‘The Great Gatsby’ // Villanova Players

‘The Great Gatsby’ was fun!

The Villanova Players are tackling ‘The Great Gatsby’, which is no mean feat. Set up in their usual haunt at the Ron Hurley, this theatre gives a sense of grandeur to a show that is anything but modest. After pushing back opening due to Cyclone Alfred it was nice to see the show get up and running. I am sure no doubt that it will continue to improve across the season.

Most people have heard of ‘The Great Gatsby’ perhaps you too were forced to read it in high school or have even watched the renowned film version starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Set in the roaring 20s ‘The Great Gatsby’ is all parties and scandal; centred on themes of love, wealth and the American Dream as high school students would forever immortalise in their literature exams. For those that missed out ‘The Great Gatsby’ follows Nick Carraway as he moves to Long Island and becomes embroiled in socialite life and drama. His neighbour, a man surrounded by a great deal of speculation, is none other than the titular Jay Gatsby. Like any upper-class drama the plot centres on infidelity and murder. Through the assistance of Nick, Gatsby rekindles a lost love, Daisy Buchanan, much to the dismay of her husband Tom. And like most novels of its time, there is no happy ending only grim comments on society.

The lighting design of the show was considered, containing LED colour states that set the mood of the extravagant parties. The choice of a stark centre light for Carraway’s narration highlights the separation and almost loneliness of his words. The sound design was similarly measured, really embracing the popular jazz period. This music choice helped build the overall atmosphere, however, at times I found the dialogue was lost in the robust sound. Unfortunately, despite this work on the night, the technical team was let down by execution. Probably owing to the trials of cyclone Alfred, there seemed to be trouble up in the box, with lighting and sound cues consistently delayed or confused.

The costumes were a highlight! Nothing says 1920 more than; low drop fringe dresses, three-piece suits and sequins; and Villanova’s costume department delivered it all. These outfits added a fun flair to the upbeat dance sequences. They also demonstrated the affluence of the characters and their lifestyle. The set design had a simplicity to it capturing the grand banister of Gatsby’s mansion. Most of the locations were shown by a projection on the back wall. As an audience member, shorter scene changes would have helped with the cohesive nature of the experience and audience emersion. The prop department did well to souse a prop for every occasion, such is necessary to the realism style, without overburdening the show.

Vivian Broadbent made some interesting choices in her direction of ‘The Great Gatsby’. In particular, Broadbent’s vision for the stylised car crash and leaving of Myrtle’s body and the grieving George on stage for much of the final scenes was a bold choice. The addition of the ensemble to create the outlines of the aeroplane and the car was a fun comedic touch. Hannah Kennedy’s dual work as both actor and choreographer did not get missed. The dance numbers showcased the style of the period, proving that the Charleston will always be cool.

The cast of Villanova Player’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ did well to tackle this classic piece. The ensemble provided a nice ambience for all the crowd scenes which is integral to the party atmosphere. Hayden Parsons’ physicality as Jay Gatsby demonstrated a lofty arrogance in his position and relationships, this facade only started to crumble towards the end of the show. On the other hand, Lachlan Gregory Hugh brought a contemplative and solum nature to the narrator, Nick Carraway.

The two leading ladies Hannah Kennedy and Isabella Arthur tackled their roles with gusto the ladies exuded wealth. The vocal highlight of the show came from Oscar Kennedy’s portrayal of Tom Buchanan. And I would not be finished if I did make a special mention of Nathan Seng’s Mayer Wolfsheim and his human molar cufflinks.

Whilst I question whether there could have been more of a focus on what it is that makes ‘The Great Gatsby’ relevant today, it was nice to see school groups there getting a better insight into the text. I hope this show only grows and becomes more polished with each performance. It was fun to see the extravagant 1920s come to life and relive my high school days reading this classic.

‘The Great Gatsby’ performs until Sunday, 23 March 2025 at The Ron Hurley Theatre. For more information visit Villanova Players’ website.