by Tina Ritaj

A Gilded Spectacle with a Few Cracks Beneath the Gold

Broadway’s stage adaptation of The Great Gatsby has arrived in Austin, Texas, playing March 10–15 at the Bass Concert Hall, and from the very first moment, it makes one thing abundantly clear: this is a show that wants to dazzle. And dazzle it does. In fact, the production itself with its visual splendor, lavish costumes, and roaring-party atmosphere often feels like the true star of the evening.

From the rise of the curtain, the show is a feast for the senses. Glittering costumes, opulent sets, gleaming automobiles, and relentless Art Deco glamour flood the stage, immersing the audience in the intoxicating excess of the 1920s. The production’s award-winning costume design earns every accolade; each look feels meticulously crafted to evoke wealth, aspiration, and spectacle. At its best, the show succeeds in transporting us straight into Gatsby’s world, offering a front-row seat to the era’s indulgence, classism, and deeply ingrained misogyny.

Yet for all its visual triumphs, the adaptation struggles when it comes to narrative and character, particularly for audiences who enjoyed Fitzgerald’s novel. While the story has been reinterpreted with a contemporary lens, that update comes at a cost. Much of the novel’s lyrical prose, emotional nuance, and thematic weight feels diluted, leaving the storytelling less resonant than its source material. The bones of The Great Gatsby are here, but some of its soul feels lost in translation.

That said, there are standout performances that anchor the production. Joshua Grosso’s Nick Carraway is a clear highlight. His understated stage presence, combined with a gentle humor and emotional sincerity, brings depth to the role. Grosso’s performance feels the most faithful to Fitzgerald’s original vision of Nick which is observant, and conflicted. His singing is electric, and his portrayal provides a much-needed emotional throughline amid the spectacle.

Will Branner’s Tom Buchanan is another success. Branner leans fully into Tom’s menace and entitlement, making him a character the audience loves to hate. His performance effectively embodies the arrogance of men in power during the era, particularly in moments where Tom openly resents those who served in the war during Gatsby’s parties. It’s an unsettling but effective portrayal that underscores the story’s social tensions.

The central love story, however, is where the production falters most. Jake Dave Smith’s Jay Gatsby lacks the commanding stage presence one expects from such an iconic figure. While likeable, his Gatsby feels too naïve and gentle, missing the mystique and intensity that define the character in the novel. It isn’t until the final moments of the show that hints of the “real” Gatsby finally emerge. Similarly, Senzel Ahmady’s Daisy Buchanan is difficult to fully connect with. Her portrayal oscillates between self-awareness and submission within an abusive relationship making it challenging to emotionally invest in her plight.

Where the show truly comes alive is in its ensemble numbers. The company of dancers and singers is vibrant, alluring, and endlessly entertaining. The party scenes are lavish, loud, and exuberant and are easily the most memorable moments of the night. The choreography excites with so much energy, and one can’t help but wish there were even more opportunities to party.

Ultimately, this Great Gatsby is a triumph of design and atmosphere, if not of storytelling. The beauty of the sets, costumes, and ensemble performances makes the experience well worth the time, even as the adaptation struggles to fully capture the novel’s emotional and literary depth. Leaving the theater, one feels compelled to return to Fitzgerald’s prose to realign with the original Gatsby and to rediscover what may have been softened in this visually stunning reinterpretation.

Key Cast Members:
Jake David Smith: Jay Gatsby
Senzel Ahmady: Daisy Buchanan
Joshua Grosso: Nick Carraway
Leanne Robinson: Jordan Baker
Will Branner: Tom Buchanan
Lila Coogan: Myrtle Wilson
Tally Sessions: George Wilson
Edward Staudenmayer: Meyer WolfsheimMusical Numbers
Act 1

“Roaring On” – Nick Carraway, Company
“Absolute Rose” – Daisy, Jordan, Tom, Nick
“New Money” – Jordan, Nick, Wolfsheim, Company
“For Her” – Gatsby
“Valley of Ashes” – Wilson
“Second-Hand Suit” – Myrtle, Tom, Company
“For Better or Worse” – Daisy
“The Met” – Nick
“Only Tea” – Gatsby, Nick, Company
“Only Tea (Reprise)” – Nick, Jordan
“My Green Light” – Gatsby, Daisy

Act 2

“Shady” – Wolfsheim, Company
“Better Hold Tight” – Nick, Jordan
“Past Is Catching Up to Me” – Gatsby
“La Dee Dah With You” – Gilda Gray, Company
“Go” – Daisy, Gatsby
“Made to Last” – Tom, Gatsby, Jordan, Nick
“One-Way Road” – Myrtle
“God Sees Everything” – Wilson
“For Her (Reprise)” – Gatsby, Nick, Wilson
“New Money (Reprise)” – Company
“Beautiful Little Fool” – Daisy
“Finale: Roaring On” – Nick, Company