Great Comet soars at the Royal Alex
Chris Abraham’s hugely successful production of the Dave Malloy musical transfers to the most elegant theatre in the city, with gorgeous results
If you thought Chris Abraham’s production of Dave Malloy’s Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭) worked beautifully in the winter and spring of 2024, when it crushed all attendance records at Crow’s Theatre, wait until you see it at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.
Sure, the musical — a co-production between Crow’s and Musical Stage Company, presented by Mirvish — loses some of the intimacy found at the original 200-seat Guloien Theatre venue. But it more than makes up for that with the splendour of the historic beaux-arts building. The musical’s 19th century setting, albeit with a 21st century electro-pop score and sound system, fits right into the plush elegance of the Alex.
Hailey Gillis and Evan Buliung play the title characters, two vastly different members of the Russian aristocracy who are quickly caught up in a story of love, infatuation, bad choices and sacrifice, all inspired by a 70-page section from Tolstoy’s epic novel War and Peace.