Reel Review: Broadway’s The Great Gatsby Stuns with Emotional Performances and Extravagant Sets

NYC’s Broadway Week is approaching, and it’s time you start thinking of what to see. The Great Gatsby is one of the biggest Broadway spectacles—it's larger than life with sets that are unimaginable and dancers who set the stage aflame. The show made its debut on the NYC stage in April 2024. Fans of the classic story undoubtedly hold mixed feelings about the integrity of the musical, from the absurd dramatic lyrics of Jeremy Jordan’s Gatsby to the abandonment of the story’s original raw tragedy. But those aren’t the only people watching the show. For some, this will be their first interaction with the work, and it’s not a terrible way to get invested in the story.

The musical is based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel but the leading role of Jay Gatsby has been played by many, including the great Leonardo DiCaprio. Sorry folks, it’s not a musical—he can’t have it all! Now, Tony Award-winning Jeremy Jordan gives it a shot, showing us a whimpering, lovesick, new-to-riches fool.

The story opens with its narrator Nick Carraway (Noah J. Ricketts), new to the big city and living in his quaint cottage next to his newest neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby throws the largest parties in town, yet that’s not the most interesting thing about him. Nick finds himself invited to meet the great Gatsby at one of his luxurious parties, where he becomes part of the scandalous scheme to bring two hearts back together. He wasn’t initially interested in the plan due to its complicated nature. You see, Gatsby’s big love? It’s Nick’s cousin Daisy (Eva Noblezada), who happens to be married—oh yeah, and she has a baby. Her husband, Tom Buchanan (John Zdrojeski), is garbage, of course—a man born into wealth. But it’s the 1920s, and leaving your husband for another man isn’t socially acceptable, even if he’s an abusive, cheating dirtbag. It’s this truth that haunts Daisy until the end when all she wanted was to be a "beautiful little fool."

It's Gatsby who is the fool all along. He doesn’t come from money, and while the wealth has given him a reputation of confidence, power, and influence, it’s clear once we meet him that it’s mostly for show. He may have the wealth, which gives him the illusion of power, but he’s still searching for approval, as shown in his overwhelming need for control.

At first, you’d think the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy would carry the show alone, but Jordan and Nick give them a small run for their money. Ricketts plays Nick as the sensible, down-to-earth man who’s definitely the voice of reason, yet smooth and a little wild himself.

Samantha Pauly, who plays Jordan, surprises with a touching yet striking performance as the marriage-hating feminist and best friend of Daisy. Her unexpected romance with Nick, who she initially dismisses, becomes one of the most endearing parts of the show. They’re fun, but most importantly, they’re equals—the type of love a woman like Jordan could only hope to possess. While their love is never center stage, their relationship grows with intensity, leaving me rooting for their happiness too.

It’s obvious the main love story here is that of Daisy and Gatsby. They both share fear of their love—while Daisy fears it’s too strong, Jay wonders if it’s strong enough. Their inevitable reunion song, My Green Light, is not show-stopping lyrically, but Jordan and Noblezada’s emotional performance left me weeping. Their connection on stage goes beyond two beautiful voices coming together—it’s two souls leaving it all on the stage. They both commit to their affection, and their love feels believable from the beginning to the tragic ending. Their individual performances are stellar, nailing the gut-wrenching reality of their impossible happy ending.

The relationship we needed more of? Gatsby and Nick. By the end of the story, you realize love is built into every corner of this show—Gatsby’s love for Daisy, Jordan’s love of freedom, Daisy’s love for her daughter—but the one relationship swept under the rug until the end is the friendship between Gatsby and Nick.

Broadway’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby isn’t groundbreaking work. At the forefront, the performances, costumes, and sets carry the show to its emotional peak. This is the right show if you want to witness the magic of Broadway, as it exceeds in spectacle and delivers a cast that is undeniably talented.

Jordan and Noblezada will soon be departing the Tony-winning production. Jordan’s final performance is on January 19, while Noblezada’s will be on January 30. Ryan McCartan and Sarah Hyland will join the cast as their replacements.