GREAT COMET!
Who would have thought that a paltry 70 pages from a mammoth novel by 19th-century Russian author Leo Tolstoy would inspire one of the hits of the recent off-Broadway and Broadway musical scene? Yet here it is at the Cygnet Theatre. This show joins a brilliantly eclectic score and book by an outstanding composer and writer with an acting company of dazzling talent and versatility and a collection of creative musicians and designers.
Megan Carmitchel, Linda Libby, Selena Ceja
The musical is called Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 and it is the creation of Dave Malloy, who is responsible for the book, music, and lyrics. Malloy was inspired by a sliver of Tolstoy’s 1869 novel War and Peace, one of the greatest and certainly one of the longest novels in Western literature.
Malloy focuses on the turbulent romantic lives of a handful of upper-class and aristocratic Russians in the early 1800s. The plot centers on young Natasha, who is engaged to the womanizing Andrey. But that is only one strand in the tangle of relationships that causes much grief, dissension, misunderstanding, betrayal, and greed among the 10 colorful characters.
Brian Mackey, Kürt Norby, Selena Ceja
All the dialogue is performed entirely in song (with the exception of a single spoken line) and that format may cause some clarity problems for listeners. I sometimes had trouble following the lyrics, especially when the song is performed at a rapid pace by multiple performers simultaneously. But that is the only negative comment I can make about the entire splendid enterprise.
Malloy’s score is a hybrid blend of classic, rock, folk, Broadway, and electronic music, nimbly switching from style to style, sometimes in the same song. And director Sean Murray has assembled an A-list set of singers to bring the music alive, whether the tone is somber, charming, yearning, dramatic, or humorous.
Cast of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812
The first among equals among the singer-actors is Selena Ceja, who plays the 19-year-old Natasha. Ceja’s radiant, powerful voice and potent acting chops persuasively explore the girl’s passionate romantic conflicts. Megan Carmitchel is right in step with her as Natasha’s cousin and best friend Sonya. Completing the quintet of superior divas are Brittany Adriana Carrillo, Jasmine January, and Linda Libby.
Michael Cusimano
The five male members of the ensemble all enrich the score with major-league operatic voices. Kürt Norby was a crowd favorite as the dispirited Pierre, a wealthy man who can’t connect with the people around him. By design or happenstances Norby looks about half a generation older than the major characters around him, enhancing Pierre’s feeling that he is an outsider in his society.
Luke Jacobs is the only comic character on the stage and his animated Balaga the troika man leads the ensemble in a wild and joyous feast of animated ensemble hoofing. Brian Mackey convincingly conveys the self-serving Andrey. Michael Louis Cusimano and Tanner Vydos Louis fill out the solid male half of the cast.
Luke Harvey Jacobs and cast
Murray does an all-star job of putting together the many moving parts of this multi faceted production, injecting touches of “immersive” theater, sometimes mingling spectators with performers throughout the auditorium. Douglas has been creatively assisted by Kate Banville’s ebullient and athletic choreography.
The staging also benefits from a top-quality group of designers, led by Mathys Herbert’s scenic design, Matt Lescault-Wood’s sound design, Shirley Pierson’s costume design, and Amanda Zieve’s lighting design. Patrick Marion conducts the outstanding small band (and plays the accordion, keyboard, and viola). I particularly enjoyed Dave Rumley’s virtuoso musical drum and percussion work.
The comet referred to in the title is an actual comet that soared across the Russian skies in 1811 and 1812, during the time of Tolstoy’s masterpiece. Cygnet reproduces the astronomical illumination with a brilliant ceiling light. It doesn’t create the gee-whiz effect of a real comet, but there is more than enough visual and verbal magic on the theater stage as compensation. However, some pre-attendance preparation would enhance audience pleasure even more.
Kürt Norby
photos by Karli Cadel Photography
Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812
Cygnet Theatre Company
Old Town Theater, 4040 Twiggs St.
Wed – Fri at 7; Fri at 8; Sat at 2 & 7; Sun at 2
ends on May 19, 2024
for tickets (starting at $44), call 619-337-1525 or visit Cygnet
