“In a crowd of thousands, I’d find you again.” In a crowd of thousands, Bishop Ireton High School students in “Anastasia” stood out for conveying the theme that self-discovery can light a pathway of hope in a world fraught with tragedy.
Based on the murders of the Romanov family during the Bolshevik Revolution, “Anastasia” told the story of Anya, a young woman with amnesia who journeys to Paris to discover the truth about her past. With her newfound allies, Dmitry and Vlad, Anya discovered not only her real identity as Anastasia, the lost Russian royal, but how knowledge of oneself and values can help guide one through life’s struggles.
Ireton’s lead actors revealed the rich identities of their characters through poignant storytelling and palpable stage presence. Playing Anya, Sofia Cruz captured the audience with her bright voice and her ability to infuse every moment of the show with engaging facial expressions. Aidan Foley as Dmitry coupled his enthralling charm and vocal tone with his ability to use tender songs such as “In a Crowd of Thousands” to illustrate the depth of his seemingly nonchalant character. As Vlad, Aidan Furey complemented Cruz and Foley’s emotional moments with his engrossing energy. Aidan McNerney embodied his militaristic communist character, Gleb, through his imposing stage presence and his ability to exude resentment. McNerney displayed not only his superior range in vocals but in acting; his character arc literally brought McNerny to his knees in a tragically beautiful scene.
The entire cast worked together to create a mood as chilling as Siberia itself. As Anya’s grandmother, Vivian Spendley revealed her character’s inner turmoil through every biting note of her songs. With a hauntingly operatic voice, Elina Viana as Tsarina Alexandra projected her angelic tone no matter where she stood on the stage. On the other hand, Melanie Becker acting as Vlad’s exuberant love interest, Lily, floated across the stage like a rock skipping on water. In addition to her performance, Becker used her dance skills, along with Cruz and Sophia Tuminaro, to choreograph intricate and electrifying dance numbers.
Ever humble, Anya herself would enjoy the ingenious simplicity of the show’s set. Run by Emma Rice, Sarah Schweers, Travis Rayome, and Joseph Murray, the rotating set displayed its versatility as one that could transform into a train car. Eva Wisneski, Brendan Carreon, and Alessandro Vera’s sound cues were painstakingly perfected to overlap with moments such as Anya’s cranking of a music box to add to the strikingly picturesque scenes. Wyatt Moffett and Lauren Capistran’s lighting symbolically contrasted the two conflicting realities of Anya’s life. While a fiery red hue shone across the stage to recall the revolution and despair, a deep blue took over when Anya contemplated distant memories. Also employing the element of contrast, Michelle Dorman, Claire Gibbons, Gabriela Pena, and Lila Sampilo used magnificent ball gowns, drab work clothes, and zany flapper apparel to both establish the passage of time. This also helps distinguish between royal affluence, utter poverty, and the hope of a fresh start in a new land.
Ultimately, Ireton combined impactful acting, mesmerizing singing, intricate dancing and sophisticated technical aspects to transport the audience directly into St. Petersburg. The students’ memorable performances during “Anastasia” transcend any amnesia, and Ireton’s uncanny talent will always encourage the audience to “find them again.”
