Theater Review: 'Anastasia' at Lyman Hall High School

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

Lyman Hall Productions at Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford has risen to the challenge of the beautiful musical “Anastasia,” with book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. “Anastasia” was inspired by the 20th Century Fox film that was based on the play by Marcelle Maurette as adapted by Guy Bolton.

I was invited to attend a final rehearsal of the musical, along with some Halo judges and a large group of middle school students, to be an audience for the performers. For the record, I have never gone to a high school production without an invitation from the production team to attend for a review.

The cast of Lyman Hall students work well together to bring the story to life and are clearly well-rehearsed. The team of Erin Leslie and Abigail E. Page directs the cast. Katie Robison serves as music director and probably is in charge of the musical tracks.

Lyman Hall senior Sydney Drumheller (Rapunzel in “Into the Woods”) leads this inclusive cast beautifully in the role of the street sweeper Anya/Princess Anastasia. Drumheller plans to continue theater next year in college. Her wonderfully clear singing voice is on display for “Journey to the Past” and the melodic “Once Upon a December.”

The tenor Jack Vann is perfectly cast in the role of the young and handsome Dmitry. Vann, a sophomore, played the role of Damien in “Mean Girls, Jr.” He gives an admirable performance as the Senior Pablo Dominguez Solis, who plans to study music education next year, completes the trio in the role of Vlad Popov, an ex-member of the Imperial Court,and he has good comic timing. The three nail the choreography in “Learn to Do It.”

Lyman Hall junior Lilly Bazinet shines in the role of Countess Lily Malevsky-Malevitch and wears some of the most beautiful dresses of the era. Her duet with Vlad, “The Countess and the Common Man,” is fun to watch. Junior Javier Dominguez covers the roles of Tsar Nicholas II, Count Ipolitov and Gorlinsky.

Freshman Alexa Adams plays the young Anastasia in her second show, and nicely interacts with The Dowager Empress, sung well by junior Laney Brewster, who is the captain of the school’s Dance Club. Octavia Boucher, a senior, makes the most of the role of Count Gregory in her first show ever.

Sophomore Michael Ferrell (Trunchbull in “Matilda”) plays the important role of a general for the Bolsheviks, Gleb Vaganov. Freshman Maddie Krulewitz plays Paulina in her first show, junior Tanner Loomis (Lucinda in “Into the Woods”) shines as Marfa and a ballet dancer, while freshman Michael Bolton plays both Alexei Romonov and a police officer in his first time on stage. Sophomore Jesus Avila, who is part of the school’s Best Buddies, plays a Communist Officer. Senior Amelia Nolan, who will study theater and education next year, portrays Tatiana Romanov and Dunya. Soane Obas appears as Olga Romanov.

Senior Sarah Conant is a ballet dancer, a drunk and a marketeer and sophomore Foxglove Lumbra plays Sergei. Sophomore Sydney McMahon portrays Young Dmitry, a drunk and a police officer. Freshman Aryanna Plouffe also plays a drunk. Junior Delia Poirier covers the roles of Tsarina Sophomore Alexandra, a drunk and a ballet dancer. Freshman Kat Truelson plays Maria Romanov and senior Shane Wotton plays Count Leopold. Wotton will be majoring in theater at SCSU in the fall.

The dancers and singers in the busy ensemble include freshman Briley Frank, junior Jessica Lim, freshman Gia Morava, senior Missy Pallotta, sophomore Logan Solomon and freshman Mikayla Wallace.

The Student Choreographer and Dance Captain Sarah Conant has designed some charming dance numbers. Erin Leslie served as technical director of all of the demanding elements of the production. Delia Poirier was the graphic designer. Kudos to the stage crew who swooped in to set the scenes with speed.

The Costume Designer Tara Blumenstock has brought the lavish ensembles to the Lyman Hall stage, bringing the audience to the era beautifully. The lights and projections by Kylie Goclowski, Matthew Lagace and Taylor Redford added to the various scene locations, although there were few bugs to be worked out at the final dress rehearsal I attended. The invasion in the prologue is accomplished well with lighting.

I had the opportunity to review the original stage production of “Anastasia” when it premiered at the Hartford Stage in 2016. The show was directed by Darko Tresnjak and choreographed by Peggy Hickey, with Christy Altomare and Derek Klena starring as Anya and Dmitry.

Performances at Lyman Hall are Apr. 25-27 at 7 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 1 p.m. The musical is presented with one intermission during which the Music Parents Association will be selling concessions. Tickets are available at https://lhhsproductions.ludus....

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the newspaper.

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