The Great Gatsby Musical at London Coliseum Review
Jamie Muscato & Frances Mayli McCann in The Great Gatsby. Photo by Johan Persson
Continuing to play on Broadway, the bold reimagining of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic has brought the roaring twenties to the London Stage for the ultimate party this year. With a book by Kait Kerrigan, music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Nathan Tysen; does this ambitious production played at London’s largest theatre capture the beauty of the novel, or lose its soul amongst all that glitz?
The Great Gatsby is a tragic story which explores the elusive American Dream and the loneliness that underlies it. Jay Gatsby (Jamie Muscato), a mysterious millionaire, is the central figure of the story, hosting extravagant parties in the hope of attracting the attention of his one and only love, Daisy Buchanan (Frances Mayli McCann). Told through the eyes of Nick Carraway (Corbin Bleu), a war veteran who arrives in New York to seek a new job and narrates, it’s Jay’s controlling love which ultimately drives what unfolds in the production.
This production is lavish in that Paul Tate DePoo III’s scenic and projection design takes centre stage in delivering a theatrical spectacle - absorbing every inch of the Coliseum’s stage to its full extremities. The grandeur of the era is aided by Corry Pattak’s tasteful lighting design. The projection which is used to create a plethora of life into the set, including Gatsby’s mansion which is a fantastic utilisation of modern technology in the theatre realm. Although during our performance there were a few unpredicted glitches which meant some fluidity and engagement was lost overall. Kait Kerrigan’s book does it best to maintain a strong relationship to the timeless novel, however there is not enough character development for me to really get to the grit of this narrative completely. It does enable itself to have enough wiggle room for the musical numbers to work within its structure though and they work well. Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen’s music and lyrics are in kept with the era and ride the motion of this musical - but in all, the music isn’t memorable. These elements, for me, are what held The Great Gatsby back from becoming a more quality production overall. It's aesthetic is far more appealing than the book and music itself unfortunately.
But what people can expect when they come to see The Great Gatsby at the London Coliseum this summer is the crème de la crème of British talent in this company. Jamie Muscato (Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812) delivers pure brilliance with his take on the charisma and emotion, tackling the many layers of Gatsby’s character with an unforgettable performance that makes us certain this is one of the best from Muscato yet. Alongside him is Frances Mayli McCann (Bonnie and Clyde) as Daisy, the charming and symbolic of the American Dream woman. She is an utter joy to witness from start to finish, she is the leading lady of the moment. Together they are the perfect match, with their electrifying vocals in ‘My Green Light’ making for one of the most memorable moments of the show.
Making his West End debut as Nick Carraway is Corbin Bleu (and don’t worry High School Musical fans, he can dance!). Taking us through the production as its narrator, we are able to utilize his character as a source of reflection for this intoxicating world of glamour, excess, and illusion. Bleu is a fantastic addition to the London theatre scene, emotionally investing himself into this character so smoothly. His match, Jordan Baker (Amber Davies), continues to show that she is a powerhouse of a performer. Her rendition of ‘New Money’ is undoubtedly one of the big musical numbers of the night but also she steers the portrayal of a woman in the 1920s with true courage. Rachel Tucker’s take on Myrtle is sizzling hot! The ability this performer has to discover the raw, aching vulnerability beneath her character makes for one of the stand outs of the evening. The collective is completed by Jon Robyns, John Owen-Jones and Joel Montague who have distinct depth and excellence in each of their respective roles.
This production doesn’t manage to be as good as it is choreographically than without its hardworking ensemble who are fierce from the get go. Made up of George Crawford, Jordan Crouch, Kiara Dario, Frances Dee, Aimee Fisher, Tom Andrew Hargreaves, Alyn Hawke, Ediz Mahmut, Jamel Matthias, Neve McGuinness-Dyce, Rose Oullette, Sophie Pourret, Will Richardson and Lily Wang who maintain sharp precision and spirited flair in their delivery of Dominique Kelley’s choreography. It’s extremely lively and fast-paced with a joyous dose of tap dancing thrown in there too!
The Great Gatsby Musical at the London Coliseum is a full-throttle feast of spectacle and drama which makes for an enjoyable watch overall. It plays until 7 September 2025.
★ ★ ★ ★
