An American Dream Decayed

The Great Gatsby

If the title of this glittery, glitzy, jazzy musical sounds familiar, it may be because you’re experiencing flashbacks to your high school English class. For many members of the audience, their first encounter with this American literary masterpiece was as part of their school curricula. A highly readable and entertaining novel, American author F. Scott Fitzgerald set his story during the Roaring Twenties on Long Island, New York. The Great Gatsby is a tragically romantic story of the Jazz Age that’s almost autobiographical. It tells the tale of a man with a dream. When Jay Gatsby was younger he fell in love with a beautiful and wealthy debutante named Daisy Fay. However, since Gatsby wasn’t a member of the elite, wealthy class, the girl’s father forbade their marriage. So Jay enlisted in the Army and heroically went off to fight in WWI, hoping to be killed. 

But Gatsby returned to the states after the Great War, as a highly decorated soldier. He was still determined to find Daisy and win both her love and her father’s respect. So Jay did whatever he needed, in order to become rich as quickly as possible. He discovered that Daisy had married a wealthy man named Tom Buchanan. The wedded couple now resided together in a lavish mansion on Long Island’s East Egg. After Gatsby made his fortune in bootlegging, he built a splendid, luxurious castle of his own on West Egg, directly across Long Island Sound from the Buchanan’s home. From his dock Jay could see the blinking green light at the end of Daisy’s dock, which represented a love that was just out of reach.

Enter Nick Carraway, the narrator of both the novel and the musical. This young Midwesterner had just relocated to New York City, hoping to escape the dreadful PTSD nightmares that haunted him following the end of the War. Coincidentally, Nick rented the modest, affordable cottage next door to Gatsby. Also by chance, Nick learns that Daisy, his distant cousin, is living just across the waterway. And when Jay discovers this fortuitous fact, a lovers’ reunion becomes inevitable. But tragedy awaits, and from that moment on, Jay’s plan to pursue the American Dream begins to decay.

When it was first published, Fitzgerald’s captivating 1925 novel wasn’t as successful as his previous books. But despite that, The Great Gatsby eventually became popular because it was adapted into other media. The story initially was turned into a silent film, then four additional big-star movies, an opera, a play, a TV special and, in 2023, a big, brassy Broadway musical. This Tony Award-winning production, which opened in New York City two years ago, is still playing to sellout crowds. The book, which is quite faithful to the original novel, was written by Kait Kerrigan (THE TIME TRAVELLER’S WIFE). It features a musical score by Jason Howland (SHUCKED, PARADISE SQUARE, LITTLE WOMEN), with lyrics by Nathan Tysen (PARADISE SQUARE, AMELIE, TUCK EVERLASTING).  But for a limited time, this wonderful North American National Tour is casting its spell over the Windy City, thanks to Broadway in Chicago.

Directed with the same focus and finesse as he did with the original production, Broadway’s Marc Bruni (BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL; BILLIE JEAN, at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), makes sure that this National Tour is as splashy and spectacular as the original Broadway production. Like the New York production, the Tour features topnotch musical direction by Charlie Alterman (who also conducts the full-sounding, 12-member pit orchestra) and choreography courtesy of Dominique Kelley. The exquisite and colorful scenic and projection design is by Paul Tate DePoo, III; Cory Pattak has created the dazzling lighting; and Linda Cho’s Tony Award-winning costumes, with hair co-designed by Charles G. LaPointe and Rachael Geier, practically steal the show.

Practically, but not entirely, because this enormous, talented cast is simply sensational. The sheer acting and vocal power, plus the cast’s  choreographic talent, is thrilling. In the title role, handsome powerhouse performer, Jake David Smith (LES MISERABLES, FROZEN) bewitches as the deluded, self-made millionaire, whose dream is doomed to failure. Looking a little like a young Tom Cruise, Mr. Smith captivates in numbers like “Past Is Catching Up to Me,” “Go,” and the breathtakingly gorgeous, “For Her.”

As Daisy Buchanan, lovely Senzel Ahmady (THE GREAT GATSBY, Korean cast; ALADDIN) is wonderful. She beautifully embodies the prosperous and pampered young wife and mother, who has everything in life except romance and adventure. Watching Ms. Ahmady journey from a bored, isolated millionaire’s wife, to a woman whose desires and romantic dreams become fulfilled is mesmerizing. Senzel is absolutely sensational as Daisy.

Joshua Grosso (LES MISERABLES, THE BAND’S VISIT), in the role of Nick Carraway, positively owns this production. With his boyish good looks, captivating charisma and a confident, clear voice that commands, Mr. Grosso earns all the ovations he receives. He becomes the audience’s trusted representative on stage. As such, he relives all the events that take place between Daisy, Gatsby and himself with an objectivity that allows theatergoers to form their own opinions about the relationships.

 There are several other characters who orbit the three leading characters. They include Daisy’s bestie, the independent golf pro and wealthy playgirl, Jordan Baker (portrayed by attractive, talented Leanne Robinson); arrogant and boorish Tom Buchanan (nicely played with macho pomposity by Will Brenner); Myrtle Wilson, Tom’s loud mistress, a wannabe wealthy flapper (portrayed with power by Lila Coogan). Played by the gifted and always wonderful Tally Sessions, Myrtle’s dull, drab husband George, who runs a filling station in the colorless Valley of Ashes, makes an extra buck working with a bootleg kingpin; and Meyer Wolfsheim (portrayed with brutish command and control by talented Edward Staudenmayer), is the head of New York City’s illegal, black market booze sales.

This is another recent, much-anticipated Broadway transfer that was well worth the wait. THE GREAT GATSBY does not disappoint. It’s fabulous, fantastic, big, beautiful and splashy. Marc Bruni’s production glitters and glistens like the lights of Times Square. The score offers some lovely, moving ballads. It also features several high-energy song-and-dance numbers, including “Roaring On,” which both opens and closes the show, “Shady,” the electrifying song that kicks off Act II, and “La Dee Dah With You,” sung by jazzy, red hot mama, Gilda Gray (a delightfully talented Joann Gilliam), and featuring a stunning tap number by the Sugars. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s literary masterpiece is so much more than required reading in a high school English class. It’s a tragic romance, full of many themes and motifs. But at the end, THE GREAT GATSBY presents the F. Scott Fitzgerald’s pessimistic view a man whose American Dream decayed.        

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented April 21-May 3 by Broadway in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at all BIC box offices, at all Ticketmaster retail locations, by calling the Broadway in Chicago Ticket Line at 800-775-2000 or by going to www.BroadwayInChicago.com

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found at www.theatreinchicago.com. 

Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade