to the argument or the discussion, and it amazes me to realize where I really am.

In one scene, I break down sobbing. Stefanie Senior told me that she actually thought I was crying and couldn't figure out why, until she realized it was all part of the play. That made me insanely happy to know that I could be that convincing.

This play is difficult. It's intense. It's emotional. It's complicated. It's stressful. It's tiring. But the end product is so amazing that it finally all feels worth it.

So even if you hate the story of Anne Frank, or you hate depressing stories, or even if you hate Jews, you should come see this play, simply for its ability to drag you in and make you forget that you could truly leave whenever you want.

Or, just come see Hannah Lake-Rayburn argue with Ethan Stone, while Sarah Lake-Rayburn gets in the way and I just sit there.

CAST LIST: "THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK"

• Anne Frank: Sarah Lake-Rayburn
• Otto Frank: Ethan Berl
• Edith Frank: Lor Sligar
• Margot Frank: Lauren Piester
• Miep Gies: Michelle Gao
• Peter Van Daan: Dillon Price
• Mr. Kraler: Rob Diehl
• Mrs. Van Daan: Hannah Lake-Rayburn
• Mr. Van Daan: Ethan Stone
• Mr. Dussel: Zach Goldberg
• Soldiers: Will Erickson, Anna Gooler, Daniel McNamara, Tianna Pittenger, Laura Voitik
• Understudies: Will Erickson, Anna Gooler, Katayun Salehi, Tianna Pittenger, Laura Voitik

Juniors Lauren Piester (front) and Lor Sligar lose themselves in the characters of Margot and Edith Frank, respectively. Gargoyle photo by Sindha Agha (click to enlarge)