“Anastasia the Musical” follows the journey of the orphaned Anya who has struggled from trauma caused amnesia since youth. Determined to discover her past, she meets two fun-loving mischievous friends. She discovers her true royal identity and who might be waiting for her in Paris, but not without finding love, friendship and family ties in her newly built relationships along the way.
The talent within the Eagle High student body was truly on display during their production of “Anastasia the Musical”. Right down to the costumes that both helped express the setting and who the characters were as people.
The show was brought to life by the chemistry between characters, whether romantic or platonic, the development of relationships throughout the show made the story feel authentic. A notable relationship is the friendship between Demitri played by junior Tanner Morey and Vlad played by junior Taylor Earl. The comedic duo was a perfect blend of companionship and brotherhood who supported each other through tough times. In their duet song “Learn to Do It,” their relationship was perfectly displayed as they attempted to show Anya who she could be, even if it was for their own selfish reasons.
Played by senior Allyson Godfrey, 18-year-old Anya had an inner struggle as she decided between the excitement of a life-changing opportunity and her personal morals. This had the audience hooked until the end. In her first solo, “In My Dreams” she expresses her need to know who she is using the few memories she had as a guide. Godfrey’s beautiful portrayal of the character’s feelings, and recount of memories had the audience in awe by the end of the song.
Throughout the musical, a suspected romance between Anya and Dimitri develops from a confusing and comedic friendship into something much deeper, and the excitement felt in the audience as they recount what might have been the first time the characters saw each other was undeniably hopeful.
The expression of inner conflict was further shown by the character General Vaganov played by junior Bradley Deluca who had the crowd on edge as he was torn between fulfilling his father’s legacy and his personal feeling of guilt. Deluca’s balance between the characters’ outward persona of being a strong leader loyal to his homeland and his inward feelings of insecurity was beautifully shown in his character’s actions throughout the production.
Additionally, in the transition to France, the costume change was a perfect way for the audience to understand the state of the world in the different countries. While in Russia, the clothes were slightly monotone and beige, and the color of the clothes made a dramatic switch in Paris. Where they once were all similar, the party in Paris was bursting with color which was a great way to express to the audience that the worst was put behind them.
The well-thought out costumes, talented students and acting alike made this musical one to remember. This show had an expression of personal freedom while highlighting the importance of friends and family in the lives of the characters as shown through history and self-discovery. The Eagle High drama department brought new level of expression to the school community.
