KENDALL MCDERMOTT
Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812
Directed by: Kendall McDermott
Produced by: Spike Tape
Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace bursts off the page
in the dazzling, vibrant "Natasha, Pierre & The
Great Comet of 1812". In Europe, the Napoleonic
Wars are raging, but in Moscow, the opulent, glittering
world of Russia’s elite parties under the magical glow
of the Great Comet. The innocent, romantic Natasha arrives in Moscow, longing for the return of her fiancé, Andrey. When she meets the dashing, seductive Anatole, she quickly falls head over heels for the charming rogue. But when Natasha throws off her engagement and attempts to elope with Anatole, it is up to Pierre—the melancholy, lost Pierre, desperate to feel alive once more—to save Natasha and her family from ruin. This sung-through musical by Dave Malloy takes a 80 page slice of Tolstoy’s classic novel and creates a one-of-a-kind theatrical experience: part-musical, part-rock show, part-Russian cabaret, all told in Malloy’s bold, soaring, heartfelt masterpiece.
The project was brought to life as part of Wesleyan's Spike Tape '23 Fall season. It was staged in the Patricelli '92 Theater in reverse house configuration, with additional immersive seating added. Between the technical team, actors, and band, over 45 people worked to bring this production to life.
November 16 - 18, 2023
Patricelli '92 Theater
High Street | Middletown, CT USA
Press
"Between the stellar cast, the 14-person orchestra pit, and the technical brilliance, “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” was a standout show this semester. Written by Dave Malloy and directed by Kendall McDermott ’25, the show was an ambitious undertaking for Spike Tape, as the story unfolds over the course of two straight hours of operatic singing. Yet from the audience’s perspective, it seemed effortless...
The singing and choreography made the song into a spectacle and perfectly set up the rest of the show. And despite the disclaimer in the song that the plot would be hard to follow, I thought the actors did a phenomenal job making each event clear as the musical progressed...
The vocals were absolutely mind blowing across the board. I was particularly impressed by Saling ('26) and Volker (’26) as Natasha and Mary in “Natasha & Bolkonskys” singing in deliberate and captivating dissonance with each other. Claire Edwards (’24) was also a standout as Marya, Natasha’s godmother. They emphasized their songs with a distinctive growl that wonderfully echoed Grace McLean’s performance in the Broadway version of the show. The growling effect distinguished Marya as a character and made her numbers pop. The lighting, designed by Alex White (’26), and the costumes, mostly handmade by Greta Armbrust (’25), were also extremely impressive...
From open to close, the show was a delight thanks to the contributions of the wonderful cast, crew, and band."
More Than Meets the Eye
