Review: Welcome to the Party, Old Sport! Theatre Raleigh Dazzles with Immersive Gatsby’s Prohibition Party
The Great Gatsby is having a resurgence, particularly among theater lovers, thanks to the new Gatsby productions opening on Broadway and the American Repertory Theater production in Boston.
Theatre Raleigh has taken this one step further and created its own immersive experience, complete with musical numbers, drinks, and a visit from Jay Gatsby himself. Written by F. Scott Fitzgerld, The Great Gatsby has long since become a symbol of life in the Roaring 20s, full of fun, glam, and the seductive life of the nouveau riche. The novel tells the story of Jay Gatsby (Keagan Kermode) and his never ending love for Daisy Buchanan (Calli Brielle McIntyre), who is unhappily married to Tom Buchanan (Sai Graham), while he is having an affair with Myrtle Wilson (Carly Grissom). Narrated by Gatsby’s neighbor and Daisy’s cousin Nick Carraway (Jordan Clifton), the novel provides a glimpse behind the Prohibition curtain and the charmed life we have come to associate with the 1920s.
The entry way full of props, period pieces, and newspaper clippings
Theatre Raleigh’s immersive show and cocktail experience leans all in on the Gatsby charm and the allure of a forbidden speakeasy. When guests arrive, they are led to an unassuming side door of the theater and herded into a room full of period costumes and Prohibition-era newspaper clippings. In true Prohibition form, they are led into yet another hallway and given a secret knock before a man in a dapper suit peers from behind the curtain and quickly ushers guests into the Gatsby mansion. Once inside, guests are greeted by the lovely Grissom and her tower of champagne, the first of three drinks included with the price of admission. Mocktail options are also available for all three drinks throughout the event.
Guests are encouraged to wear their 20’s best, and I am happy to report so many delivered. Sparkly fringe dresses, feathered and bedazzled headbands, and fedora-and-suspender-combinations all add to the giddy fun of the evening. After all, when else do we get an excuse to dress in such glamorous pieces?
As guests trickle in, performers take the stage and entertain with dancy, jazzy, upbeat numbers before guests are escorted to their seats through Gatsby’s iconic gardens, lined with trees and drink number two, The Daisy Peach (peach vodka, grapefruit juice, simple syrup, and topped with soda water) before entering the enticing world that is Gatsby’s mansion. With a set draped in sparkling gold and the infamous green light at the end of the dock, the effect is entrancing.
The production is narrated by Nick as he hits the book’s major plot points, giving each character their own moment to shine with musical numbers and songs from an era gone by. McIntyre shines as the lovely Daisy, and gives the character her own sass and charisma as she pours her heart out to her long lost love Gatsby. Her song “Someone to Watch Over Me” (originally by Ella Fitzgerald) is full of love and loss, giving McIntyre the space to shine.
Grissom and her champagne tower
In contrast to Daisy’s sleek elegance, Grissom is electric as the complicated Myrtle as she strikes the delicate balance between drunken lover and woman in love. As she tells the story of her affair with Tom, she combines comedic timing and emotional delivery, all while singing with a voice that is rich, smooth, and layered with tone and throatiness, capturing that 1920s style. Coupled with her flawless, jazzy, seductive dance technique (and brilliant choreography from Krista Saab Bennett), Grissom lights up the stage.
Kermode’s Gatsby is suave and elegant, charming not only Daisy, but his audience as well. His moments with McIntyre are soft and pure with palpable chemistry, particularly during his number “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra. As they reunite for the first time, audiences are invited to get up and dance with their own loved ones. The room was on its feet, filling the space with hopeful and wholesome expressions of love, be it romantic, friendship, or giddy sisterly giggles. It is this sort of audience interaction that makes this particular event at Theatre Raleigh special. Audiences are not forced to take part, but they are given subtle ways to join in the silliness and fun of the evening. As they dance, drink number three is passed around: The Roadster, made with brandy, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.
Graham entertains guests as they arrive at the party
Clifton and Graham bring their own charisma to the stage. Graham’s Tom may be explosive and volatile, but his musical numbers are silky smooth and drip with showmanship, while Clifton brings his own charm to the role as he croons with the best of them.
Of course, one cannot discuss the 1920s without discussing the infamous fashion of the decade. Costume designer Denise Schumaker more than rises to the challenge, dressing Myrtle and Daisy in jewel-colored gowns decorated with sparkling sequins, beading, and fringe, and Kermode, Clifton, and Graham in only the most elegant silk and tuxedos. Together, the effect is exquisite.
Full of lighthearted fun, Gatsby’s Prohibition Party at Theatre Raleigh manages to bottle joy and exuberance. Sure it’s a little hokey, but we all need a little hokey fun in our lives. What better way to do so than by immersing yourself in the dazzling world of The Great Gatsby?
The production features scenic design by Becca Fowler, lighting design by Chris Bernier, sound design by Parker Gagnier, production stage management from Dawn Locklear, and drink design and back of house management from Kristin Sears.
Gatsby’s Prohibition Party runs at Theatre Raleigh through April 28, 2024. Tickets can be purchased here. Guests must be at least 21 years old. The production runs approximately 75 minutes with no intermission.
Feature photo credit to Jennifer Robertson Photography