Anastasia The Musical has arrived in Brisbane for the final stop of its Australian national tour, and if opening night at QPAC’s Lyric Theatre is anything to go by, it has saved one of its biggest welcomes for last.
From the moment the curtain rises, this is a production that knows exactly how to make a musical feel like an event. With a lush score, sumptuous costumes, spectacular set pieces and a story filled with romance, mystery and adventure, Anastasia sweeps audiences from the final days of Imperial Russia to the dazzling streets of 1920s Paris.
Inspired by the beloved animated film and the mysterious story of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov, the musical follows Anya, a young woman with no memory of her past, as she journeys towards Paris in search of answers about who she really is. Along the way, she finds an unlikely pair of companions in conman Dmitry and ex-aristocrat Vlad — while being pursued by the determined Gleb.
What better place to bring the Australian tour to a close than Queensland, with local leading lady Georgina Hopson returning home to the stage.
For Queensland audiences, watching Toowoomba-born Georgina Hopson take centre stage as Anya feels particularly special. Hopson possesses the kind of stage presence that immediately commands attention, carrying the enormous emotional journey of the character with both warmth and vulnerability.
But it is her vocals that truly stop you in your tracks. Her performance of the show’s signature numbers — particularly ‘Journey to the Past’ — is nothing short of spectacular, with soaring vocals that fill the Lyric Theatre effortlessly. Hopson brings both the youthful determination and emotional depth Anya needs, making her journey from uncertainty to self-discovery incredibly compelling. There is a genuine sense that Hopson belongs in this role, and Brisbane gets to see a Queensland talent absolutely owning the stage on home soil.
As the charming conman Dmitry, Robert Tripolino brings the perfect combination of cheek, charm and vulnerability. His chemistry with Hopson is one of the production’s biggest strengths, with the pair gradually moving from reluctant partners to something much more meaningful.
Tripolino gives Dmitry plenty of charisma without losing sight of the character’s more vulnerable side, and his vocal performances complement Hopson beautifully.
Joshua Robson’s Gleb provides a darker edge to the fairytale. As the determined officer tasked with hunting down Anya, Robson brings a brooding intensity to the role, creating a compelling contrast to the show’s more romantic and whimsical moments. His performance ensures the story retains its sense of danger, particularly as the characters’ journey draws closer to its emotional climax.
There is plenty of comic relief courtesy of Rodney Dobson as Vlad, and he is clearly having a ball with it. Dobson brings an effortless theatricality and wonderful comic timing to the lovable ex-aristocrat, making Vlad an instantly entertaining presence whenever he appears. His scenes with Dmitry are particularly fun, with Dobson embracing every opportunity to inject some much-needed levity into the story.
Then there is Rhonda Burchmore, who is having an absolute blast as Countess Lily. Burchmore brings her trademark star quality, wit and commanding stage presence to the role, lighting up the stage whenever she appears. Her performance is delightfully larger-than-life without overwhelming the story, and she makes Lily one of the production’s most memorable characters.
Australian theatre legend Nancye Hayes AM brings an entirely different kind of magic to the production as the Dowager Empress. With more than six decades in the industry, Hayes has an unmistakable presence, and there is something particularly special about watching a performer of her calibre grace the Lyric Theatre stage. Her performance carries an elegant warmth and emotional weight, adding another layer of history and heart to Anya’s search for her past.
The ensemble deserves enormous credit for helping create the scale of this production. From the bustling streets of St Petersburg to the grand ballrooms and Parisian streets, they transform the stage with precision, energy and impressive choreography.
The younger performers playing Little Anastasia also bring an important emotional connection to the story, helping establish the memories and relationships that continue to haunt Anya throughout her journey.
Visually, Anastasia is nothing short of spectacular. The production makes particularly clever use of screen projections, transporting the audience between locations while adding layers of atmosphere and cinematic scale. Rather than simply functioning as a backdrop, the projections become part of the storytelling, seamlessly shifting the world around the characters.
Then there are the moving set pieces. A moving train sequence is one of the production’s standout visual moments, creating the exhilarating feeling of travelling alongside Anya, Dmitry and Vlad. The sheer amount of movement happening on stage is impressive, with the scenery constantly evolving to propel the story forward. It is the kind of theatrical design that reminds you why seeing a large-scale musical live is such a special experience.
Of course, no review of Anastasia would be complete without mentioning its lush, sweeping score. With music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, the score manages to balance the sweeping romance of songs like ‘Journey to the Past’ and ‘Once Upon a December’ with the show’s more playful and dramatic moments.
For anyone who grew up with the animated film, those familiar musical motifs provide an instant hit of nostalgia, while the stage musical expands the story into something much grander. There are moments when the orchestra, vocals, projections and movement come together and the Lyric Theatre feels genuinely enormous.
Judging by the standing ovation on opening night, Brisbane audiences were more than ready to make their feelings known.
Anastasia is a story about identity, belonging, memory and finding your way home — making the final stop of the national tour in Queensland feel particularly fitting.
And with a powerhouse Queensland performer leading the way, a stellar supporting cast, an extraordinary visual design and a score that can still make an entire theatre hold its breath, this is a journey well worth taking.
★★★★½
ANASTASIA THE MUSICAL is now playing at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane until 18 October.
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Now playing at Lyric Theatre, QPAC.
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The Fame Reporter 