Review: DINNER WITH GATSBY, Work in Progress Theatre - King’s College London

Photo credit: Sarah Chen

Created by Work In Progress Theatre alongside Kings College London, the talented company put on a competent performance and delivered the story of Dinner with Gatsby effectively. Erica Hartley’s adaptation of the original novel flowed really well, keeping the main themes and feels throughout the show but allowing it to mainly be set within one evening.

​This show is based in the enchanting world of Gatsby, where the opulence and glamour of the Roaring Twenties comes to life. Set against the backdrop of F. Scott Fitzgerald's iconic novel, The Great Gatsby, this immersive experience transports you back to an era of rebellion and decadence. As old money clashes with new, traditional values are discarded, giving way to extravagant parties, hidden speakeasies, and the infectious rhythms of jazz. But amidst the glitz and glamour, questions linger: who is the enigmatic Gatsby, and what secrets lie beneath his lavish facade?

The vocals throughout were very impressive with Georgia McNeill and Madeleine English as notable standouts. The harmonies produced added to the songs and became excellent once the cast settled into the show. There was a four-piece band including keys, bass guitar, drums and alto saxophone who played brilliantly, and the music fitted into the show well. It did feel as though, at times, that the band was underutilised and could have played more, adding to the general atmosphere of the work. Also, during set changes, additional music would have been of benefit to break up the static moments.

The staging set in-the-round worked well for the production, especially as it was performed in such a small room so you felt really involved in the story. At times, it was a little difficult to pick up the words when the actors were facing away from that side of the audience, but this improved throughout and didn't prevent the plot being followed.

Notable performances were from Sendhilen Ramen as Tom Buchanan who managed to make you dislike him intensely, which really helped to fuel the story. Without this, the entire plot would not have worked as the despise of his actions is central. Although the room was not a traditional theatre, the wings where the actors were during their time offstage were mostly visible and it was impressive to see how quickly they were able to get into character. Another excellent performance was from Madeleine English as Jordan Baker. Although she didn’t have a huge part, her individual song was beautiful and expertly delivered.

An enjoyable show with a great basis on which to develop.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Frances Tate