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Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘We all grew up on that movie': How a beloved cartoon went from screen to stage
If you ask Millennials to name the animated films that shaped their childhoods, it's likely quite a few will point to 1997's Anastasia, which builds upon the discredited myth that an eight-year-old Romanov noble survived the Russian Revolution. It's a 20th Century Fox production, not Disney (back when those were separate companies), but it has many of the hallmarks that define a classic Disney animated hit of the '90s: a headstrong princess, talking animal companion, dastardly magical villain and catchy songs that stick in your head for, well, the rest of your life. That last part is due to Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, who wrote the songs for the movie: she the lyrics, he the music. The pair have collaborated for decades on iconic shows including the multi-Tony-Award-winning Ragtime, so when the movie of Anastasia was being adapted into a stage musical, Ahrens and Flaherty were tapped to revisit their work. The brief was to keep the beloved songs that made the movie so memorable, but add new material and bring the whole thing from the world of animation into something more grounded. 'I think we all grew up on that movie,' says Ahrens. 'We were young writers. We went out to Hollywood, we had a big adventure, we did a movie and then 20 years or something passed. And just like all the little girls who loved that animated movie, we grew up. It was so, not only wonderful, but enlightening to have another look at it and to see it's much richer and much, much more emotional than we had thought of it.' The talking bat was gone, as was evil wizard Rasputin, as the stage production took a more adult look at the story. 'It was if we were meeting old friends that we had loved that we had not seen for a very long time, and getting a chance to write for these characters and to flesh them out,' says Flaherty. 'Our leading man, for example, he sings in two small parts of two songs in the film, but he never really had his own moment to tell us who he was and what made him tick. And so we got to write two new songs for that character alone.' It turns out little girls who resonated with the movie in the mid-1990s want to reconnect with their old friends, too. Ahrens remembers clearly the crowd reaction at the show's first performance. 'There were women in the audience dressed like Anastasia, and I nearly lost my mind. They were wearing crowns and wigs and bands, it was incredible. And I realised, oh my God!, these women grew up on this movie ... I began to realise that there was something very profound about the music and about the story that grabbed people as little ones. They've grown up, they've had their own families. Grandmothers come with their daughters, come with their granddaughters.'
The Age
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘We all grew up on that movie': How a beloved cartoon went from screen to stage
If you ask Millennials to name the animated films that shaped their childhoods, it's likely quite a few will point to 1997's Anastasia, which builds upon the discredited myth that an eight-year-old Romanov noble survived the Russian Revolution. It's a 20th Century Fox production, not Disney (back when those were separate companies), but it has many of the hallmarks that define a classic Disney animated hit of the '90s: a headstrong princess, talking animal companion, dastardly magical villain and catchy songs that stick in your head for, well, the rest of your life. That last part is due to Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, who wrote the songs for the movie: she the lyrics, he the music. The pair have collaborated for decades on iconic shows including the multi-Tony-Award-winning Ragtime, so when the movie of Anastasia was being adapted into a stage musical, Ahrens and Flaherty were tapped to revisit their work. The brief was to keep the beloved songs that made the movie so memorable, but add new material and bring the whole thing from the world of animation into something more grounded. 'I think we all grew up on that movie,' says Ahrens. 'We were young writers. We went out to Hollywood, we had a big adventure, we did a movie and then 20 years or something passed. And just like all the little girls who loved that animated movie, we grew up. It was so, not only wonderful, but enlightening to have another look at it and to see it's much richer and much, much more emotional than we had thought of it.' The talking bat was gone, as was evil wizard Rasputin, as the stage production took a more adult look at the story. 'It was if we were meeting old friends that we had loved that we had not seen for a very long time, and getting a chance to write for these characters and to flesh them out,' says Flaherty. 'Our leading man, for example, he sings in two small parts of two songs in the film, but he never really had his own moment to tell us who he was and what made him tick. And so we got to write two new songs for that character alone.' It turns out little girls who resonated with the movie in the mid-1990s want to reconnect with their old friends, too. Ahrens remembers clearly the crowd reaction at the show's first performance. 'There were women in the audience dressed like Anastasia, and I nearly lost my mind. They were wearing crowns and wigs and bands, it was incredible. And I realised, oh my God!, these women grew up on this movie ... I began to realise that there was something very profound about the music and about the story that grabbed people as little ones. They've grown up, they've had their own families. Grandmothers come with their daughters, come with their granddaughters.'
The South African
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
PROFILE: Who was Vladimir Tretchikoff?
