This weekend Michael and I were invited to attend the opening performance of The Great Gatsby at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company in Cincinnati. Now, neither one of us are professional theatre reviewers, but we thought this performance of the Great Gatsby was outstanding. We always enjoy shows in this intimate theater, and because we’ve been to so many shows we’re starting to feel like we’re getting to know the actors and actresses. We find it interesting to watch how they change with each show and each different character. We chatted about the movie when we got home for a long time because we were so caught up in it even after leaving the theater. We both agreed that all of the actors and actresses played their roles perfectly.
I was surprised that Gatsby could be captured in a play that is less than two hours long, but this cast and crew did it. They brought the roaring twenties to life on a small stage and captured the essence of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s epic novel with minimal sets and props and costumes that left me wishing I had been born in the era of flappers. I left the show feeling like it’s high time to pick this book up again for a re-read.
The Great Gatsby will be playing now through October 4th the dates and ticket information are below. If you are interested in going I highly suggest you grab your tickets soon, as performances are quickly selling out. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company also offers season subscriptions, and I can tell you…it sounds like it’s going to be an amazing season! The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is one of our favorite places for a date night, and if you are lucky enough to go on an opening night it’s a fantastic celebration with complimentary appetizers, wine and beer (including their special brew from Christian Moerlein, “Much A-Brew About Nothing”). And after opening night performances you can mingle with the entire production company in the lobby after the show as they celebrate the show’s opening. I’m so glad Cincinnati has this gem of a theatre!
More Details about The Great Gatsby ::
It is the height of prohibition and young Nick Carraway (Justin McCombs) has taken up residence in Long Island’s “West Egg”, home to the nouveau riche near his cousin Daisy Buchannan (Sara Clark). He is soon befriended by his neighbor, the mysterious Jay Gatsby (Jared Joplin), and is drawn into his glitzy, if garish, world of lavish parties and secret speakeasies. But as Gatsby’s secretive past is uncovered and his intentions revealed, Nick finds himself a pawn in a love triangle so scandalous, it threatens to destroy all those around him. This American classic is a poignant examination of America in the early twentieth century, exploring the notions of love, morality, identity and the corruption of the American Dream. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s best known and most beloved work, “The Great Gatsby” finally comes to the stage in this exclusive new adaption by Simon Levy.
“The Great Gatsby” is a 1925 novel written by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald and is widely considered to be a literary classic and a contender for the title of the Great American Novel. The story has been told in many art forms including opera, radio, and ballet as well as in film including the 1974 film directed by Francis Ford Coppola starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, and the most recent 2013 version directed by Baz Luhrmann staring Leonardo DeCaprio. This new adaptation of “The Great Gatsby” by Simon Levy for the stage is the only one authorized and granted exclusive rights by the Fitzgerald Estate and is the only version permitted to be produced in the US and Canada. The play had its world premiere at The Guthrie Theater and was subsequently produced by Seattle Repertory Theatre. In 2012 a revised/reworked version was produced at Arizona Theatre Company and Grand Theatre in London, Ontario, Canada. In September, it is receiving its regional premiere in Cincinnati by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company!
Performance & Ticket Information ::
Performances of “The Great Gatsby” are scheduled from September 5- October 4, 2014 on Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm with an additional Saturday matinee on Oct. 4. The theater is located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center. Single ticket prices range from $22-$32 on Thursdays and Sundays and from $26-$36 on Fridays and Saturdays. This show is a part of the 2014-2015 subscription season. If available, $14 student rush tickets may be purchased 30 minutes before a show with a valid student ID. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. Ticketing fees may apply. Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups as well as AAA members. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at www.cincyshakes.com.
The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is located at 719 Race Street, Cincinnati. You can find important details about tickets, shows,
parking and more on the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company website. And be sure to follow Cincy Shakes on Facebook! Cincy Shakes Photos by Mikki Schaffner
