By Elise Speiser.
Anastasia is a new production of the musical that appeared on Broadway in 2016, which in turn was based off the 20th Century Fox animated musical. The story is inspired by the legends surrounding the real-life historical figure of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia. When the ruling Romanov family was executed during the Russian revolution, it was rumored that one daughter had managed to survive, birthing the legend of a lost princess that captured the imaginations of many – including con artists.
This fictional version of events depicts the young princess as having escaped, but lost her memory of who she is, when she gets caught up with just such a pair of con men looking to pass off any woman they can as the Duchess, to gain a substantial reward from the only living member of the family: her beloved grandmother. Now going by the name of Ayna, the pure-hearted princess only hopes to discover a clue to who she is and if she has any family to belong to.
The stage musical recreates most of the elements from the film but reinterprets them in new and interesting ways. Some songs and scenes are repositioned, new characters are introduced, and most prominently of all, the legendary villain Rasputin is exchanged for an entirely new antagonist. Instead of dark magic and a quirky bat sidekick, there is Gleb Vaganov (played here by Drew Becker). A Bolshevik general dedicated to the new Russia, Gleb is looking to prevent any Romanov from rising again. The trade results in a much more grounded and more chilling perspective of the story. The over-the-top evil is replaced by a much more real and relatable drama of political unrest, fear, and heartbreak. This is also supported within the updated lyrics, dialogue and songs, such as the deeply emotional “Stay, I Pray You” in which the characters mourn the loss of the homeland they knew.
Other changes and new songs, however, are very much in line with the fun and upbeat portions of the story as the leading trio journeys from St. Petersburg to Paris. Katherine Lindsey brings the main character, Anya, to life vibrantly. Her performance is bubbly and sympathetic in all the right places, and her powerfully beautiful voice impresses in the songs, such as “In My Dreams” and “Journey to the Past”.
Coleman Cummings plays the rapscallion Dmitry and Ayna’s love interest. He brings an energy to his performance that makes the young con man inescapably charming and his voice, if a bit low at times, carries songs like “My Petersburg” smoothly. The other con man is Vlad, a man with a history of high court interloping. Played by John Treacy Egan, his contribution ties the group together by providing a third to the romantic couple. Egan’s delightful performance charms differently but just as much as Cummings, and his warm clear voice gets a chance to shine in “We’ll Go From There”. The comedy comes in abruptly in the second act, carried by the antics of Countess Lily (played by the effervescent Caroline Huerta).
Directed by Frank Portanova, this version of the show is beautifully told and rivals the impressiveness of the original Broadway version in multiple ways. Set Design by Christopher & Justin Swader takes the framework of a towering Imperial structure and marries it with a projection backdrop that changes from scene to scene creating depth, movement, and transitions. In conjunction, the Lighting Design by Adam Honoré makes effective use of color and dramatic contrasts to tell the emotional story underneath the scenes. The sweeping rendition of “Once Upon a December” sets Anya in warm spotlight while the figures from her memory dance around her in cool ghostlike tones to marvelous effect.
The ensemble cast consists of a wonderful set of performers who make each musical number feel large and full as they execute the high-energy and at times technical choreography by Josh Assor. It is clear to see the extensive ballet experience of many in the cast, which is especially highlighted during the “Quartet at the Ballet” sequence.
Costume Design is based on Linda Cho’s original costume design and does not disappoint. From the rough garb of the Russian streets, to the colorful style of 1927 Paris, from the glittering gowns to the authentic cultural attire, there is story and beauty to be found in the wardrobe alone that is worth the ticket. Whether you are familiar with the animated feature or not, this story is a beautifully told tale of home, love, and family that is sure to leave you satisfied and singing.
Anastasia is running now at the White Plains Performing Arts Center in White Plains, NY from December 15, 2023 to January 7, 2024.
Advisory for parents: Some intense moments with guns, a couple of loud blasts, off-stage execution, and one instance of lewd motorboating.
Run Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes including one 15-minute intermission.