Gatsby has not given up yet! Broadway is running the musical production of The Great Gatsby, The production first appeared on the stage on April 25, 2024, and takes the work of F. Scott Fitzgerald to a new level. Paired with a jazz-pop score and an extravagant set, the musical has already seen much success within its nearly two-year run. At the 2024 Tony awards, the musical won Best Costume Design of a Musical for Linda Cho’s design work. For all the individuals who want to see the 1920s turned 2020s, this musical may need to be your next visit to Broadway.
When we think about The Great Gatsby, we often think about a tragedy between the characters involved. We see the yearning Jay Gatsby has for his lost love Daisy Buchanan, how their affair turned sour, the neighbor Nick and his infatuation with Gatsby himself. Within the story, there are themes regarding corruption behind the “American Dream,” differences within class level, specifically old vs. new money, and how obsession and materialism can take over us. These key themes and takeaways are a part of the reason why we still talk about Gatsby all these years later. Not only a love story, but the tragedies that unfold within searching wealth and attempting to regain past versions of ourselves.
Brought to musical life, crowds cannot seem to get enough. The musical emphasizes extravagance, especially within their set design, special effects, and the costumes. Each aspect of the set and the characters is lavish, attempting to recreate a sense of what it was like in the 1920s and the lifestyle within the characters. Praise has been granted to how the actors portrayed the characters and the presence they brought to the stage. Vocals are one of the main highlights of the production due to the wide range of voices and styles the actors bring to the stage. Audiences are entertained, and the box office is paid–with bringing about $1 million in revenue each week it has run on the Broadway stage.
Everyone may be entertained, but those who hold the story of Gatsby near and dear to their hearts are disappointed in the production. It seems as though the production is attempting to show a giant party, full of extraordinary sights and songs that appeal to modern audiences. While the score is vibrant, it does not give the same essence that the music of the time-period gave. The 1920s are known for being an essential time for jazz, and the score shifts this genre to a more pop-like feel.
Themes that are deeply important to the takeaway of the story seem to have been lost within the production as well. Critics are concerned that the production attempted to dim down the spotlight on what Fitzgerald meant to portray in his work. Seemingly, the musical adaptation focuses on the love story within the book and shifts focus from the themes of corruption, class division, or obsession. We see much of the love story between Gatsby and Daisy, but little about how this love story occurred in the manner it did. Another huge aspect of the story is the immense symbolism described throughout, especially when it comes to the “green light.” Readers know that the green light really means Gatsby’s longing for Daisy and the past he cannot get back. In the book, this is never stated to us directly, but lines within the musical production tell us this, rather than show through action.
We may not be seeing the most perfect adaptation of the story, but the production is still known to be extremely entertaining, and continues to share a light onto Fitzgerald’s story. With every adaptation, we need to remember it is exactly that–an adaptation, not a perfect portrayal. Gatsby may have thrown divine parties for one woman, but Broadway is throwing an on-stage party for individuals everywhere.
