To start us off, Daniel Dingsdale in the role of Tom Caraway takes us on a journey that is, to put it bluntly, quite the ride. He had perhaps the hardest job of all - take a group of 50 or so strangers and enthral them from the get-go. Enthral he did, capturing the attention and keeping it during a lengthy dialogue is no easy feat.
Oliver Tinley plays the delectable Jay Gatsby with a suave and sophisticated manner, very closely followed by Holly Beasley-Garrigan who was faultless in her enunciation, attention to detail and ad-libbing. The cast is tightly knit and slipped into their roles with ease. There is something special about this production, the atmosphere is heightened with the 'what happens next' questions. It is long a piece and I was on my feet for the entirety. And by on my feet, I mean that I had a quick lesson in the Charleston. I got to assist Mrs Daisy Buchanan. I got to sing. I would hate to divulge further as this will take away from the excitement of The Great Gatsby.
This is engaging theatre at its very best - the area is utilised usefully, it is a big space, however, the décor would lead you to believe that you are wandering around a country house. One room could house a poker game, another could perhaps house a couple caught in a passionate embrace. There was always something going on. Join in if you want or just sit back, grab a Mint Julip and watch. There is a lot going on at any one time; there is much to take part in but also if you verge on the side of shyness, to watch the performance, exhilaration and fun unfold is a treat in itself. A lot of effort has gone into pulling this together. It isn’t too big a cast and the production is cohesive.
I would suggest dressing up - it is rare that one gets to do this in the theatre and it adds to the atmosphere - the drinks and dancing are aplenty down at Jay's - do get yourself involved!
The Great Gatsby has now extended until the end of 2017 so get booking now and brighten up those dark nights with a bit of retro glamour!