As much as I enjoy seeing my favorite classic musicals like The Music Man or Fiddler on the Roof it is even more exciting when a local company takes a risk on a new and innovative show. That’s just what Pioneer Theatre Company has done with their new production of Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812. Naturally I had heard of this musical because of its tony nominations but also it having Josh Groban (who I’m a superfan of) in the original cast. Friends who saw the Broadway staging told me of the awe and spectacle of that production and I was intrigued with how PTC was going to pull it off. Now that I have seen it I can say they executed this unusual musical masterfully. It’s a must watch for this theatre season!

Natasha, Pierre… is a musical that while I was watching it I couldn’t help but wonder ‘how did this thing get greenlit?’ and that’s not because it isn’t good. It is but in the age of movie musicals and ‘theme park’ Broadway it seems like such an anti-commercial musical that was almost guaranteed to not find an audience. The fact it had 336 performances on Broadway is a bit of a miracle and a testament to Groban’s star power in the early part of the run. The reason why I think it is anti-commercial is it is based on 70 page segment from Leo Tolstoy’s tume of a novel War and Peace that few modern audiences have read or care about (music, lyrics, and book by Dave Malloy.) It does not have the belt-friendly cabaret numbers that do so well for fans of shows like Wicked or Rent and the characters aren’t particularly relatable to modern audiences (the betrothed Natasha and the isolated Pierre who spend almost no time together within the narrative.)

I mention all this just to undermine how amazing it is that Natasha, Pierre... got made at all and even more so that the production at PTC works so well. It really is a miracle of musical theatre. The most outstanding aspect is the incredible cast particularly Kevin Earley who owns the stage as Pierre. I was so blown away by his rendition of “Dust and Ashes” that I wanted to give him a standing ovation right then and there. He absolutely knows how to sell a song to the audience and it felt like he was signing it right to me and nobody else in the audience. I almost felt sorry for the other actors because he was just that good.

Some of the other highlights of the night was “The Opera” where director Karen Azenberg manages to pull together so many different moving parts (the characters are watching an opera with them each having their own flirtations and stories going on) and the “Balaga” where the revelers come out into the audience and even began to talk and interact with us (I was on the row in front of that action so that was a fun dynamic.)

I know not everyone enjoys audience immersion in musical theater but I love it. In fact, my only disappointment in this production is I could have used even more. The interactivity and inventiveness of the staging had been a bit over-sold to me and while it was all outstanding there was really only 2 segments that I would say were immersive or particularly inventive. Still, it is a handsomely mounted production by scenic designer Jo Winiarski. The orchestra was also excellent both on the stage and in the pit. The cast occasionally interacts with conductor/keyboardist Phil Reno which is a lot of fun but again I could have used even more of that to keep things fresh and exciting.

Still, I highly recommend seeing Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 at Pioneer Theatre Company if you enjoy inventive, exciting musical theater that is extremely well acted and sung (and why would you be reading this review if you didn’t?) I just wish I had time to see it again. I may make time! It plays through May 25th and you can purchase tickets here. There is also a munch and mingle an hour before the play where you can purchase drinks and snacks that was a lot of fun (I love it when theaters have themed concessions!) Don’t miss this special show!

This is a review and as a professional theatre critic my ticket was comped but I still need your support to be able to continue showcasing regional theater here in Utah and beyond. Please consider supporting the patreon with some really fun benefits here.