REVIEW: THE GREAT GATSBY at Golden Goose Theatre 9 – 11 January 2025

‘Frothy, high energy and fast paced’ ★★★★

THE GREAT GATSBY written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, gets an energetic adaptation to mark 100 years since it was published in 1925. Written and directed by Leopold Benedict, he takes a whistle-stop tour of the Jazz Age classic, throwing in everything to bring the period to life and give the story absolute clarity. 

The novel is set in post war America, a time of prosperity as well as a time of corruption, prohibition, class war and social change. The 1920s marked an era of change for women too, giving them more agency in their own lives, to live by their own rules. Fitzgerald’s short fiction hones into the zeitgeist with a tantalizing tone which Benedict has striven to reproduce in his play.

The storytelling is enhanced by jazz age songs, dances and props. The costumes (designed by Ruth Norwood) echo the period in a constant stream of quick changes for the cast of seven. Travel is portrayed by model automobiles and physical theatre which adds a fun element to the show.  Hats off to the cast who work tirelessly, in some cases performing multiple roles. Here, a special mention to Saskia Marguerite for star quality as she tackles several roles in quick succession. 

The characterisations were spot on. Particular praise to Alex Figueiredo as Nick Carraway, the narrator of the piece, the story is told from his perspective.  Figueiredo is a constant presence on stage, commenting on the action with his exceptionally expressive face. That moment when the snobby Tom Buchanon (Andrew Mockler) knocks his mistress to the ground is given a particular relevance as the marked pause and shocked faces remind us of the irony. Not all posh people are lovely after all. 

Also praise to the accents used, being specific to the age and the location of the story, along a corridor stretching from New York City to the suburbs known as West and East Egg. They sound authentic, although a person local to that area might see it differently, it was good enough for a London audience. Leopold Benedict playing the role of Gatsby had a particularly practised cadence, both confident and pleasing to the ear. 

There is so much to admire in the play, so it seems a little churlish to mention that the demands of this adaptation might have been more suitable for a musical theatre cast (with triple threat skills for the dancing and singing). Of course, we could expect the actors to have more depth in their dramatisations but you cannot have it both ways. We might have expected that the traumas suffered by the characters, might have been more devastating to watch. Instead, we are given a frothy, high energy and fast paced production, which is pleasing to the eye and brings clarity to Fitzgerald’s classic. 

London Premiere 

Golden Goose Theatre, Camberwell

9 – 11 January 2025 

146 Camberwell New Rd, London SE5 0RR 

Box Office https://www.goldengoosetheatre.co.uk/whatson/the-great-gatsby- 

Further London dates

Etcetera Theatre, Camden 14 – 16 January 2025

Box Office https://www.citizenticket.com/events/etcetera-theatre/the-great-gatsby/ 

Creative Team: 

Writer and Director: Leopold Benedict │ Associate Director: Tim Faulkner 

Producers: Phoebe Scholfield & Anastasia Bunce │Associate Producer: Grantly Marshall 

Set Design: Philippe & Antoine Gurrey │ Graphic Design: Anja Tornack 

Costume Design: Ruth Norwood │Lighting Design: James Denny 

Sound Design: Sarah Spencer │Choreography: Aila Floyd 

Cast: 

Alex Figueiredo - Nick Carraway 

Leopold Benedict & Sonny Pilgrem - (alternating) James Gatz / George Wilson 

Saskia Marguerite - Jordan Baker 

Éloise O’Connor & Lois Baglin - (alternating) Daisy Buchanan / Myrtle Wilson 

Andrew Mockler - Tom Buchanan / Meyer Wolfsheim