Natasha Rostova

## Countess Natalya "Natasha" Ilyinichna Rostova

Denée Benton as Natasha Rostova

Anatole Kuragin (Affair)

Andrey Bolkonsky (Fiance)

**Countess Natalya Ilyinichna Rostova**(Commonly called Natasha or Natalie) is an innocent, naive, bisexual, doe-eyed, nineteen-year-old bean. She is betrothed to Andrey “isn’t here” Bolkonsky and loves him dearly. (sad really bc he’s gay) She goes to Moscow under the care of her godmother, Marya “le terrible dragon” Dmetrievna, with her cousin, best friend, and fellow bean Sonya for the social season.

Andrey's grumpy dick of a father, old prince konkey dong does not like Natasha and does not approve of their engagement, which is crazy, because what kind of unpure soul can dislike natasha? In an effort to win the Bolkonskys over, Marya suggeststhat Natasha needs to get Andrey's sister, Princess Mary, to like her, saying that when Mary likes her, so will her father. Natasha goes over to the Bolkonsky estate for tea the next day. the MEaN olD mAn iN hiS unDeRThinGs DOES NOT WISH TO SEE HERRR so Natasha drinks tea with Princess Mary alone. At first, it is extremely awkward, as the two are not alike in any way except for their beanness. Natasha is young, fashionable, and outgoing, while Mary is much more reserved, almost never leaving her home in order to take care of her father. In the middle of tea, the MEaN olD mAn iN hiS unDeRThinGs interrupts and insults Natasha. Hurt and embarrased, she starts to leave. Mary, the poor lonely bean she is, tries to persuade her to stay, saying that she is glad that her brother has found happiness with Natasha.

Natasha gets the attention of banana-toe Kuragin at the opera, and he tries to seduce her (even though he's married, a dick move, really) Natasha is conflicted between her love for Andrey and her new infatuation for Anatole (she does not know yet of his being married) Sonya finds the letters between Natasha and Anatole where they discuss eloping together, and tries to convince Natasha to stay and wait for Andrey, threatening to tell Marya about their plan. In a fit of anger, Natasha writes a letter to Andrey's sister, Princess Mary, and breaks off her engagement with Andrey.

Bananatoe and his lover, his friends with benefits, and their drunk 1812 uber driver go to Marya’s house to kidnap Natasha, but are stopped by a terrifying lesbian and flee.

Marya goes all rawr rawr angi lesbian on Natasha, who cries a lot. not a surprise, that seems to be what she does half the show. Marya calls for Pierre, and after a lot of random screaming, she find out Bananatoes is married. (gasp)

Marya tells Natasha that Anatole is married, she refuses to beleive this at first. Natasha attempts to commit suicide by drinking arsenic, but soon tells Sonya and is saved by the doctors, but is still very ill.

Andrey returns to Moscow and visits Pierre. Pierre informs him of Natasha's illness, but Andrey gives Pierre the letters Natasha wrote to him and tells him to give them back to her; he refuses to visit Natasha and cannot simply forgive her and ask for her hand again.

Pierre visits Natasha after leaving Andrey. She remarks how Andrey had once told her that she should marry Pierre instead of himself. Pierre tries to feel disgust towards her, but can only feel pity. She asks him to tell Andrey to forgive her, but he gives her the letters Andrey gave him. Natasha deeply regrets everything and Pierre agrees to tell Andrey. He asks Natasha if she actually loved Anatole. She does not know. He lets her know that he will always be there for her, and offers to be there for her once her heart heals. He tells her that if he was not married to Hélène, he would propose to Natasha right there. Natasha begins to weep tears of gratitude. She leaves the room smiling.

She was portrayed by Phillipa Soo in the 2012 Off-Broadway Ars Nova run, the 2013 Off-Broadway Kazino Meatpacking District run, and the 2013 Off-Broadway Kazino Times Square run, but is portrayed by Denée Benton in the 2015 American Repertory Theater run and the 2016 Broadway Imperial Theater run

## Gallery

Phillipa Soo as Natasha RostovaShoba Narayan as Natasha RostovaErika Ikuta as Natasha Rostova