What a fun evening!
When I left one of Jay Gatsby’s famous parties held at “The Vaults” Theatre last night, I felt fantastic.
I had helped Jordan Baker twice up and down the table she danced on and she told me that she “loves big parties as they are so intimate”. Later I had danced the limbo with Daisy Fay Buchanan after having settled an argument between her and her second cousin Nick Carraway regarding marriage. Prior to that Nick had shaken my hand during his welcome speech, only to vouch to forget me immediately. I was now Jay Gatsby’s business partner – he had taken me into his private room for champagne and a very special business proposal – ahem – poker game. As I had followed his instructions precisely, come World Series finals, I will take his business card and shall follow through on our little arrangement. Later in the evening, George Wilson, husband of Myrtle Wilson who seemed strangely close to Daisy’s husband Tom Buchanan, had asked me to step aside from the piano that I was leaning on so that he could sing a song.
But most importantly: I had witnessed Jay Gatsby look at Daisy the way every girl wants to be looked at!
What a fun evening!
On arrival at The Vaults Theatre located under Waterloo station, I wasn’t quite sure about what I had gotten myself into when I got my ticket for “The Great Gatsby”. The Graffiti in the tunnel leading to The Vaults under Waterloo station was fresh. As suggested, I was dressed for the occasion in a pin-striped suite with a perfectly folded pocket square. Once ushered in there was a bar area. Looking around it wasn’t clear who was guest and who was actor. Beautiful dresses from the 1920’s. Hair up elegantly for the occasion. After I had my drink I socialized a bit – being by myself I ended up taking several pictures of people. Then a gentlemen that turned out to be Nick Caraway simply started with an opening prologue, making his way through the crowd, setting up the scene we were all part of and eventually ushering us into Jay Gatsby’s not so humble abounds.
A party setting awaited for us. A gentleman in a white Tuxedo watched us on a balcony. Music. Dancing. The audience was all part of it and participation was key. I had taken a seat at a table when Jordan Baker (Holly Beasley-Garrigan) walked up to me, asked me to help her onto the table. Music. The company is dancing to Charleston music warming up us the audience. Great conversation with Ms. Baker. She likes big parties “because they are so intimate”. Daisy (Amy Burns Walker) and Nick (Daniel Dingsdale) walked up to the group I was standing with and asked us to settle an argument about a rumor. More dancing. About 20 of us were told that Mr. Gatsby expects us in his private study.
There he was. A smile to remember. Jay Gatsby (Oliver Tilney) He poured champagne and discussed with us what we would do if we would have not to worry about money. He makes a business proposition that I have the sense will involve a gentleman called Meyer Wolfshiem.
Now I am into it … following the specific instructions given. Yes, Jay – I followed through and have the instructions that I at the bar. I recommend to try the “Green Light” at the bar – a fabulous gin drink.
What makes all of this so cool is the audience’s immersion into the story. We are all part of it. We witness Tom Buchanan’s affair with Myrtle. George’s plea to her to leave. Meanwhile, Daisy (Amy Burns Walker) walks up to me, grabs my hand and dances me through a Limbo line. “It’s better with two people”, she says. Ms. Baker calls me by my name by now. Myrtle Wilson (Veronica Hare) is brilliant in her emotions between her husband and lover, and then right next to me at the bar 🙂
As the evening progresses, we are all part of the tea scene between Daisy and Jay Gatsby, with Nick at the side. Tom joins the party and they all decide to hit the city I realize that this is the part of the story that will end badly with Myrtle’s death. The scene in which Gatsby confronts Tom that Daisy never loved him and pushes Daisy to say so, is played brilliantly. You could hear a needle drop in the theater as we stand by and watch Daisy’s emotions.
When the party ends to the company singing to “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”, I don’t really want it to end, but we as the audience have been cooled down by now as some key characters have died.
What a great mix of show and party! The immersion theatre approach really worked for me. For the most fun it is best to come in appropriate clothes and to interact with the characters as much as you can. There was not really a way to applaud much after the show, it ended as seamless as it had started with Nick just starting to speak in the bar at the beginning, with the characters disappearing.
Hats up to the company of “The Guild of Misrule” – it was great partying with you!
StageAficionado 