Full Synopsis
Full Synopsis
ACT IBaron Drivinitz is pacing, angrily glaring at Chernov and Petrovsky as he waits impatiently for the arrival of Alex Bounine - a former Cossack General who is now forced to drive a taxi for his living. Bounine sweeps into the room apologizing to the Baron for being late. After Bounine dismisses his valet, Sergei, he sits down with Drivinitz to talk about his concerns. It appears that the Baron is upset that he has given Bounine and his cohorts three hundred and thirty thousand marks to find the Grand Duchess Anastasia, and so far they have nothing to show for it. Bounine promises Drivinitz that he will deliver the Duchess. The Baron wants the heir to the throne of Russia, and he shall have her in three weeks. Hearing this, Drivinitz grants him the extension, and leaves with a flourish.
Once the Baron is gone, Petrovsky and Chernov confront their boss, Bounine, asking him how he can deliver what he has promised. It is then that Bounine casually tells them that he has indeed found the Duchess. She is Anna Nielsen - a woman living in an asylum in Dansdorf. Whether or not she really is the real Anastasia, Bounine is certain that they are going to convince the people (most of all the London bankers) that she is indeed the long-lost heir to the Czar's millions. Her resemblance is striking. She is educated, and she has a certain air of quiet nobility. Bounine doesn't believe for a minute that she really is Anastasia. He believes that the real Duchess was murdered along with the other Russian nobility; however, there are those who believe that she is alive, and it their job to prove she is. In actuality, this woman is a somewhat crazy schoolteacher who at one time claimed to be the Duchess. She was wandering the streets and was picked up by the police. Now she doesn't claim to be the Duchess; however, for their own personal wealth, they need to convince her that being one is the way to go.
Bounine further tells his assistants that she is, in fact, in the kitchen. He was bringing her to the house. But he sent her in the back way when he saw the Baron's car outside. He further warns the men that she is on the verge of a total breakdown and is in need of total moral and physical support. Sergei then brings her in. She is hunched over like a whipped dog - wearing a cheap, faded dress; her hair is unkempt. Bounine leads her to a luxurious armchair and she sits down for a brandy. He then has Chernov and Petrovsy examine the woman to confirm her validity. It appears that they both knew Anastasia a long time ago (one as a dentist and one as a couturier) and they want to see how she matches up with what they remember. The two con men argue amongst themselves, and Bounine rather than let them continue, shoves out of the room for a little "conversation."
Left alone, Anna hears a haunting melody followed by voices from all around. She tries to sing with them, but fails and collapses to the ground - all the time wondering just who she is and where she comes from. ("A Song From Somewhere") She rushes to the doorway, but is stopped by Bounine who reminds her that at the asylum she told him that she was the Grand Duchess. She tells him that she was ill then and full of strange ideas. Bounine is determined to convince her that she has amnesia, which can be cured with money - fifty million English pounds to be exact. Yes, the real Anastasia was probably shot and killed with the rest of her family, but for their purposes she survived. Anna tries to run again; however, Bounine urges her to stay and with his help learn how to love.
He shows her an album of photos taken by the Czar himself and also gives Anastasia's governess' diary which Bounine was able to get through quite a bit of blackmail. He wants Anna to absorb all the information here in three weeks so she can pass herself off as the real Duchess. Showing her a variety of pictures, he is astounded how quickly she catches on - or is it remembers all that is presented to her? There is one relative who is alive - The Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna, her grandmother, who went back to living in her native Denmark just before the Bolshevick Revolution. Lastly, she sees the picture of a very important gentleman: her cousin, Prince Paul of Haraldeberg to whom she was engaged at fifteen. If she can convince him she is Anastasia, he will do the best to convince those London bankers as well. He and Anna comb through the photo albums, as Bounine attempts to transform this disheveled young woman into a Duchess. ("I Can See Her Now") Bounine's other assistants all return to helping in the selling game and before long Anna begins to conduct herself like of woman of breeding and nobility - even calling herself Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicholaevna!
A few days later, Sergei answers the phone. It is the newspaper calling wishing to confirm a rumor they have heard. Yes, the word is out! Anastasia lives! Anna is learning everything so quickly, they hardly can believe that she isn't really the Duchess. Baron Drivinitz returns - angrily wishing to see Anastasia. It appears that a colleague of Sigmuend Freud has even examined her and thinks she may be someone of breeding. However, he wants to see for himself. Sergei and Chernov dismiss Drivinitz - not letting him see Anna. He gave them three weeks, and only two have go by so far.
Anna appears later -studying the Governess' diary. She hears an eerie tune in her mind and hums along. When Petrovsky enters smoking a cigarette, Anna chastises him for doing so in her presence. He runs off in a fluster; however, Bounine is thrilled to see that she is making such progress behaving in such a regal fashion. To her it only is a bit of momentary confusion - or so she says. Bounine prepares Anna for her most difficult test of all - meeting her cousin, Prince Paul, the only person other than her Grandmother who will question her most intensely. Petrovsky then announces that a woman has arrived who insists on seeing Anastasia. She says that she knew her Highness in Petrograd. Bounine sees this as a good "first test" for Anna and orders Petrovsky to let the woman in - even though Anna objects.
Sonia Seretskya, a woman in her late 60's, enters with her daughter and son. It appears that she was a housekeeper at the winter palace, and when she sees Anna, she breaks into sobs and kneels in disbelief. Yes, the Grand Duchess lives! Sonia has been living in Germany for quite some time now, and can only dream of the day when they all can return home. ("Homeward")
Bounine calls Prince Paul who comes for a visit. Yes, many people have claimed to have found the real Duchess, his childhood sweetheart, but they have all be fakes. Bounine talks with the Prince (a man of breeding who is short on cash) and convinces Paul to sign a contract promising him fifty percent of anything Bounine makes for finding Anastasia. Prince Paul's voucher will surely account for a lot. ("Buon Aristocrat") Also, if Paul does marry Anastasia, he could suddenly be sharing quite a lot of money with a new wealthy wife.
When Paul does finally meet Anastasia, he, too, stares in disbelief. The two recount memories from their childhood - all of them very clear to Anna. He tells her that he has never married since he has waited for her all these years. They were engaged after all. ("Drawn To You") Though he is ready to be swept back into a relationship with Anastasia, it is she who hesitates - saying that they are now two different people. She leaves.
When Bounine talks with Paul again, the Prince assures him that Anna will do. He doesn't for a minute believe that she is the real Duchess since everyone knows that the real one died before a firing squad with the rest of her family; however, that is besides the point. The money he can make if he plays along is too good to be true. Now, all they have to do is convince the bankers in London, but both men are c