GATSBY at the Greenlight – REVIEW
Image: GATSBY at the Green Light. Image: Prudence Upton
Enter with expectations and leave with all of them surpassed; GATSBY at the Greenlight is a an immersive, surprising, delightful night of pure entertainment. It’s old-fashioned sweat and sinew talent glitzed up with modern theatrical touches to create an enthralling program of dance, song, circus, burlesque, all with the throughline of an iconic American novel.
The Studio in the Sydney Opera House is proving itself to be one of the city’s most versatile and exciting venues and it is perfect for this type of show.
The room is laid out like a 1920s nightclub with a large wood-panelled bar as the centrepiece, the counter doubling as a protruding stage. A balcony with stair cases at either side adds a second performance level.
The seating includes a premium area filled with cabaret tables and chairs. The VIP package gets you a seat at a table, a complimentary cocktail and curated selection of tasty treats. Your wait staff are friendly, efficient and very much part of the show (wink). Behind the tables are standard seats and above, on the mezzanine level, is a balcony where patrons can look down on the action.
And the action is non-stop. One bartender is a magnificent juggler, the other a mesmerising tap-dancer. There are aerialists who flex like rubber, spin on a suspended coat rack, dangle from a tightly-pulled ponytail while wielding fire, and a beautiful aerial ballet on rings by Gatsby and Daisy. Odette supplies the sometimes fierce, sometimes sexy vocals and Bettie Bombshell wanders about seductively before performing a saucy striptease.
This is a really fun night with a great atmosphere and stunning performances. It’s barely in its first weeks and the season has already been extended due to popular demand.
Put on some beads, feathers, and spats and step back in time.
