In a word: captivating.
Spectacular sets, opulent costumes, and the extraordinary musical talent of Georgina Hopson as Anastasia culminated in a full-house standing ovation. A feat not often seen at the Regent Theatre, where audiences (after paying good money for tickets) tend to be reserved, snobby or underwhelmed. This time the audience was engaged for Anastasia’s every swoosh of every scene, following young Anya’s journey from demure, innocent princess, to hardened street sweeper, to enlightened romantic.
Some may be familiar with Disney’s animated version of Anastasia. The storyline for the musical detracts slightly, with the musical’s antagonist being the Communist Party, and suave apparatchik Gleb (Joshua Robson) rather than sorcerer, Rasputin. This significant change sets a tone of urgency and geopolitical depth that is perfect for the stage. Written by the Tony Award-winning team of Terrence McNally (book), Stephen Flaherty (music), and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics), the musical carries audiences from the Imperial Russia, think ornate palaces, gentle snow flakes and lavish white gowns that would make Swarovksi blink, to the People’s Russia, where sets move to oil drums with fires, markets selling old long johns, immense poverty, and then transported to the back offices of the Communist Party with rows and rows of filing cabinets, trolleys and choppy rhythms and machinations or backroom politics. Not long after (the second half) brings us to chic Paris, where audiences are fuelled by love, euphoria and style. The stark contrast and quick transcendence through the sets is a huge credit to the set design team
While the story centres on the journey of Anastasia, the princess who avoided death, lost her family and then joins forces with charming streetwise Dmitry (Robert Tripolino) and renounced aristocrat Vlad (Rodney Dobson) to reclaim her birthright and reunite with her grandmother the Dowager Empress (Nancye Hayes AM). The story is actually a love story, and the chemistry between Hopson and international star Tripolino is electrifying, The pair launch into a song called Crowd of Thousands, where childhood memories combine and a spark of attraction grows into a raging fire of emotion released through song and perfect harmonies. This is taken to another level in a ballet scene where dance (Sophia Bae) combines eloquently with song and drama to provide a fitting emotional climax to Anastasia’s story and theme song December forcing many to pull out the tissues to dab at the tears.
The show is enhanced by the impromptu comedic input of much-loved Rhonda Burchmore as Countess Lily and the dainty sweetness of young Anasastia (Lilian Kinter).
For tickets and more information go to anastasiathemusical.com.au
Image credit: James Terry