“The cast gave it everything – it was wonderful to see such dedication from a talented bunch. Standouts were Hannah Raven as Jordan Baker, Alicia Rose Quinn as Myrtle, and Ryan Hodson as Nick Carroway, our eyes and ears of the story“
Alana Kaye 3 /5 glasses of champagne
Whether you do or don’t like the tragic, melancholic and (some say) romantic story of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, you’re probably familiar with the plot.
A new immersive production at Wonderland Bar in King Cross provides an opportunity to be witness to Jay Gatsby’s world of wealth, scandal and decadent parties. And not just through the window as voyeurs – you’ll be truly enveloped, whether you like it or not.
Adapted by Aaron Buck and directed by Beth Daly, this show will take you through the various rooms and levels of the building, while scenes play out all around you. If you’ve ever been to a performance by UK theatre group Punchdrunk, you’ll know what you’re in for. If you’re used to the kind of theatre where you sit in a chair and the actors are on a stage out of reach, you’re in for a wild ride.
And not always in a good way. Theatre like this needs some controlled chaos to maintain interest, intrigue and energy, but unfortunately this particular production (from Viral Ventures Global) doesn’t quite manage to reign in the chaos.
This could also have something to do with a rather rowdy and fairly tipsy crowd in attendance at the show I saw. The actors handled themselves with grace, but the group bordered on disrespectful at times and definitely added to the uncomfortable, unhinged energy on opening night. Overall there was an uneasiness as a viewer that detracted from the show.
The cast gave it everything – it was wonderful to see such dedication from a talented bunch. Standouts were Hannah Raven as Jordan Baker, Alicia Rose Quinn as Myrtle, and Ryan Hodson as Nick Carroway, our eyes and ears of the story.
Praise must go to designer Brendan de la Hay. Each room the audience venture into has been beautifully dressed, from a giant neon moon and fluttering white ostrich feathers, to a psychedelic party room with giant tiger print stiletto chairs and disco balls, to a quaint garden setup with swinging loveseat and greenery all around. A magical transformation for this old, dark building.
The venue, whilst kooky and spooky, is a tad small for an audience of 20 or more. Smaller groups would allow for better sight lines and perhaps a few more opportunities for delicious ‘choose your own adventure’ style moments. You’ll get one, where three characters leave the room in different directions and you get to choose which one you want to follow. More of these would have been great.
It felt like a bit of a long night, and that’s probably thanks in part to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s overly drawn-out storyline. The interludes, while entertaining and a great opportunity for the cast to show off various skills (burlesque, singing, tap dancing, piano playing), could be shortened to keep up the pace and chop off perhaps 20 minutes of a 2-and-a-half-hour show.
In any iteration, the Roaring 20’s is always a fun theme, and the cast certainly look like they’re having fun. This show has a long run (until June this year) so there is plenty of time for them to settle into their roles and find the correct pacing and energy for the show. The beauty of this style of theatre is that it will be different every time – for actor and audience – so it could be interesting to see how this version of The Great Gatsby develops over time by going back in a couple of months!
Tip: You’ll walk around and stand a lot, so wear comfy shoes, although dressing up in 20’s gear is encouraged!
Alana Kaye, Theatre Now
Event Details
