The Great Gatsby, OVO Theatre Review
Written by Mia for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Although F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby has always had a place in many people’s hearts, once Baz Luhrman got his hands on it, the whole Prohibition Party vibe had a resurgence. Suddenly, Gatsby was - once again - cool, mysterious, and all anyone could talk about.
Now, although the hype has died down a little bit, the themes of Gatsby have retained their popularity. The West End musical - for me at least - was a bit of a disappointment, and honestly the book is far from my favourite modern classic. Yet, something about the characters and the period keeps drawing me in. So how could I resist a new interpretation at an incredible venue in St Albans?
One of the reasons I love outdoor theatre is how creative everyone is in terms of light and staging; as the sun dips on Simon Nicholas’ fabulous set in the amphitheatre, so too does it set on the extravagant parties, announcing the darker second half of the story when we see the true nature of each character and witness the many tragedies unfurl.
Mark O’Sullivan has adapted this with wit and charm and, combined with Kelly Ann Stewart’s direction, this production is the funniest version I’ve seen. The chorus approach, with all cast members narrating the story, works really well and allows for dry humour and facial expressions to shine. It’s also musical, cleverly using songs from the time period to move the show along and form part of the narration. Andrew McCormack is the Green Light Club pianist, accompanying the cast throughout their many musical numbers.
And what a talented cast it is. Each takes on multiple roles throughout, with fluid transitions and clever staging to help the cast perform so many characters. One particularly nice touch is the absence of Gatsby (Nathan French) for a significant amount of Act I, adding to the mystery of who he is (I actually tried to guess who was who and was only correct about Tom). Ryan Munroe’s choreography is effective, and also makes good use of the different heights of the stage, whilst Ciéranne Kennedy-Bell’s costumes are lovely and work really well, especially for the quick changes.
Rochelle Jack has a fantastic stage presence and is the backbone of the show, keeping us abreast of the action as showgirl Texas but also performing the poignant role of Myrtle. Monica Sharp is the ideal Jordan: flirtatious, condescending and smart; she also has some of the best lines in the story. Jessica Vickers perfectly captures Daisy’s complex character and even manages to warrant some sympathy; she also has some good comedy moments as side characters throughout. All cast members have impeccable comedic timing which really adds to this unique interpretation.
Nathan French is a stunning performer showcasing Gatsby’s aloof nature, but also his infatuation, and he and Vickers have good chemistry. Jonathan Tynan-Moss is the embodiment of Nick Carraway - a little naive fish out of water torn between morals and society. He is a good contrast to David Joseph Healy as Tom, who is an arrogant, privileged brute with no interest in rules or ethics.
OVO Theatre's The Great Gatsby is a mesmerising show, with music, comedy, dance and drama. Despite the frequent showers (just as Gatsby announces 'it's stopped raining' - cue uproarious laughter), and even a power cut, the cast barely notices, and it’s a fantastic production I won’t forget for a long time.
The Great Gatsby plays at OVO Theatre until 24 August. Find out more and book tickets here
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
