GROSVENOR PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE – UNTIL 27TH AUGUST 2023
REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN
5*****
This summer season from the 1st of July until the 27th of August, two magical timeless tales are running at the Grosvenor Park Open Theatre. With a magical festival atmosphere and theatre-in-the-round, these stories are brought to life under the starry skies, by the Storyhouse. This year, they have extended their programme to include live music, comedy, children’s theatre and more.
This year Deborah McAndrew’s adaption of the beloved American classic, The Great Gatsby makes its world premiere at the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre. Based on the magnificent novel by F Scott Fitzgerald, it explores international themes, including indiscretion, societal standards, morality, fate and destiny. Each character represents a common identity everyone can connect with.
Set in roaring 20’s. Gatsby (Daniel Burke) is a man who successfully, if unethical, worked his way to fortune and hosts extravagant soirees. The host, however, is never seen during these parties and is never completely known by any one person. Gatsby’s neighbour, Nick Carraway (Thomas Cotran) narrates Gatsby’s tragic and ultimately fall from the world of the rich and famous. Gatsby hopes to pursue Nick’s cousin Daisy (Molly-Grace Cutler), with whom he had a love affair that he never forgotten. But Daisy is married to the violent and savage Tom Buchanan (Laurie Jamieson), who has a mistress, Myrtle (Alyce Liburd) on the side. As the love triangle threatens to tear their lives apart, the glamour of pretentious living proves to be no more than an appearance covering their emptiness.
Performing in-the-round and on bark is not an easy task but the cast utilizes the floor area and appears from all corners of the theatre. In the beginning, we the audience are asked to rise as the magistrate comes onto the stage. Then Cotran’s character, Nick appears from a seat in the audience, and he engages every person in the auditorium and ensures we see everything that unfolds through his eyes.
Most of the cast and supporting ensemble not only act but play musical instruments live on stage and perform simple dance movements. Some of the audience members got invited to join the cast on the stage, dancing the Charleston, making the evening an immersive experience. A particular mention must go to all the cast as they also play characters simultaneously in Shakespeare’s A Midsummers Night Dream at the Open Air Theatre, during their run this summer.
Part of making this theatre accessible to all, the actors’ spoken words are converted into visible text via two display screens, making it easy to follow with the action on stage and helps to still follow the story when noises from the park interferes.
There is a lovely atmosphere in the audience with it being held outdoors. Whether you are a fan of the book, the film or play in general, you will find something wonderful here.