Great Gatsby Review

Kendall Davis | The Chronicle

With the ever-present eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg, the atmospheric jazz music and shining green light, Mason High School’s performance of The Great Gatsby transported audience members back to the roaring twenties.

A classic of American literature, The Great Gatsby was originally a novel written in 1925 by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Great Gatsby follows millionaire Jay Gatsby’s pursuit of wealthy socialite Daisy Buchanan, as told through the eyes of narrator Nick Carraway. This enduring story has since inspired countless adaptations, including several movies, a musical and, as performed by the Mason Drama Club, a play.

In the role of the titular character, Jay Gatbsy, Donovon Coppridge gave a strong performance, highlighted especially in interactions with Daisy and Tom. Leading the show alongside him, Molly Cronin truly embodied the role of Daisy Buchanan. Cronin’s nuanced characterization of Daisy was the driving force of the show through emotional moments and believable relationships with the other characters.

As Nick Carraway, Sammy Sherman held the many elements of the show together through his narration between scenes. In contrast to the more reserved nature of Nick, Miguel Castro played Tom Buchanan, Daisy’s brutish husband. Castro’s spirited energy as Tom played well against Daisy in her emotional moments, and especially well against Gatsby in their argument at the hotel. 

As Daisy’s best friend and Nick’s love interest, Jordan Baker, played by Lily Droege, supported the leading cast while also shining in moments of her own, particularly her monologue detailing Daisy’s past. In several key scenes of the show, Delaney Cowles provided both a comedic and deeply emotional performance as Myrtle Wilson.

To fully immerse audience members in the art deco stylings of the era, the set crew, led by Assistant Technical Director Gavin Dunn, built a wonderful set complete with Dr. T.J. Eckleburg’s billboard and an ornate window for creative lighting effects (led by Prachi Patel and operated by Lauren Hauser) to show through. This window was key in conveying the green light on Daisy’s dock that Gatsby watches across the water, as well as car headlights and ambient lighting throughout the show. The finishing touch was the period-accurate costumes designed by Prachi Patel and crew, which truly allowed for each character to come to life.

Ultimately, Mason Drama Club’s production of The Great Gatsby was a delightful romp through the 1920s, and stayed true to the novel’s reminder of the unattainable nature of the American Dream.