The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby as a book by F. Scott Fitzgerald embodies the jazz age of the twenties, which made it one of America’s great novels. It has also been produced several times as a film, most recently in 2013 starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Simon Levy’s adaption for the stage would have a lot to live up to.

The large stage of the Stag Theatre, for a play, needs careful set design to make use of the space. This was cleverly achieved by using the centre stage as a mere ‘suggestion’ for Gatsby’s mansion. At the back, a small Jazz band played and then each side of the stage used for different scenes, depicted by props (although a lot of things have to be imagined) and spot lighting. Rod Henderson’s lighting design cohered the whole production. The lovely vibrant costumes depicted the opulence of the American elite from sharp suites to flapper dresses.

Not being familiar with the story, I must admit it took me a while to actually understand what was going on and the musical innovations generally distracted from, rather than enhanced the text. However, Harry Wells  (Nick Carraway) had very clear dialogue and as he was part narrator, made the story a bit more understandable.

Nick had come to New York hoping to find his fortune and rents a cottage next door to Jay Gatsby (Alexander Da Fonseca, looking a little young to be the worldly wise Gatsby!). Nick spends time with his cousin Daisy Buchanan (Ella Faulkner) who happens to be married to one of Nick’s Yale classmates Tom (Robert Grist) who is having an affair with his mechanic’s wife (Elizabeth Portlock). Daisy’s friend Jordan (Megan Brown) reveals that Daisy and Gatsby were in love before he went to war and now Gatsby wants Nick to invite his cousin over so they can reconnect. All these convoluted love triangles do not end well when George the mechanic (Benjamin Dangerfield) finds out that his wife was run over by Gatsby’s car. He shoots Gatsby believing him to be the driver of the car, then takes his own life.

Director Rod Henderson had gathered a strong cast both in principals and supporting parts, with admirable acting abilities and when I was able to latch on to the story, it’s not one you will easily forget.

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