A pinnacle work by Vladimir Tretchikoff leads Strauss & Co's September Auction Week from 16-18 September 2024. Image: Supplied Vladimir Tretchikoff was a Russian-born South African artist best known for his vividly coloured, often exotic paintings that became hugely popular with the general public during the mid-20th century. Though often dismissed by art critics, Tretchikoff's work earned him immense commercial success and a kind of cult status. Born: December 26, 1913, in Petropavlovsk, Russian Empire (now Kazakhstan) December 26, 1913, in Petropavlovsk, Russian Empire (now Kazakhstan) Died: August 26, 2006, in Cape Town, South Africa August 26, 2006, in Cape Town, South Africa Nationality: Russian-born; later became a South African citizen Early life: Fled the Russian Revolution with his family, eventually settling in China. He worked as an illustrator in Shanghai before moving to Singapore during WWII. Fled the Russian Revolution with his family, eventually settling in China. He worked as an illustrator in Shanghai before moving to Singapore during WWII. World War II: Was captured by Japanese forces and interned, then later moved to South Africa after the war. Was captured by Japanese forces and interned, then later moved to South Africa after the war. Breakthrough: He gained fame in the 1950s for portraits that blended realism with theatrical flair and bold use of colour. 'The Chinese Girl' (also known as 'The Green Lady') – This is his best-known painting, depicting a Chinese woman with bluish-green skin. It became one of the most commercially reproduced art prints of the 20th century, often adorning homes around the world in the 1950s and 60s. (also known as 'The Green Lady') – This is his best-known painting, depicting a Chinese woman with bluish-green skin. It became one of the most commercially reproduced art prints of the 20th century, often adorning homes around the world in the 1950s and 60s. 'Lady from the Orient' – The painting features a graceful Asian woman depicted with classical poise and soft, serene expression. Her attire is richly detailed, likely drawing from East Asian traditional fashion, often with floral or embroidered patterns. As with many of Tretchikoff's works, the background is minimal or shadowy, which helps emphasise the subject's facial features and clothing. Vladimir Tretchikoff was dubbed the 'King of Kitsch' by critics, who saw his work as overly sentimental and lacking artistic depth. Despite criticism, he was a pioneer in making art accessible to the masses, with his prints selling in the millions. He held sold-out exhibitions around the world, including in London and the US, and was arguably one of the most commercially successful artists of his time. Vladimir Tretchikoff spent much of his later life in Cape Town, where he continued to paint until his death. His legacy has enjoyed a reappraisal in recent years, with some viewing his kitsch style as emblematic of mid-century pop culture. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
NDTV
25-05-2025
- General
- NDTV
US Men Are Flocking To Russian Churches That Promote Traditional Masculinity
Father Moses McPherson, a priest in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, is promoting a rugged, traditional form of masculinity through his YouTube videos. He mocks activities he considers too feminine, such as wearing skinny jeans, crossing one's legs, or eating soup. In contrast, he showcases his physical strength through weightlifting videos set to heavy metal music. The priest, a father of five, has a unique background, having converted from Protestantism and previously worked as a roofer, as per BBC. Notably, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) has been expanding its presence in the US, largely due to conversions from other faiths. Over the past six months, Father Moses has guided 75 new followers to prepare for baptism at his Mother of God Church, located just north of Austin. "When my wife and I converted 20 years ago, we used to call Orthodoxy the best-kept secret, because people just didn't know what it was. But in the past year-and-a-half, our congregation has tripled in size," he said. The Orthodox Christian community in the US is relatively small, making up about 1% of the population. Within this community, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) stands out as a conservative jurisdiction. Founded by clergy who fled the Russian Revolution, ROCOR has gained attention in recent years, particularly following President Donald Trump's shift towards Moscow. Narrating his experience, Theodore, a software engineer, said he felt unfulfilled despite having a dream job and a loving wife. He believes societal expectations have been overly critical of men, particularly those who want to be breadwinners and support stay-at-home wives, labelling such relationships as toxic. Father Moses emphasises two paths to serving God: monastic life or marriage. For married couples, he advocates for a large family and rejects contraception, citing the lack of saintly approval for birth control. He also condemns masturbation as "pathetic and unmanly." Father Moses believes Orthodoxy represents a balanced, normal approach, contrasting it with what he sees as the overly feminised Western Christianity, particularly in some Protestant churches that focus on emotional expression. He criticises the "worship music" in these churches, associating it with excessive emotion, which he believes isn't suited for men.
Sydney Morning Herald
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Prima Bella primed to put the brakes on Hawker Hall's meteoric rise
A resuming metropolitan mare can halt the exciting progress of an emerging local star when they clash at Monday's transferred Newcastle meeting. Prima Bella, a very lightly raced four-year-old in the Matthew Smith stable at Warwick Farm, returns for her first outing and only fourth career start since two runs last spring. That came after she was forced out through injury for nearly a year after making a big impression on debut with an all-the-way win at Wyong late in 2023. But the hard work and long wait can start to pay dividends when she tackles a Benchmark 64 Hcp over the flying 900m. And connections will be buoyed by the conditions having watched her win the first of two recent trials in heavy ground by nearly five lengths. Standing in her way, though, could well be home track three-year-old Hawker Hall who reloads a month after blitzing his maiden opposition by nearly four lengths when resuming as the hottest of favourites, also in heavy ground. And Hawker Hall, a gelding by Russian Revolution with leading trainer Kris Lees, has since won a trial in soft going by a big margin. Hawker Hall has drawn wide, while Prime Bella is nicely placed from barrier five for what looms as a mouth-watering battle made for the conditions, and could pitchfork either galloper into metropolitan company next start. Prima Bella opened around $3.80 in early betting ahead of Hawker Hall ($4.20), with a big gap to honest mare One Kind on the next line around $8.00 and resuming four-year-old Kiribati $10.00.
