Adelaide Fringe. Anya Anastasia. Royal Croquet Club. 2 March 17
Roguish femininity never came in such a beguiling and wit rich mere hour package.
Anya Anastasia was at once Marilyn Monroe, Marie Antoinette and and a ‘demure’ Jane Austen like romantic as she seduced, traduced and spun her audience’s minds, that their hearts might be hers – with some sincere, deep eyed lilting, and pressured passion.
In an evening of love between herself and an easily love struck audience her command was everything. We joined her in an apocalyptic love party in which the dangers of the present were forgotten that we might, together, love.
The genius in the work - as always with an Anastasia creation - is wit, in physical performance, and word, which spins against cliches by substituting stock observations with eye opening, unexpected quirkiness (referencing clichés, nonetheless).
As our paramour sought out her perfect lover, railed in angered sadness, he was not to be found. An audience member is teased and loved here and there and pounced on as a hopeful romantic conquest, one got the sense that either we (the audience) are in love, or she’s too needy for us?
Supporting and blessing the performance was a superb, jazz band who added support in their role as living, breathing scenic extras. Their rich, vibrant genre-crossing musical capability is executed with such calm restraint, yet confident hard-core attitude that it made for a complete, passionate, humorous, sexy evening.
David O’Brien
When: 2 to 19 March
Where: Royal Croquet Club, The Blsvk Forest
Bookings: adelaidefringe.com.au
