Anna Karenina
The Stage at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts
January 25–February 24, 2019
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Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is widely regarded as one of the greatest works of literature ever written. It is a complex novel, with more than a dozen major characters and multiple distinctive plot lines spanning nearly 1,000 pages. Although it is a tragic story, I fell in love with it when I read it as part of an English Literature assignment in high school.
The story is set in St. Petersburg, Russia in the 1870s during a period of major transformation. It mostly centers around Countess Anna Karenina (played by Kate MacCluggage) and her extramarital affair with Count Vronsky (played by Patrick Zeller).
Although she lives an affluent life of high status, Anna Karenina is in an unhappy marriage and is willing to risk it all — her family, friends, and social standing — for a new life with Count Vronsky. It is a turbulent story that ultimately is as much about loss as it is about love.
The costumes are gorgeous, and whenever I see a period piece like this, I long to attend a high society ball where the women wear elbow-length gloves and the entire party shares a choreographed dance. Few props are used (or needed), other than a table here or a bed there. The Stage Theatre is a thrust stage, so it is easy to feel like a participant in the story rather than a spectator. The production is beautiful in its simplicity.
When I read the book oh-so-many moons ago, I remember feeling so heartbroken for Anna Karenina. She was kind and caring to all those around her, and everyone seemed to love her and depend on her in one way or another. In her desperate pursuit of love, she eventually lost it from those around her. She was a very sympathetic character who suffered more than others for making the same choices.
Unfortunately, I never really attached to Anna Karenina in this production, feeling more indifference than compassion. There was a lack of chemistry between Anna Karenina and Count Vronsky, and their relationship seemed to devolve faster than it developed.
Because the novel is so intricate and detailed, I think it is a very difficult story to adapt to the stage. Each character and plot line was introduced, but it was impossible to really explore them in depth. Since I am familiar with the story, I was able to fill in the details from my memory. My husband, however, had a harder time keeping track of the various characters, how they were connected to Anna Karenina, and why their presence was relevant to the overall story.
Tickets start at $30. Buy and print online at DenverCenter.org or call (303) 893-4100.
