Warrior Queen Anahit the Brave
Reviewed by V Cate
Imagine Theatre at the Colony Theatre
Thru November 18th
Based on Ghazaros Aghayan’s 1881 fable, Imagine Theatre presents a feminist and patriotic telling of one exceptional peasant woman who would become Armenia’s warrior queen.
Anahit (Ani Marderosian) lives in a small Armenian village, toiling joyously alongside her feminine friends. She is happy to fetch water, dance, and weave beautiful rugs, until a chance meeting with Prince Vachagan (Nathan Mohebbi) changes the course of her life, as well as the destiny of her country.
Sometimes the intentional pursuit of theater as an important function of an empathic society outweighs the success of a play itself. Such is the case with Warrior Queen Anahit the Brave. Writer-director Armina LaManna has crafted a highly ambitious production focused on bringing the magic of theater to children. However, the production doesn’t entirely deliver, feeling as though more time may have been needed to achieve the desired vision.
Marderosian shines as Anahit, a stalwart powerhouse, self-possessed from the moment we see her. It’s okay that she doesn’t really experience character growth (apart from an attempt at making her appreciate teamwork over total self-sufficiency); after all, she is essentially a superhero who rallies an army of women in the face of an ineffectual and misogynist ruling class (and that’s before she fights a god one-on-one).
Mohebbi, who recently rocked in Afterglow, lacks the regal presence of a king or delivery suited to stylized children’s theater (though he maintains a charming boyishness and sincerity). The rest of the small ensemble (comprised of Christianne Holly Santiago, Sophia Vitello, Kyle Caldwell, and Alistair McKenzie) is sweet, but lacks the high-energy that children’s theater requires. The cast of six could have done with another performer or two, particularly to alleviate confusing moments when the leads stepped into other roles without much differentiation.
The main antagonist (other than the patriarchy) is a serpent god named Apep (McKenzie), who desires to trap men’s souls for his own pleasure. Aside from some fair puppetry, not much is done to visually present this character as evil, interesting, or even particularly snake-like. Throughout the show, Dianne Graebner’s costume design is rich and colorful, but a greater priority could have been placed on visually supporting Apep. Meanwhile, the performance drowns in clunky rap songs.
Comedic rap isn’t the only outdated trope, with mystifying references from Jerry Maguire and the original Matrix; that 90s context does nothing to connect to the show’s ideal audience of 5 to 12 year-olds. Original music by Shahen Hagobian shows potential, but whether more catchy, easily digestible, or sharply “musical theater,” the songs could have gone further in any direction.
These critiques aside, the story is an important one to tell, and the show important to be seen. Representation matters, and Armenian stories are in short supply. Add to that a progressively feminist message for children (and adults) of all genders, and Anahit is an role model worthy to be known.
Imagine Theatre at the Colony Theatre, located in Burbank Town Center at 555 N 3rd St. Burbank 91502; Fri/Sat 7pm & Sun 4pm (with additional dates available for field trips); imaginetheatreca.org or (818) 649-9474; Running time: 80 minutes with no intermission.
