I know it was billed as an invited dress, but last night really felt like experiencing something very special for the first time. I don’t think I will forget tonight for a long time. There is work that needs to be done, but overall it was beyond expectations and an incredible experience. It is everything “The Great Gatsby” should have been and certainly is a huge step up from “Lempicka” for Chavkin. Four workshops paid off.
If you don’t want spoilers, please stop reading here. You were warned lol!
The night started with Chavkin explaining that this is the first time anyone, even herself, have seen the show in full. There were two large set pieces that were supposed to rise from below that would not be happening tonight. Speaking of the set, it is entirely made of crushed and wrecked silver cars with two massive staircases, one that moves. The rest of the sets are pushed on (sometimes by the crew members) and are all very elegant. The lighting is beautifully done and it’s an entire wall of lights in the back that is used as rain and city lights.
The book is particularly strong relying heavily on the novel, but digging in deep with new develops. Particularly moving was Gatsby’s father being seemingly indigenous conveying that this Gatsby is POC. It trusts its source material and pulls direct dialogue from it. I thought the beginning through Nick’s and Tom’s trip to NYC could be a little tighter. This may have been the book or just being the first run through. Transitions felt a little awkward in these moments, but it really builds the themes and characters.
The biggest addition is the deepening of Myrtle. She and Wilson had a child they lost in the years prior and they are both mourning in different ways. She is the heart of the musical in my opinion. She is given a lot to do and Solea knocks it out of the park. Give her her Tony! Her death was beautifully done with choreography. Myrtle is the heartbreaking character that wants nothing more then to be apart of the American Dream, but never can be and it’s ripped from her. She is more the tragic character than Gatsby, which could be a fault of the book, but I think it’s making the point that Gatsby is not a clean slate.
The score is beyond. The lyrics are clever and dig into the dirt of America and the faults she creates. It sounds like nothing else before. Some some highlights are “Shakin Off The Dust” sung by an amazing Solea, “New York Symphony (on booze)” sung by Nick, Daisy, and Myrtle, Adam Grupper delights the audience with “Feels Like Hell,” and I cannot wait to listen to Isaac Powell sing “Mr. Nobody From Nowhere” everyday. Act Two is almost all sung through and is thrilling.
The show is very dark and sexy. The choreography is integral to the storyline. And it’s queer baby! Very queer and I loved it. Nick is very much gay and has a great moment with the other character from the book.
Isaac is a very strong Gatsby. He switches his Gatsby incredibly well with the characters he’s interacting with and flashback scenes. I could hear him sing and look at him all day. As I said before, Solea is an incredible and heartbreaking Myrtle. Charlotte was a wonderful debut and delivers a stifled Daisy that finally bursts open when she’s with Gatsby. Matthew breaks your heart with “America, She Breaks” and is a great foil to Solea. Eleri has a few great solo moments and is very funny as Jordan. Cory was terrifying as Tom and also tender at the end. Ben is always wonderful and sounds great, but I wish there was a little more from Nick. They’ve developed his character, but I wanted him to be in love with Gatsby more. That could just be a personal thing and the production did not want to stray from the source material.
On the subject of “Beautiful Little Fool,” it is not directly included, but there are very interesting hints at it. Daisy mentions it a few times in “The Damage That You Do” and Wolfsheim refers to Gatsby as a fool as end, but juxtaposes it by saying “but wasn’t he beautiful?”
As I said, it’s not perfect, but it’s a strong strong production that I think they will keep working on. Maybe they want to do another tryout, but if they use this one correctly, I don’t think they need to. Maybe another workshop if they really want to put in the work. The score would win the Tony right now and be strong contenders in all other categories. The audience reaction was incredible and I cannot wait to go back because it can only get better than this.
