So, Was Gatsby Great?

So, Was Gatsby Great?: A Review of Papermill Playhouse’s The Great Gatsby 

by Fenrir Mercury

Everyone has heard of The Great Gatsby. Most have or will read the famous novel at some point during their high school years, but what makes Gatsby so great? In November, the Papermill Playhouse held the world premiere of a musical adaptation of the same name featuring a book by Kait Kerrigan and a score by Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen. Directed by Marc Bruni, this adaptation of the classic story puts a few new spins on the tale while managing to stay completely faithful to its original messages.

The opening number, “Roaring On,” is a celebration of the pure hedonism of the roaring twenties. From there, the story plays out more or less the same as the novel, but how good is the soundtrack at representing that story? Most of the lyrics are lines of iconic dialogue taken verbatim from the book and put to music. Our protagonist, Nick Carraway, has a musical motif that follows him throughout the show to display his awkwardness towards all of the unfamiliar situations he finds himself in. Another highlight is the title number, which puts a fun spin on a character that tends to be forgotten. Ol’ Owl Eyes is a very minor character noted for representing the ability to see people for who they really are, as well as being one of the only partygoers to take an actual interest in Gatsby beyond his wealth. The short song does a good job at building suspense and mystery before we are introduced to Gatsby and learn his motivations. While the entire soundtrack perfectly captures the essence of The Great Gatsby, the crown jewel of the soundtrack is “For Her”. The song perfectly captures the concept of idealizing love that the entire show is built upon. Throughout the course of the song, we learn Gatsby’s motivations to reunite with Daisy as well as the longing and sadness he’s carried. The music as a whole perfectly captures everything The Great Gatsby represents.

The set design simultaneously captures the glitz and glamor of the high society of the roaring twenties, while also highlighting the dirt and grime of the Valley of Ashes. The details of the different sets are incredibly intricate and entertaining to the point that there’s no way to choose where to look when watching. The use of multiple sets to showcase Gatsby’s gargantuan mansion truly allows the audience to feel lost in it. The opposite effect is achieved with Wilson’s garage by having it portrayed as a shack that almost entirely fits onstage by itself. Doing this causes the audience to feel suffocated and claustrophobic, representative of Mrs. Wilson’s own feelings. The clear focal point of the Valley of Ashes set, however, is none other than Dr. T.J. Eckleburg himself. The iconic billboard takes on an appearance that the audience can’t help but stare at, and can’t help but feel as though it’s staring right back. Not only is the set design a visible aspect to get lost in, it does a fantastic job at representing the characters inhabiting it.

One problem most people have with the original novel is the feminine representation, more specifically the staleness of it. Many complain that the dialogue of the female characters feels off or bland. This group includes the show’s book writer, Kait Kerrigan, who worked to fix the problem. The female characters who most people are familiar with – Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker, and Myrtle Wilson – are given a complete makeover in terms of character. They feel more human than they originally did, and are given more powerful voices than they once had. The emotional toll of Gatsby’s absence on Daisy is further explored, as well as the depth of her love for Tom. Jordan is also given more relevance to the plot through the magnification of her relationship with Nick. She is also given further depth with regards to her commitment issues and fear of marriage. Mrs. Wilson’s unhappiness in her marriage and raging materialism get more recognition and attention. Mr. Wilson is also explored further with him now aiding in Gatsby and Meyer Wolfsheim’s less than legitimate business practices. Wolfsheim himself is also given more of a spotlight, now becoming more of a business partner and mentor to Gatsby rather than just a higher up. Overall, not much is changed about the plot except for the exclusion of smaller details, but the new exploration of once minor characters absolutely makes up for it.

All in all, the Great Gatsby is a more than faithful adaptation of the iconic story that improves the characters while bringing them to life. The music upholds the haunting and beautiful messages of the novel, while giving a voice to characters once overlooked. The set designs fully immerse the audience not only in the world of the story, but also in the emotions of the characters. The way the characters themselves are written expands upon their original selves and adds more depth to areas where it was needed. The show is a fantastic adaptation of the book, and does more than justice to the characters and morals it represents.