Chavkin-directed GATSBY musical from Welch and Majok to premiere in 2024 — Page 9

Correct. I purchased these as preview tickets. 

One general question about the score: Is it modern? 1920s-style? A mix?

I had been puzzled that Solea Pfeiffer was cast as Myrtle. I guess I have my answer.

I was just looking for clarification....I knew what you meant.  

 

Quick question about the Yondr pouches: is there room in the pouch for both my phone AND a charger?  My charger is pretty streamlined, size wise.  Would be nice to be throw them in together! 

Thank you for the quick response! 

I’ll mention more. The choreography is amazing. Very big high point through it all. I do echo the person who posted after me that wishes Nick would pine after Gatsby more. Him fully being realized as gay in this production but not obsessing over Gatsby’s “damned smile” in the book is a missed opportunity. They do subtly allude to Nick thinking Gatsby is gay. Don’t want to spoil, but wish it would be fleshed out more. That’s my main complaint. It’s minor, but so many different threads were touched on that I LOVED, but they didn’t go far enough. 
 

Another thread I wish they’d pull on was Gatsby had a very negative and conflicted reaction to meeting Daisy’s child and then.. that isn’t touched on again and I’m like… this would be so nice for him to talk to Nick or Daisy or someone about seeing her daughter, but I don’t know. Very much a nitpick. I think it will be in great shape by opening. I see the vision and I love it. 
 

Before anyone asks, comparing the two Gatsby productions is impossible. Two different beasts. 

Well.

I'm not as positive, but it's gads better than the Papermill version. But, I think I he possibility for this to improve during the run exists.

The good: This actually tells the story complete with themes and understanding. Ben Levi Ross as Nick, was excellent, and his involvement is very much in focus. Solea Pfeiffer was terrific as Myrtle and made her complex and smart. Charlotte MacInnes as Daisy, lots of layers. 

The bad: the set isn't fully completed. They use a gawdy tinsel curtain in several places... Which I hope it temporary. The music and choreo starts off strong but is weaker and redundant in Act Two. Isaac Powell is terribly miscast here. He felt more like a 17 year old boy that just had sex for the first and was scared he never would again. 

 

I'm sure there's more, feel free to ask. 

MrsSallyAdams said: "Now that Gatsby has extended, there will be an overlap with previews for Kristen Chenoweth's Queen of Versailles. I'm tempted to fly to Massachusetts and make it a double feature."

Glad I’m not the only one doing this! Excited

bear88 said: "Dramamama,

This certainly isn’t the first time an out-of-town tryout starts with a couple of strong songs then goes downhill.

I realize Powell looks younger than his age - 29 - but is his problem something that could be fixed with acting choices and directorial guidance or is it he just miscast in a way that may not be easily addressed?

The unfinished set will be finished eventually. It sounds intriguing, at least. A Daisy with layers. How is the actor who plays Tom?"

Re: Powell

Hard to say as I don't know how he's been directed. I've only ever seen him in OOTI, where he was terrific.

Tom was pretty good, too. He's saddled with weak dialogue (I don't remember if it's lifted from the text.) in his final scene. Wilfsheim was also very good.

Owen22 said: "Daisy doesn’t have layers!!! That's the point!! Gatsby is obsessively in love with an empty shell! They tried to give her an inner life on Broadway and people complained they were changing the novel. For a musical version of the show to work Daisy would have to be somewhat changed! I'm very intrigued to see how this new layered Daisy compares to the curtain Broadway layered Daisy..."

Let me clarify. She's still pretty shallow, but I think I understand her better here. They certainly aren't making her sympathetic.

 

Let me mention: I don't know what the hell is going on with the costumes. Domt get me wrong, some are stunning, but they do a lot of reveals for no real reason. A great deal of them feel like the workers in Hadestown might have worn them. They also but a gad of men in flapper dresses, and I don't know why. I'm ok with the choice, but there should be a reason. And if there is, it wasn't clear to me.

binau said: "With Gatsby already open on Broadway what would the hypothetical long-term plans be for this production?"

It could potentially go to the UK as its next step, I suppose. Continue its development and wait for the current Gatsby to run its course and put some space between them.

I think it would also be a savvy decision to release an album to drum up interest.

Updated On: 5/27/24 at 03:25 PM

For those who've seen it at the A.R.T., what's the instrumentation and how do the orchestrations sound?

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "For those who've seen it at the A.R.T., what's the instrumentation and how do the orchestrationssound?"

Conductor/Grand Piano: Wiley Deweese

Asst. MD/Keyboards: Jessie Rosso

Drums: Marques Walls

Acoustic/Electric Bass: Sahil Warsi

Violin 1: Matthew Vera

Violin 2/Viola: Marissa Licata

Cello: Thomas Barth

Trombone/Tuba: Skye Dearborn

Trumpet 1: Andrew Sorg

Trumpet 2: Chloe Francis

Reed 1: Jennifer Slowik

Reed2: Joe Larocca

Reed 3: Ryan Yure'