The Great Gatsby is perhaps one of the best loved books of the twentieth century: for a student to adapt Fitzgerald’s novel for the stage may seem a nigh-impossible feat. But adapting The Great Gatsby is exactly what Issy Gately sets out to do, and Issy, old sport, you do it well.

The production is smooth, a quality essential for a play attempting to capture the decadence of the 1920s Jazz Age. Technical decisions are well-made, the minimal but adequate set being shifted by members of the cast, some dressed as servants, in full lighting. Rather than detracting from the realistic interpretation the cast set out to achieve, this adds to the effect of bustle, creating a sense of the living, breathing world which makes possible the splendour of Gatsby’s parties. The music is well-chosen, jazzy riffs filtering through not only the party scenes but also subtly melting into the background of monologues to add depth to the actors’ speeches.

The actors, for the most part, fulfil the roles created by Fitzgerald to great success. Dan Stanyon must be mentioned for his perfect portrayal of Nick Carraway, whose likeable, unassuming manner carries great weight in tying the play together and ensuring the interest of the audience. Several of Nick’s monologues and lines have acquired an iconic literary status, but Stanyon delivers these with great presence. Eleanor Colville impeccably captures the similarly famous (or infamous) voice of Daisy Buchanan, the voice ‘full of money’. The breathy quality Colville brings to the role, as well as the absolute sincerity with which she reels off the most insignificant emotions and ideas, light up the play with Daisy’s character.

Colville is well-paired with Ben Brodie (as Tom Buchanan): their relationship is both one of believable hatred and tangible dependence. The scenes between them on the hot day when the group decide to travel to New York are particularly well-realised, Brodie’s supressed anger with Gatsby and Daisy, and the underlying tenderness he has for his wife, being brought out fully as he asks Daisy recollect when they were first married.

The supporting actors, such as Lily Linden and Jodie Coates, who play the roles of women at the parties, deserve commendation for the way in which they capture the spirit of shamelessness and spectacle. They add great life to the show; the opening is particularly memorable as the cast flood onto the stage with the party in full flow. Daniel Tozelko also deserves special mention for his comical Wolfsheim. Gately’s adaption is strong on humour as a whole, and there are frequent bursts of laughter at some of Jordan Baker’s (Flo Sagers) more humorous lines.

Gatsby himself is frequently humorous in this production, but I remark this with more trepidation than commendation. Sean Flynn, while to be commended for capturing of Gatsby’s distraction and obsession with Daisy, does not have the same presence as the other actors in this production. He is more helpless than one would expect of the ambitious (if vaguely delusive) Gatsby; while he draws out the comic sides of Gatsby’s infatuation, he is not the memorable ‘Great Gatsby’ who is ‘worth the whole damn bunch’ – although ‘the bunch’ here are particularly talented.

There are other minor flaws: the scene where Tom lashes out at Myrtle (Ellie Beveridge) is overdrawn, which spoils the dramatic climax of Tom’s violence. Myrtle herself is flighty, as one would expect, but there seems no real grounding to her role, and her description of meeting Tom comes across as extraneous. Flo Sagers embodies the look and mannerisms of Jordan Baker, but there is something rather flat about her performance, her postures being overly affected. There are small issues with the adaptation, such as the awkwardness of returning to the opening party after a shift backwards in time. But overall, this production is well worth watching for Gatsby fans and newbies alike. The costumes are wonderful (props to Costume Designer Ellie Beveridge), the American accents are (mostly) spot on, and a much-loved story is well-translated into quite a short play. As the actors played to an almost full auditorium on the opening night, the atmosphere was one of enjoyment: book your tickets now.