The Realization of Dave Malloy's Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Abstract

Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 pays testament to the all too familiar idea that a single moment can change your whole life. Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace inspired this musical. Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 tells the story of a group of individuals living in Moscow during Napoleon’s invasion of Russia. The principal characters experience the rise and fall of their own worlds, each affected by their own decisions or the influence of others. Dave Malloy’s relatable musical is relevant in today’s world, where people refuse to take responsibility for their actions, or lack of action, and forethought. People in the present seem to lack the introspection to be able to have positive judgment. Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 is a period musical that touches on important topics that today, in 2020, still feel incredibly relevant.