If you read my blog over the past few days you would know that I was attending "The Great Gatsby" in The Gate Theatre on Saturday night.
It was an immersive theatre event so we didn't know quite what to expect. As we went in to the theatre we were told we had to switch off our phones and photos were not allowed. I think this was brilliant as it meant that our focus was purely on the event and the setting we were in rather than taking photos.
When we entered the auditorium (which had all the traditional theatre seating removed) we went to the bar and bought themed cocktails and then found a little area in the Gatsby Mansion as we waited for our host Jay Gatsby to arrive. We immediately got in to character and gave ourselves alter egos - I was Mabel! Amy otherwise known as Shelby, jokingly explained how "she nearly drowned in a bathtub of gin the other night" as she sipped her gimlet!
We also had a great time looking at everyone in costume.
And then the show started with the arrival of some of the main characters who began to mingle with the guests. We were approached by Mr Wolfsheim who invited us to a card game later and showed us his molar teeth cuff links!! As we spoke to him he ad libbed and threw quick and witty lines back to us. Just incredible!
Nick Carraway took to the floor and set the scene and then the arrival of Jay Gatsby got the party going.
And from then it was a crazy whirlwind of controlled chaos of storytelling and entertainment. Audience members were led away in groups by different characters where small scenes were played out in different rooms with small parts then given to some audience members to play out in different settings (either in the off areas or in the main area on their return).
For us as a group we got to partake in the following:
- we learned the Charleston
- watched a card game with Wolfsheim and also had a private singing performance from up and coming starlet Kitty
- And then possibly the most fun was when we were whisked away on a scoop with a reporter/photographer and in a rushed manner brought down to a backroom area (like a press room) and then moved to a small bar area - I was handed a small notebook and told to write down everything that I saw
All so much fun!!
I think I have captured the frantic nature of the night and along with all the movement and interactions of the "audience cast" we were treated to the story of Gatsby by the most excellent cast. My favourites were Jordan the professional golfer, played by Rachel O'Byrne, who was just as I imagined she should be - commanding in both presence and performance. Nick Carraway (Marty Rea) was engaging and sweet while Owen Roe's "Wolfsheim" was slick, likeable and dis-likeable all in one - a fantastic performance. I also enjoyed how Myrtle and Kitty were portrayed but unfortunately was not enchanted in the way I expected to be by Daisy.
My review of the event finishes here with pics of us all dressed up and ready to "immerse ourselves in Gatsby".
Here is Amy in her Peter O'Brien coat before we go out the door. Peter O'Brien designed the costumes for the play and I think she could blend in perfectly on stage looking like this!! Her stunning headpiece is actually a necklace. Amy always looks great with a hat or a headpiece on - as she says herself "I have a nose for hats" ;-)
Look how great Kasey's hair is! I think she captured the era perfectly by curling and pinning it. Kasey started out with a pretty flower hairband and then moved on to a feather hairpiece. I think the first hairband was a day look with the feathers taking it up to a night look - just what you need for a party in the Gatsby Mansion!!!
Photos were not allowed once you walked in to the theatre so we got a few in the lobby. I think we captured the look - what do you think?!
As you can see we thought of detail from top to toe, making sure our shoes were of the time. My red shoes are a bit crazy but I reckon ladies in the 1920's only had one or two pairs of shoes so they had to just wear what they had, whether they matched or not.
