Review: NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 Makes Rousing, Sexy Musical Fun Out Of 'War And Peace'

No, you didn't fall asleep on the Q train on your way to Broadway's latest musical and accidentally wind up at the largest, and perhaps rowdiest Russian supper club in all of Brighton Beach.

That's really the Imperial Theatre that set designer Mimi Lien has so thoroughly converted into a lavish nightspot, where performers sing and dance and play musical instruments inches away from customers stationed at tables, barside and in traditional theatre seats, beneath glimmering chandeliers similar to those that adorn Lincoln Center's Metropolitan Opera House.

Director Rachel Chavkin's brilliantly joyous and sneakily subversive mounting of NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, an infectiously lively musical with a score, a book and orchestrations by her fellow Broadway newcomer Dave Malloy, finally goes legit in Gotham after premiering four years ago way out west on West 54th Street at tiny Ars Nova and then moving to a large tent, first located in the meatpacking district and then in a vacant lot next to its current Imperial home. Chavkin has been helming the show from the start, including its most recent stint at Cambridge's American Repertory Theater.

The source material is a relatively short episode contained within Leo Tolstoy's most famous epic novel, and fortunately Malloy did not succumb to Broadway's current practice of branding by calling it "War and Peace, The Musical."

"You are at the opera," sings the company in the opening number, perhaps explaining the choice of chandelier style. "Gonna have to study up a little bit / If you wanna keep with the plot / Cuz 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."

The upshot is that the young Natasha is enchanted by The Devilishly sexy Anatole while her love Andrey is off fighting Napoleon. Meanwhile, gloomy nobleman Pierre does what Russians in drama and literature do so well; drink heavily, act sullenly and regret the futility of their lives continually.

Numerous characters populate the landscape, but NATASHA, PIERRE etc. is less about the plot and more about giving everyone in a boisterous company of young, sexy performers a moment or two to shine as entertainers giving a floor show that mixes Russian literature with contemporary language and attitudes. (Along those lines, some of designer Paloma Young's costumes may have you Googling for info on Russia's 19th Century punk rock movement.)

As Pierre, Josh Groban supplies the attention-grabbing star name and does a fine job anchoring the festivities with gravitas, but his character is secondary for much of the evening, until his beautiful performance of a reflective ballad at the end, when the titular comet finally comes into play. (Again, that chandelier style proves its usefulness.)

Denée Benton's Natasha revels in the spotlight much of the time and she reflects it luminously with a lovely voice and a glowing presence. Lucas Steele infuses Anatole with flashy boy band sex appeal.

While Malloy's lyrics are mostly narrative, having the characters sing of their feelings rather than express them, Brittain Ashford's solo as Natasha's loving cousin Sonya provides a welcome moment of sincerity, singing her solo ballad with heartbreaking simplicity.

Musically, Malloy mixes Russian folk and a light classical sound with indie rock and choreographer Sam Pinkleton successfully keeps up with the blending styles. The rousing ensemble includes string players and accordionists carousing with audience members as they parade through the auditorium.

Those who attended NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 under the tents will recall the samples of blintzes, borscht, smoked salmon and other delectables that came with the price of admission. Food is now limited to tiny treats tossed to lucky audience members in individual boxes. Drinks can be purchased at bars built into the set.

So fill your bellies ahead of time and let this dazzling show fill your spirits all night long.

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