Every year, Lafayette Theater produces a winter musical which is typically performed at the end of January. Lafayette Theater announced at the end of last school year that this year’s winter musical would be Anastasia.
Ms. Gorrell explained in the Lafayette Theater Newsletter, “From Tony winners Terrance McNally, Stephen Flaherty, and Lynn Ahrens, creators of such Broadway classics as Ragtime and Once On This Island, this dazzling show transports its audience from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing con man and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family.”
In order to convey the scenery of this show, it took an amazing crew to create the set. The set design is inspired by the aristocracy of Paris, France, and the slums of Saint Petersburg, Russia, in the 1920s. The set includes moving pieces and large platforms. In the week approaching the show, set pieces were still under development, with Lafayette Theater even having to bring in students from theater classes to assist with painting and finishing touches. Students also helped starch and steam costumes in preparation for the show. Some costumes were created from pieces the theatre already had while others were created or ordered.
On Jan. 31, students could have gone to Beeler Auditorium to attend the B2 or B4 performances of the first half of Anastasia or at 7 p.m. every night from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, with another 2 p.m. performance on the first. The cast list can be found here.
The musical started with the Dowager Empress, played by Senior Bella Walker, singing the young princess Anastasia, played by SCAPA elementary schooler Harper Owens, a lullaby, “Once Upon a December.” This is then followed by the Romanov family dance, which is interrupted by the sound of gunshots as the stage fills with smoke and red light. A “Rumor in St. Petersburg” fills the street following the family’s death. “Although the Tsar did not survive, one daughter may be still alive!” as Junior Marshall Hamblin sings, referring to the princess Anastasia.
We are then introduced to the main cast: An amnesic girl named Anya, played by Seniors Katie Bowden and Sienna Johnson, trying to get to Paris in search of someone and not sure whom, and two con men, Dmitri, played by Senior Brody Mancuso, and Vlad, played by Senior Silas Cornette, who are trying to get out of Russia before the borders close and get a bit of cash. The con men convince Anya that she may be Anastasia and that they can help her remember who she is and bring her to Nana in Paris. Meanwhile, communist officer Gleb Vagonof, played by Junior Logan Gwynn, catches on to them and begins to question them, despite a growing crush on Anya. As stakes rise, Anya, Vlad, and Dmitri narrowly escape into Paris, with growing chemistry between Anya and Dmitri.
This is followed by the huge ensemble dance number “Paris Holds the Key to Your Heart,” where Vlad introduces Anya and Dmitri to Paris. We are then shown how the Dowager Empress is growing hard, as imposter after imposter tries to convince her they are Anastasia. Then we get a glimpse into The Neva Club, where former Russian aristocrats gather. There the Dowager Empress’s lady-in-waiting, Countess Lilly Malevich, played by Senior Clementine Connell, sings “Land of Yesterday,” where she reminisces about the old Russia and her place in that society. This is where the school shows ended, but attendees of the afternoon and weekend shows got to see more.
After “Land of Yesterday,” Vlad finds his way into The Neva Club and seduces Lilly by reminding her of when the two would have “royal flings” without her husband’s knowledge in the song “Countess and the Common Man.” He uses his newfound power over her to convince her to let Anya meet the Dowager Empress. After an incredible Ballet scene where dancers did a short version of Swan Lake while the entire main cast watched and sang, Anya was allowed to meet her, but the Dowager Empress turned her away and Anya became angry at Dmitri for letting her believe she was Anastasia. Despite this, Dmitri convinces the Empress to give her another chance to convince that she is truly Anastasia, and they share a heartfelt moment singing their lullaby.
Next comes an enjoyable scene simply titled “Press Conference,” where journalists press Lilly and Vlad for answers about Anastasia. Then the Dowager Empress tells Anastasia that Dmitri refused to take a reward for finding her, and she realizes Dmitri loves her. However, her heartfelt realization was interrupted by Gleb Vagonof singing an incredible reprise of two of his songs, “Still” and “The Neva Flows”, and ending by holding a gun to Anastasia’s head. However, he realizes he “is not his father’s son after all” and cannot pull the trigger, and he returns to Russia with his unfinished job.
The play’s finale wraps up everything with a reprise of “Once Upon a December”, where Gleb and the Dowager Empress tell the world that there never was an Anastasia and the reward for finding her will be given to charity, and we are shown how Anastasia and Dmitri found their happily ever after away from the life of royalty. Anastasia was yet another great performance from the Lafayette Theatre, and we are excited to see what they’ll do next year.
