The Great Gatsby has been arguably one of the best novels ever since it was written. Gatsby became a movie in 1926, and in 2000, and again in 2013, yet none of these adaptations could prepare you for seeing The Great Gatsby live at The Papermill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ. The show had many phenomenal actors behind it, starring Jeremy Jordan (Newsies) as Jay Gatsby, Eva Noblezada (Hadestown) as Daisy Buchanan, Samantha Pauly (Six: The Musical) as Jordan Baker, and Noah J. Ricketts (Frozen: The Musical) as Nick Carroway. Honestly, this show could not have been more professionally casted. The Great Gatsby covers everything from hinting at The Great Depression, to underground parties, to gangsters, to soppy love stories. The list goes on and on, but actually being there in a theater seeing this live in front of your face? It doesn’t get any more realistic than that. This performance will transport you back to New York in the 1920s when everything was fun for all except the lower class, and a young man named Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is a man whom everyone adores. He’s rich, he’s handsome, he throws big parties at his mansion every weekend, yet never attends any of them.
First off, when you walk into the theater the curtain is a beautiful backdrop looking from what you would think is Gatsby’s dock. You see the moving water, but also the green light over on the other side of the water. As the intro plays, the curtain rises, and standing there is Mr. Jay Gatsby. A few moments later the ensemble will transport you to a world of laughter through the opening number “The Party’s Roaring On.” Then the audience is introduced to Nick Carroway, who is new to West Egg, and moving into a little cottage next door to Mr. Gatsby, who would later become one of the best people Nick would ever get to know. The Great Gatsby is the story of a man who Nick helps teach he can’t repeat the past.
It was definitely interesting to see how the writers wrote the music. As the show progressed, the meaning behind each song got more and more deep. For example, the opening number of Gatsby is a company number called “The Party’s Roaring On,” singing about how fun it is to be in the 20s with parties every night, and how happy everyone is now that they’ve won the Great War. This said, the music definitely stays very true to the book, although some numbers are better than others. The number about books being real is called “The Great Gatsby,” which isn’t really unnecessary, but it’s a number about Owl Eyes wondering “who is this great Gatsby?“ While the song is only there for comedy purposes, it is unnecessary. But, the best numbers in the show make you feel like you just had your heart ripped out. Those would be “For Her,” “My Green Light,” and “Beautiful Little Fool.” There are many fun numbers, too, such as “The Party’s Roaring On,” and “So Sophisticated.” Overall, the soundtrack is true to the story, and the fact it’s sung by some of the best Broadway stars makes it all the more enjoyable.
Speaking of the cast, just to name a couple, Jordan, who plays Jay Gatsby is one of everyone’s favorite Broadway actors. He portrays the role of Gatsby so well, and his performance is truly stunning in every way. They couldn’t have casted anyone better for this role because he is truly a talented man. As for his co-star, Eva Noblezada, she is best known for her role as Eurydice in Hadestown on Broadway, and she is truly a diamond. Her talent is so raw, and her singing soars with every note that she sings. Nobody could have been better than her to play Daisy Buchanan. The two voices of Noblezada & Jordan combined bring the audience to tears when they sing the number “My Green Light ” to close Act One. Lastly, the chemistry these two give off is that of the greatest, and perhaps the most tragic, love story you’ll ever encounter.
The Great Gatsby was a wonderful show, full of ups and downs, and emotional highs and lows. There were a few missing plot points, but it’s understandable that there’s only so much you can fit into a two-hour musical. Also, there were a few new additions added into the show. The entire cast was amazing, and every aspect of the show: the props and scenery, the cast, and the music just added to it, and made the show so much better. Overall, this show definitely deserves a 5/5 star rating. There was absolutely nothing wrong with The Great Gatsby and now, since its closing on November 12, 2023, the world is left anticipating its arrival on Broadway.