The Great Gatsby

As I develop my passion for literary adaptation, I could not help but wonder what the Broadway production of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic American novel would be like. One of our country’s most celebrated stories, The Great Gatsby is widely known throughout high schools and in the homes of many. I distinctly remember finishing the novel on a train to New York, bound to see The Cursed Child, and reflecting on the lost American Dream which Fitzgerald so poignantly exposes in his novel.

The musical boasted modern technological advancements to an extreme, and most of the set design revolved around moving screens and walls which displayed the various backgrounds. I believe some settings were absolutely beautiful, especially Nick’s cottage. On the other hand, this method of set design did lead to some technical errors. The screens seemed to be sprawling monitors, and the designs on them were appearing as they would on a computer screen rather than being projected from afar. During Gatsby’s first song, which takes place in his library during the first party, the screens which pictured towering bookcases flickered and went out. They turned back on again, then off again, then on. For reasons like this, I am skeptical of this new technique (or new to me, at least). However, when working properly the Gatsby musical boasted some pretty impressive sets, which transitioned more quickly given their computerized nature. 

The musicality was also fantastic. I mean, how could you not enjoy Jeremy Jordan’s voice? That was a given, and listening to him sing was my favorite part of the musical. I can’t say this for sure, but it seemed as if the score was written for him. The many songs showcased his voice wonderfully, and I wonder what the musical will be like if/when he moves on. The other highlight, obviously, was Eva Noblezada. Another broadway star, Noblezada also boasts an incredible voice and powerful acting skills to supplement a well-rounded performance. She played an amazing Daisy, and evoked both sympathy as we see her struggling in an abusive relationship with Tom and also my frustration as she fails to take accountability for killing Myrtle, leaving Gatsby to take a bullet for her.

This leads me into my main focus of this review, that which surrounds the musical as an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel. Like many other adaptations, I believe it was a strong standalone musical but a poor adaptation of the original novel. It seems as if it may have been hastily written, given the quick turnaround time between Gatsby entering the public domain and the musical’s release. 

Firstly, in regards to Daisy, I wasn’t sure how I felt about her final song. In this moment, Daisy shares with Nick the struggles that she has faced as a woman living in the 1920’s under a man’s rule. While I believe the subject is very important, and it’s part of what makes Daisy’s character so complex, I believe it leaves little for the audience to truly think about. Had there been a moment in a song which hinted at this more subtly, I believe that it doesn’t leave the audience anything to analyze. Unfortunately, Daisy doesn’t get a moment like this in the novel. This is more historically accurate, though, as women weren’t necessarily given the platform to reveal the hardships they experienced inside and outside of their homes. I believe that the audience was already given a very clear picture of Tom’s abuse of Daisy, and that this song was unnecessary because we already understood why Daisy does what she did. 

What I was most disappointed in, though, was the lack of attention paid to Nick and Gatsby’s relationship. Nick and Jordan’s fling of sorts is certainly highlighted, but I did not detect the homoerotic relationship between Nick and Gatsby. I believe that Nick is in love with Gatsby and, although that is just my opinion and therefore unnecessary to include in the musical, it is unmistakable that there is more between them than shown on the Broadway stage. I’m not going to argue my point now, but I believe that the writers skimped on the Nick and Gatsby relationship, that which drives the story’s plot forward. We see Gatsby through Nick’s eyes, and I believe that this is an essential aspect of Fitzgerald’s story that needed much more attention.

My last point is in regards to the casting. I was immensely grateful to see Jeremy Jordan perform live, of course, but it does bring up the question which I’ve been asking since I saw the movie in high school. In the movie, Leonardo DiCaprio plays the titular role, of course. However, for a substantial amount of time, Nick has no idea what Gatsby looks like. Nobody else does, either, which is why the “killed a man” and “second cousin to the devil” rumors fly about at his parties. My high school English teacher posed this question to us, and I’ve been thinking about it since. Should Gatsby be played by an actor who is virtually unknown? It is somewhat going against Fitzgerald’s point that, when the time comes for the big reveal, Gatsby’s face is one we all know well? I’m not sure exactly how I feel about this, and I certainly know that stunt casting (if that’s what you want to call it, or celebrity casting) is a large factor in selling tickets. Another question this poses, is it better to cast an unknown actor who will therefore become more engrossed in the character, or a celebrity who will sell more tickets but be seen as themselves onstage? Again, I’m unsure, but my inbox is open for your thoughts!

I’m grateful to have seen The Great Gatsby on Broadway. It wasn’t my favorite production, but I am thankful to have seen it and further developed my interest in literary adaptations.