The Great Gatsby: A New Musical (The Musical) *Warning, Contains Spoilers*

As many may know, there have been many adaptations to the Great Gatsby. The famous novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald has been adapted in countless books, movies and musicals. But what is the most recent, well known musical? The Tony award winning musical The Great Gatsby: A New Musical written by Kait Kerrigan on Broadway is raising popularity. The book is set in the roaring 20’s with lavish parties, heartbreak and so much more. But what is it about?

Synopsis

The Great Gatsby starts off with the opening number, “Roaring On” as Nick Carroway sings about his struggles after the war and about how he left from Minnesota to New York to get a fresh start. The next number, “Absolute Rose” introduces Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan and Jordan Baker as Daisy tries to get Jordan and Nick together. Jordan then states that she will be going to Jay Gatsby’s party and tells Nick that he should come with her. The next number, “New Money” introduces Jay Gatsby’s extravagant party with fireworks and champagne towers. However, none can find Jay Gatsby. As a car approaches they tell Nick that Jay wants to speak to him. This is the start of the number: “For Her” where Jay Gatsby expresses his longing to get back together with Daisy Buchanan who he lost touch with after serving in the war. He then explains his plan to reunite with Daisy but needs Nick’s help. 

The next scene jumps to George Wilson’s gas station where he sings “The Valley of Ashes” as he expresses his dreams shattering because of his failed business to a billboard: The Eyes of Doc which exposes the reality of being in the working class. Suddenly, Tom and Nick are seen heading to get some gas as they are going to the “MET”. Tom then offers Myrtle Wilson a ride to the city as she is “visiting her sister”. They then leave as Myrtle sings “Second-Hand Suit” as she expresses her regret of marrying George because she is sick of being a part of the working class. Daisy talks about her marriage with Tom and her knowledge of Tom’s affair and Jordan’s beliefs about marriage in “For Better Or Worse”

It is then revealed that Tom has been cheating on Daisy with Myrtle in secret as the number “The Met” starts. (I will not go into much detail about this number) Nick realises what Tom is doing and later agrees to Gatsby about his plan. The scene then jumps to the number “Only Tea” when Gatsby expresses his worries about the arrangement to reunite with Daisy. When Daisy and Jordan arrive it starts to rain and Gatsby and Daisy go inside Nick’s cottage. Jordan and Nick stay outside as the mock Gatsby and Daisy and realise that they like each other. The next number “My Green Light” is when Gatsby and Daisy go to Gatsby’s mansion and start to have an affair. This is when the intermission starts.

At the start of act 2, we get greeted with “Shady” where Wolfshiem expresses his secrecy. In the number “Better Hold Tight”, Jordan proposes to Nick as their relationship becomes more intimate. Gatsby is now certain that Daisy will leave Tom for him so, in “The Past Is Catching Up To Me” he plans a party to ensure that. 

The party scene is set and it’s big and grand as we get introduced to Gilda Grey, the performer that Gatsby hired as she sings “La Dee Da With You” completed with tap dancers. Daisy and Gatsby gets their moment as she expresses her desire to run away with him in “Go”. Sadly, this was cut short as Tom demanded Daisy to leave but Daisy convinces him to take her to the plaza hotel with Jordan, Nick and Gatsby. Tom, Nick and Jordan go together as they stop at Wilson’s garage and Jordan purposely very loudly so Myrtle hears said that they are going to the Plaza Hotel. This makes Myrtle want to go as she is pregnant with Tom’s child and he does not yet know about it. 

Once they arrive at the Plaza, Tom realizes Daisy and Gatsby’s affair and confronts them. Starting the number “Made To Last” Tom reveals that Gatsby makes his wealth off of bootlegging alcohol as this was a period of prohibition (alcohol was made illegal in America by the 18th amendment).This forces everyone to leave the hotel. The number “For Better or Worse (reprise)” is when Jordan expresses her fear that all marriage will end just like Daisy and Tom’s relationship. Otherwise saying that she thinks that their relationship is prone to the same outcome. The scene skips to Myrtle singing “One Way Road”, who is walking to the Plaza hotel at night and then gets hit by a car. Not any car in fact but Gatsby’s yellow Rolls Royce. Tom, Jordan and Nick see the scene and realise that Jordan was the one that got Myrtle to go to the plaza which resulted in Myrtle’s death. Jordan wants to stay quiet but Nick disagrees and calls off their wedding. Tom informs the police that the Rolls Royce was in fact Gatsby’s car. George later grieves in “God Sees Everything”. Nick later finds Gatsby going for a swim alone at his mansion when Gatsby reveals that it was Daisy that was driving the car and hit Myrtle. He thinks that Daisy is going to visit him and says that he wants to take the hit. Nick then leaves and when Gatsby goes for a swim, George arrives and kills Gatsby then himself as he believes that it was Gatsby that killed his wife in “For Her (reprise)” 

The next scene shows Gatsby’s funeral as Nick is the only friend of his that attended. Everyone gossips about Gatsby’s death in “New Money (reprise)”. Nick then confronts Daisy asking why she didn’t attend his funeral as she reveals that she and Tom are moving to Honolulu. Daisy sings about how she hopes that her daughter would not be like her and be a “Beautiful Little Fool”. Otherwise saying that she doesn’t want her to realise the harsh reality of marriage for women. The concluding number “Finale: Roaring On” Nick decides to move back to the midwest as he visits Gatsby’s abandoned mansion. He swears that he sees Gatsby again staring into the greenlight.

The Musical’s Origins 

The musical adaptation originally started in New Jersey at Paper Mill Playhouse and transferred to Broadway in 2024 starting previews and facing immense and significant changes. Now playing at the Broadway theatre in Manhattan, the musical is just as grand and great as it was, if not, better completed with pyro, better sets and new costumes. The original cast included 28 people. The principal roles included Eva Noblezala as Daisy, Jeremy Jordan as Gatsby, Noah J. Ricketts as Nick, Samantha Pauly as Jordan, John Zdrojeski as Tom, Sara Chase as Myrtle, Paul Whitty as George, Eric Anderson as Wolfshiem and Darianna Mullen as Gilda Grey. The Great Gatsby eventually opened many different productions in The West End, Seoul and embarked on a North American Tour. 

The Musicals Controversy 

Since the musical has been rather controversial since it opened on Broadway as many have been saying that it is nothing like the original novel. Personally, I think that it is a great representation of the novel but it just expands a bit more on different aspects like Jordan and Nick’s relationship which I enjoyed but many others didn’t. The characters definitely changed quite a bit, expanding on everyone emotionally. According to Entertainment Weekly, “Now, the Great Gatsby is the latest to throw its boater hat into the ring in a lavish new production that sadly, values spectacle over substance.” So, what do you think about the Great Gatsby? As the musical starts to grow, it reminds audiences why the iconic novel F. Scott Fitzgerald is so popular. I think that you should go and see The Great Gatsby, old sport.