“You are at the opera / You’re gonna have to study up a little bit / If you wanna keep with the plot / ‘Cause it’s a complicated Russian novel / Everyone’s got nine different names / So look it up in your program / We’d appreciate it, thanks a lot…”
ー Ensemble, “Prologue” ー
My last night in NYC was July 5th and I wanted to spend it right. At a friend’s recommendation, I saw Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. I was intrigued to see how playwright and composer Dave Malloy would adapt a portion of Leo Tolstoy’s hefty tome War and Peace to a musical based on a 70-page passage.
Of the four shows I saw on Broadway, it was also my greatest splurge. For $79, I was able to get a seat in the rear mezzanine right behind a walkway.
When I purchased my ticket days earlier, there were still seats available for Josh Groban’s last performance as Pierre for July 2nd. While a fan of Groban’s, I couldn’t justify spending over $150 to see him, despite the older gentleman working the Box Office and his very dry attempt to convince me otherwise. I got the sense he knew my spending bracket and was humoring my indecision.
Anyway, pre-show I was left breathless while taking in the gorgeous set designed by Mimi Lien. The main stage is sprawling, with integrated seating to resemble a cozy Russian cabaret or supper club. The walls around the theater were decked in paintings relevant to the era.
Overhead, chandeliers and lone hanging bulbs made it feel as if you were cast in the warm glow of stars and comets. I was in awe of lighting designer Bradley King’s work and now seriously want a similar chandelier design when I finally have a house of my own to decorate.
Before the show began, cast members threw out little boxes to some lucky audience members. These boxes turned out to contain a pair of pierogi. I wish I’d been lucky to nab a box to snack on to go with the small glass of wine I purchased.
The musical itself was quite a stunning and, at times, chaotic spectacle. Even though I was in the rear mezzanine, it came as a welcome surprise that we, too, were part of the show. Especially during the musical’s raucous party scene (“The Duel”). From my seat, I got to see cast members up close perform on violin and dance while on the walkway. Simultaneously, my row was given shakers to add to the beat.
Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 won my heart for its interactive and encompassing set design. If able, I would love to see it from one of the seats located onstage in the future.
※ Information:
- Site: Broadway.com: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
- Location: Imperial Theatre
- Address: 249 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036
- Duration: 2 hrs 40 min
- Intermission: Yes
- Ticket Price: $79
- Source: Box Office
Laurel, Annotated 