NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 Reaction - Ep. 9 of Musicals I Know Nothing About

The third person references are the book quotes, reminders that the story comes from a "complicated Russian novel"

Marya: Hélène is a women you’d want to stay away from Also Marya: makes out with Hélène during the abduction

With the “proposal” Pierre isn’t actually saying he wants to marry her, but in a moment where Natasha feels worthless telling her that only “the handsomest, smartest, best man on earth” is deserving of her! It’s an incredibly kind moment, but not really romantic but is just a kind selfless moment. The way the comet is done on stage makes me weep everyone!

I'm in love with this woman because she compared it to Octet without realizing they're both written by Dave Malloy lmao

When i first listened to this show i spent like 2 hours listening to Dust And Ashes lol, it's so good.

Fun fact: 50 rubles is equal to about 15 bucks today, and Dave Malloy has said that Anatole was using the 15 dollars for the Russian 19th century version of hair gel

Thé electronic sounds throughout the show are typically tied to Anatole bc he comes in and electrifies and shakes up natashas world! He literally enters in a blaze of electronic light! it works really well! And yeah the electronic bit in Pierre and Anatole is when Natasha poisons herself

“This guy has the easiest job in the show, doesn't he?” It’s funny cause he actually has the most difficult costume change in the whole show! He appears as Andrey in the opening of the first song then has to run backstage and do a quick change so he can appear as Bolkonsky a minute later.

I love how Anatole just told Hélène to invite Natasha to the ball, but she was like “nah I’ll seduce her”

You mentioned how you feel included when they break the 4th wall, and if you look at any live clips you can see that the audience is basically always involved. They sit next to you, hand you items, give you a wave, it's really amazing!

I’m so surprised that you picked up the plot AND picked up some of the nuances in the show on the first listen!! I think Pierre’s said proposal to Natasha was a way to tell her that she is still worthy of love despite of what she has done, which gives her hope in a situation that genuinely felt hopeless. But they do get married 7 years later!

You should definitely look at how the show is staged because it’s so amazing and subversive. The orchestra pit is in full view in the middle of the stage, and piete plays the piano in quite a few songs. Also the audience is seated around the stage/ on the stage in tables and the actors interact with them by walking amongst the tables and chairs and occasionally sitting with them.

I got a pierogi when I saw this in NY with the OBC. I still have my egg shaker from Balaga too. And I got to clink glasses with a performer the second time I saw the show with friends. I loved how immersive the show was, there was no traditional stage, the whole theatre was the stage and the performers were all around you, and the lighting and sound design and everything, it was so innovative.

" we don't have enough songs about non-romantic relationships out there " Thank you for saying this! As someone who is on the aromantic spetrum (doesn't feel romantic attraction) I run into that so much!

We believe in Amber Grey supremacy.

I got so emotionally invested in Pierre and company that I'm actually considering reading War and Peace just to know more (and Russian literature is really not in my interests).

I had the luck of watching this live in São Paulo. It was the prettiest thing in the world - this is such a beautiful musical. I read War and Peace and started to learn russian because of this, and I can't say I regret it. What a magical experience. also, i think a REALLY important aspect of this musical about Natasha is that she, up until that moment, had not been exactly out in society as young ladies had to be back in the day. She and Andrei were married mostly for the money, and although she MIGHT have really liked him, and he definetely cared a lot for her, it probably wasnt the true love she alludes to in "No One Else". Her very first "love", her cousin Boris (which... yikes!), was much the same; she was a young sheltered girl who came from a family in which everyone loved her, and she loved everyone. Andrei is away because his father (Prince Bolkonski, the crazy guy) sent him away. He wanted to see if their "love" would last (it didn't). Anatole's "love" wasn't... How can I say this. It was probably for a one night stand, and that's all. And she hadn't been wanted that way. She didn't know she could refuse him. If Anatole looks at her that way, and if he WANTS her that way, that can only mean SHE wants him too, right? He wouldn't do that if she didn't want it, right??? And in the end, when all of her expectations are broken, her heart is shattered, and she feels the utmost shame for what she did. When Pierre comes in and reminds her that people can still be loved and forgiven even despite their worst mistakes, despite his own depression and disbelief in love and simple things, and their two stories come together... Well I just think it's beautiful, isn't it?

Also, yes I am absolutely in love with Pierre's voice, and some of those lyrics are so "chef's kiss." Also, reading War and Peace I was/am shocked to find how many of Comet's lyrics and descriptions were lifted directly from the novel, (although some things were moved around a bit in time or number of people present)sometimes it even makes me laugh when I see word for word lyrics where I wasn't expecting them (example - "It's dawned on me suddenly and for no obvious reason that I can't go on living as I am." Or so much of the opera scene, down to the descriptions Sonya gives in the musical of the opera itself.... fun fact, in the novel Natasha specifically says that she wants to tickle Helene, which was one of the few differences I saw from that scene) Malloy really distilled this segment of the book to its emotional cores and then expanded on them. I think the musical makes it more powerful. And realizing the way it was adapted so closely, while making room to have fun with it makes me even more impressed with an already very impressive adaptation!

Anatole: Is it my fault that you’re enchanting? “Yes, control your d- feelings!”

That guy (Pierre) is Josh Groban, and his voice is magical. Just discovered your channel, and I love your reactions. Honestly, I reacted so similarly but had to contain myself... The first time I listened to this soundtrack was on the silent floor of my library, which was a huge mistake.