The last time WA audiences saw Robert Tripolino commanding the Crown Theatre Perth stage, he was getting nailed to a cross as the titular character in Jesus Christ Superstar’s Australian theatre production one year ago.
In his latest role as Dmitry in Anastasia — the timeless story’s first ever Aussie stage adaptation — Tripolino is set to return to the same stage this Thursday night for the musical’s official opening in Perth.
Promising far less bass guitar or bloodshed than his previous local performances, audiences will see the star’s narrative flipped from being the followed, to the follower, as a charming conman.
“It’s nice for Perth to see me not crucified this time,” he teased.
“It’s really lovely to be able to play a character that is chasing, that has a plan and needs someone, and needs to follow that person. And then also, who is much more selfish in this story.”
Given life on stage by the Tony Award-winning creative team of Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, Anastasia follows the journey of Anya from Russia to Paris as she seeks to uncover the mystery of her past.
Debuting on Broadway just nine years ago, audiences may be more familiar with story’s Oscar-animated musical film adaptation of 1997, or the many fictionalised iterations before it.
Casting Georgina Hopson in the lead female role, the show will also follow Joshua Robson as Gleb, Rodney Dobson as Vlad, and acting veterans Rhonda Burchmore and Nancye Hayes as Countess Lily and Dowager Empress respectively.
Aiding Anya in her arduous search for answers, Tripolino said he’d noticed a shift in the way audiences accepted villains and untrustworthy figures, with those written in years gone by offered more leeway to prove themselves.
“It feels like the narrative has shifted. No one likes to be fooled or tricked, we’re all on our toes all the time in today’s society,” he said.
“I like taking the audiences on a ride with this character in particular, because you might start thinking one thing of him and you definitely think something completely different by the end.
“And that’s a beautiful journey as an actor to get to portray every night.”
Anastasia’s Australian stage show tour launched in Melbourne in December, with Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane shows to come later in 2026.
Anastasia will run in Perth until March 28.
https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/anastasia-at-crown-perth-robert-tripolino-switches-from-jesus-christ-to-charming-conman-in-new-musical-c-21815510
