From Paper Mill Playhouse to Broadway old sport, what did the critics think of The Great Gatsby?
Kitty, April 26th, 2024The first of this season's adaptations of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novella opened last night at the aptly named Broadway Theatre. What did NYC's theatre press think of their outing to West Egg?
Starring Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada, the roaring twenties are in full swing for this production of The Great Gatsby. Adapted from F. Scott Fitzgerald's novella, published nearly 100 years ago, this re-imagining from New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse is directed by Marc Bruni (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) and features choreography by Dominique Kelley (So You Think You Can Dance), a book by Kait Kerrigan (The Mad Ones) and a jazz- and pop-influenced original score by Jason Howland (Little Women) and Nathan Tysen (Paradise Square).
Selling out the out-of-town venue on its premiere back in October 2023, it enjoyed its Broadway opening night on April 25, with Jordan as the reclusive millionaire Jay Gatsby, and Noblezada as his long-lost love Daisy Buchanan.
In a week that's seen opening night after opening night as shows attempt to begin before the cut-off for this year's Tony Nominations (April 30) we've already had some surprises and some upsets. And it looks like this iteration of Gatsby's story might fall into the latter category, judging by today's reviews.
The Aye(s)
"This is modern day American musical theatre at its finest, that feels right for the whole family. When you have an uber talented company of some of today's favorites, it's hard to go wrong."
Theatrely
The Meh's
"Remade as true love torn apart by circumstance, the central romance loses the edge that makes it so compelling: the allure, tragic for Gatsby, of an unattainable class ascent. But will any of that matter where sales are concerned? Maybe not. To audiences hungry for glitz this year, The Good Gatsby may be good enough."
Time Out
Those attending Great Gatsby expecting nothing more than a glitzy, glamorous romp through the Roaring Twenties will find themselves satisfied, but others hoping to find a deeper take on the novel's exploration of the American dream, old money versus new money, and love will find themselves feeling adrift.
Entertainment Weekly
The Nays
"Jay Gatsby lives in West Egg. Daisy Buchanan lives in East Egg. And the new musical about them that opened Thursday at the Broadway Theatre lays a big egg."
The Wrap
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