Musical Mondays: Anastasia

I should start this review by saying that I have never seen the 1997 cartoon Anastasia from which this show got its music. That is apparently pretty weird for someone of my age. I have also never seen the 1956 dramatic film Anastasia on which the 1997 cartoon is based. I imagine this is less weird for someone my age. I have also not seen the 1952 play Anastasia on which this movie was based. I think this is definitively not weird for someone my age. I also believe the creative team behind Anastasia has seen all three, and it feels like some effort to blend what made all three successful is actually what holds this show back.

Anastasia is somewhat funny at parts, and it’s somewhat dramatic at parts. The problem is it never really feels funny enough or dramatic enough. When the Bolshevik Revolution comes to the palace gates and Anastasia’s family is met with their certain death, I didn’t feel the imminent doom. It could’ve been a powerful moment and instead felt anticlimactic. Similarly, when the two male leads are trying out several different women to be Anastasia in their big scheme it was a moment to have a really fun rotating cast of absurdity. They didn’t. It felt like another majorly missed opportunity. These moments weren’t bad, but they just felt like they were missed opportunities for something more. The second act did this a little better overall than the first act, but at two and a half hours, this is a long show to feel pretty bland about.

There is also the weird fact that Anastasia is a real person from time, and the Tsarist autocracy is not a terribly sympathetic character. During the massive revolution when her family is dancing in opulent costumes, you’re just kind of like “yeah…people tend to not like rich monarchies.” Her riches to rags to riches character is just someone who lived an opulent oppressive life being afforded the opportunity to be rich again. It’s a weird place from which to cheer. Apparently in the cartoon there is an evil spirit who curses the family, so there is an element of fantasy that takes away from this kind of uncomfortable reality. It should be noted, the actual Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna died in the revolution with the rest of her family but the rumors of her survival did happen in reality.

Ignoring this historical context, Anastasia is a fine musical. It doesn’t leave a long lasting positive or negative impression. It’s a princess story in the most generic of terms, and if you’re looking for a princess story, then you’ll be satisfied. If you’re looking for a really fun time, then maybe check out the cartoon or the movie. It’s what I’ll be doing.