|
|
NEWS SEARCH |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
'The Anastasia Files' provides a thought-provoking mystery
|
| DANIEL FOWLER, Herald News Intern |
July 19, 2002 |
|
 |
Herald News Photo by OMAR BRADLEY
|
FALL RIVER -- The Little Theater of Fall River continues its summer series at the Fire Barn with a rendition of Royce Ryton's "The Anastasia File" featuring an assortment of local talent. |
Stephen Kay, Swansea, directs the four-person show which stars Nancy Leary, Fall River, as Anastasia, Robin Richard, New Bedford, as the inspector, and Ron Robinson, Swansea, and Ann Flynn, Somerset, both of whom play multiple characters.
"It's neat because it's such a small cast," Leary said. "There is a lot of interaction between the four of us. Even though Anastasia is the title character, I would say that everyone has about equal time on stage."
The performance is a reunion for the actors and the director, who have worked together in the past.
"Three of them I worked with in Fall River and one of the men (Robin Richard) I pulled from New Bedford," Kay said. "It's like a reunion for the people in the Fall River area."
The play marks Kay's return to the Little Theater after a hiatus of more than 10 years, during which the former Bristol Community College professor worked with the New Bedford Your Theater.
Leary returned to Fall River after living in Maryland for 12 years.
"I got involved with Little Theater back in 1985," Leary said. "I did three or four shows and then my family moved to Maryland. Then we moved back here and the lore of Little Theater was just too much to overcome."
The play, done in a flashback format and set in 1980, chronicles the story of Anastasia, who claims be the daughter of Czar Nicholas II of Russia, who escaped the execution of her family at the hands of the Bolsheviks. An inspector wants to reopen Anastasia's case, which was originally under investigation in the 1920s.
Following a suicide attempt, Anastasia was found in a canal and, as a result, her amazing story of survival came to light.
"She is dragged out of a canal," Leary said. "She is afraid that if it is discovered who she is, she will be murdered with the rest of her family -- so she doesn't speak in the beginning. Then things she says start to slip out and ... she is convinced by the inspector that she needs to come out about who she is."
But the question that exists even today is whether Anastasia was the czar's daughter.
"Everybody really likes a mystery," said Kay. "When you look at Lizzie Borden, there are people who say she didn't and people who say she did ... and there are people who say Anastasia [was murdered] and there are other people who say she was rescued by one of the soldiers who was shooting the family."
Whatever you believe, Kay guarantees that the play's ending will be thought provoking to say the least. "It has a nice little twist at the end of it and it leaves you thinking or gives you something to ponder about the mystery itself," he said.
Performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. July 18 to 20 and 25 to 27 and at 7 p.m. July 21 and 28. General admission seating is $10. Student, children, senior citizen and group rates are also available. For more information or reservations, call 508-675-1852.
LTFR Home Page
|
|
©The Herald News 2002
|
|
|
