The Great Gatsby Musical
Rating: ★★★★
Venue: London Coliseum
Cast: Jamie Muscato, Frances Mayli McCann, Corbin Bleu, Amber Davies, Joel Montague, John Owen-Jones, Jon Robyns and Rachel Tucker

The Great Gatsby is a musical based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel of the same name. It tells the tale of the lonely and mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby, who hosts elaborate parties at his Long Island mansion. However, instead of joining in, he pines after Daisy Buchanan, the woman he loved before he became the wealthy man everyone knew him as.

This year marks 100 years of F. Scott Fitzgerald's timeless literary classic, The Great Gatsby. After roaring success on Broadway, the party is finally open in London's West End, hosting a cast of some of the best talent you'll likely ever see on the same stage.

The story is set in the 1920's and follows first-person narrator Nick Carraway as he meets his new neighbour, the ever-mysterious and elusive, Jay Gatsby. Paired with Gatsby's ex-flame, Daisy Buchanan and Daisy's fiery best friend, Jordan Baker, the character's lives begin to tangle with each other's and love quickly blurs into obsession.

Directed by Marc Bruni, this production isn't simply an adaptation, but rather an immersion into it. We're transported to the roaring twenties from the very first note of the production; a jazz-infused score paired with some of the most transformative and grand set designs I've ever seen, from Paul Tate dePoo III, and lavish costumes bursting with glitz and glamour from Linda Cho.

The casting is of the very highest calibre and you'd be hard-pressed to find a more talented group of performers on stage. Corbin Bleu is undoubtedly the beating heart of the show. While he may not be the strongest vocally among the principal cast members, his acting and characterisation of Nick Carraway is nothing short of perfection. Bleu's Carraway paired with Amber Davies' bold and progressive portrayal of Jordan Baker is a match made in musical theatre heaven and their undeniable chemistry steals the show.

Jamie Muscato and Frances Mayli McCann have two of the most powerful voices currently on the West End circuit, so it should come as no surprise that both their solo numbers and duets are simply sublime, down to each and every note. Muscato's "For Her" and McCann's "Beautiful Little Fool" are oozing with unbridled emotion and their voices soar, blending with one another's in perfect harmony.

While the showstopping numbers are undoubtedly supposed to be "Roaring On" and "New Money" due to their sheer size and impressiveness, I found myself more drawn to the high camp and unexpectedly witty numbers; "Only Tea", performed by Muscato and "The Met", performed by Bleu.

In this production of The Great Gatsby, it isn't just the grandeur and opulence of the sets and costumes that transports the audience to the roaring twenties—it's the compelling and layered musical direction from Chris Ma. From the pulsating energy of swing and glamour, to the sweeping and romantic drama; every tempo shift is clear in its storytelling, elevating this spectacle of a production to one that has both soul and undeniable depth.

Where the production falters slightly is in its tone and pacing. Gatsby and Daisy's relationship feels somewhat rushed, and devoid of any real joy; not allowing the audience to feel any kind of attachment to their love, which unfortunately means the ending isn't quite as impactful as it should be. I would also advise sitting as close as possible to the stage for your visit. The Coliseum is a behemoth of a theatre, and there's a slight disconnect from the cast if you sit too far back, but that is only to be expected from a theatre of that size.

This adaptation of The Great Gatsby is bold, seductive and a dazzling spectacle that truly deserves its time on a West End stage. Catch it while the green light still glows.

You can book tickets to see The Great Gatsby Musical, here.

**photo credit: Johan Persson**