‘Anastasia’ Opens at Benedum Center; ‘Pride and Prejudice’ Continues at The Public (Tues., 10/16/18)

1) Anastasia is a musical based on a 1997 animated film, which is itself based on the legend of Anastasia Nikolaevna, Tsar Nicholas II’s youngest daughter. The legend goes that Anastasia escaped the assassination of her family by the Bolsheviks in 1917. The musical runs with this legend: a con-man and an ex-aristocrat find an amnesiac street sweeper, Anya, to pose as Anastasia. The Soviets pursue them from Leningrad to Paris as Anya seeks to learn her true identity. Terrence McNally and Lynn Ahrens wrote the musical’s book and lyrics, respectively. Stephen Flaherty, a Pittsburgh native, composed the music. The musical premiered in Hartford, Connecticut in 2016 and ran on Broadway in 2017. It was nominated for two Tony Awards in 2017. This is its first time running in Pittsburgh. Tony-award-winner Darko Tresnjak directs. Part of the PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh series. 7:30 p.m. Continues through October 21. The Benedum Center, 237 7th St., Cultural District. (CM)

Actor Andrew William Smith proudly holds the red ball high in his role as sister Mary in the The Public’s ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ and who knows what the others are up to? (Photo: Michael Henninger)

2) Pittsburgh Public Theater begins its first season under new Artistic Director Marya Sea Kaminski with a new adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The adaptation is by theater artist Kate Hamill, who also starred in last year’s New York premiere as lead character Elizabeth Bennet, with her real-life partner as Elizabeth’s suitor Mr. Darcy. The Public doesn’t have such casting, but it has a play that’s sure to evoke delight and/or controversy among Austen fans. Whereas Austen wrote her 1813 novel in undertones of sly, ironic humor, Hamill’s stage version takes it over the top. This Pride and Prejudice opens with the ensemble, in period costume, performing a song: the 1965 rock hit “The Game of Love,” from Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders. There’s more mindbending to come. The actors play out Darcy’s courtship of fiercely independent Elizabeth (here called “Lizzy”) amid rapid-fire stunts that include role-switching, cross-dressing, and cheeky flippancy galore. Altogether, the characters’ “game” of dancing around social conventions in pursuit of true love becomes a sort of theatrical speed chess. But is it true to Austen’s spirit? Those who approve say “Check, mate.” 7 p.m. Continues through October 28. At the O’Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Ave., Cultural District. (MV)

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