My Rating – ⭐⭐ and a half/5

Ticket Price: $57 CAD after taxes and fees

Tonight, Sterling Productions opened their production of Anastasia: The Musical – based on the movie of the same name – based on rumours that the 1918 Bolshevik uprising and execution of the ruling Romanov family had left the youngest daughter, Princess Anastasia, alive.

The stage version retains several favourite songs from the movie including “Once Upon a December”, “Learn to Do It”, “Paris Holds the Key” and “Journey to the Past.” Depending on your opinion of the supernatural plotline in the movie with undead Rasputin and his sidekick Bartok the bat, you may be either disappointed or thrilled that these characters were removed from the stage show. They’ve been replaced with the character of Gleb, a Russian officer struggling with how his personal morals conflict with his commitment to duty and the legacy his father left him.

Sterling’s version of Anastasia has a share of magical moments but also unrefined corners and missed opportunities. The first impression given by the show once the curtain opens is given by the set. The set consists of sparse bits of furniture that are brought on and off with scenes, a giant screen on which projections are shown, and two terrible and naked looking bits of scaffold that make everything around them look worse.

The projections are high quality and fitting to each scene. The train scene with the tracks moving into the distance works quite well except when the train car turns and the video continues at 90 degrees to the train car for another 30 seconds before it starts moving to the side. In general, the projections try to imitate the flying in and out of set pieces from the Broadway production. The two dimensions of the screen aren’t enough to make up for a lack of set pieces and occasionally get washed out by the other stage lighting.

The cast is enormous which does end up filling the large stage during ensemble numbers. That number of actors on the stage does turn the choreography into a bit of a mess as precision is not achieved (with the exception of the ballet choreography in the Swan Lake segment which is excellent). The quality of ensemble vocals was quite good and overall the sound balance was good, if a bit overwhelmingly loud at points. And the orchestra was overall good as well. There were a few squeaks and squawks from the brass and woodwinds but some wonderful cello passages played by Alaina Majewski.

Britton Parkowitsch, as the title character Anya, does a decent job of the role, tunefully singing her part and nearly, but not quite, capturing the character’s transition from orphan Anya to regal Grand Duchess Anastasia. Jesse Rolufs carries the role of Vlad well but is a bit soft spoken and many of his lines were lost. Kieran Kasha as Gleb and Josh Egyed as Dmitry are both talented actors but neither seem appropriately cast. Josh doesn’t come across convincingly as the young con man/romantic interest and Kieran, swimming in an oversized army uniform, looks like a kid wearing his dad’s uniform and is hindered in projecting the presence of a Bolshevik officer.

There are two characters that have been perfectly cast. Carly Phillips-Stanton is fantastic as Lily, Russian ex-pat and assistant to the Dowager Empress. She has a tremendous voice and plays her character with a lovely balance between flirtatiousness and protectiveness towards the Empress. And perfectly cast and on stage for all the most moving and beautiful scenes of the show, is Marianne Woods as the Dowager Empress. Marianne is majestic and regal but in a way where her character’s anger and heartbreak shine through and she is the best part of the show.

Sterling’s Anastasia is by no means a perfect show. It is an interesting musical and one that is unlikely to see a professional tour to Saskatchewan any time soon. So if you have 60 dollars burning a hole in your pocket, sure go and see it. It will give you a taste of the possibility. 2.5 stars/5