Gallery 7 put on a spectacular rendition of Anastasia: The Musical that ran from Mar. 13 to 29 at the Abbotsford Arts Centre. Based on the novel by Terrence McNally, that became a Broadway hit, this musical focuses on Anastasia Romanov, a young Russian princess who was rumoured to have escaped the execution of her family by soldiers during the Russian Revolution.
The play was directed by Kate Muchmore Woo, and starred Sara Mayfield as Anya/Anastasia, Nikola Trotzuk as Dimitri, Brady Moore as Vladimir, Tamara Charman as the Dowager Empress, Deanne Moore as Countess Lily, and Garrett Kidd as the villain, Comrade Gleb Veganov. The musical is about a young woman named Anya, who has amnesia, and is haunted by flashbacks from her past. Dimitri and Count Vlad are con men who wish to pass her off as the missing princess for the reward money.
As they journey to Paris from communist Russia, they are pursued by Comrade Gleb, with orders to bring Anya back or kill her if she is in fact Princess Anastasia. As Anya comes closer to finding out who she is, she also falls in love with Dimitri, a man she may never see again if she is officially recognized by the Dowager Empress as the lost Princess.
The play included familiar songs like “Once upon a December,” “Journey to the past,” and “My Petersburg,” from the 1997 animated movie. However, the musical also had some amazing new songs like “In a crowd of thousands” and “The Neva Flows,” which brought a sense of freshness to the timeless classic. The songs, while not in the same order as the movie, were well executed by the actors who had a wide range of voices and talent.
Mayfield and Trotzuk do an incredible job of bringing the main protagonists to life through their strong on-stage chemistry and vocal talents, B. Moore and D. Moore, who played Vladimir and Countess Lily, offered memorable comic relief in their number “the Countess and the Common Man.” Charman channeled the emotional depth and pain of the Dowager Empress well, and the scene where Anastasia and she are finally reunited was powerful and moving.
While the evil sorcerer, Grigori Rasputin, from the animated film was noticeably absent, the villain in the musical was someone far more complex. A Soviet soldier named Gleb Veganov, whose father was responsible for shooting the royal family, is much more human as he grapples between right and wrong. Anya stirs something in his character that makes him question his actions more so, and he is unable to kill her because he decided to do the right thing in the end. Kidd did an amazing job of capturing the vulnerability of Veganov, while also singing powerful ballads that illustrate just how flawed and broken his character truly is. He made for a far more believable and powerful character than the over the top magical villainy of Rasputin.
A lot of thought was put into the costumes that were heavily inspired by the animated film while still making it unique. The set designs were beautiful, and transitions between the scenes were flawless. The special effects of leaves falling and fog misting the stage helped give the production a fairytale aesthetic that suited the themes well.
The lighting was soft and radiated a golden hue for the present day and a cool blue was masterfully used when she was revisited by her dead family in her memories and dreams. The live orchestra did an excellent job of capturing the music and setting the tone. All in all, the special effects, music, and lighting helped showcase Anya’s journey as she regained her memories of who she truly is.
The ending stayed true to historical events, as the real Princess Anastasia did not escape her horrible fate. While the ending felt a bit rushed in the sudden change of events from wanting to find her identity to leaving it all behind for true love, it still ended on a powerful note. All the actors gave a great performance up till the curtains closed.
Overall, Gallery 7’s Anastasia proves that one doesn’t have to go see Broadway plays to experience real talent. There was a strong level of professionalism and talent amongst the performers, no matter how minor or major their characters were. It stayed true to the plot, and sentiment of the original while adding unique freshness to a beloved classic. As the song suggests, it really was a wonderful “journey to the past!”
Rachel is working towards a BA with a concentration in English and Theatre. She has been employed at The Cascade since Fall 2021 as a Staff Writer and a Jr. News Editor. Currently, she is the sectional News Editor and enjoys meeting and interviewing people as well as taking long walks in nature. Rachel also likes to stay up to date on the latest trends and informs students through her fashion column entitled Campus Fashion.