With their production ‘Gatz’, currently playing at the Sydney Opera House Playhouse, the New York Elevator Repair Service Theatre Company, pull off a wonderful theatrical experiment. In a marathon performance the Company put the whole of F Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel on stage, down to the last word.
The Company under the direction of John Collins reset the novel in a modern office. The production features a great set-up. An ordinary looking sort of guy walks into an office, rests his jacket on a stand, and sits down at a computer. He turns on the computer but can’t seem to get it to work. In frustration he picks up the book sitting on his desk and starts reading. He becomes ensconsed. Other people come in and out of the office, without him taking any notice. He starts reading the book aloud. The other characters look at him questioningly. Then, suddenly, one of the other office workers starts interacting with him, in character, and ‘Gatz’ truly began.
Scott Shepherd was great as Nick Carroway, his expressive voice guiding the audience through the novel. Ross Fletcher impressed as social butterfly Gatz, local actress Lucy Taylor played Daisy, the woman he could not possess, and Gary Wilmes was Daisy’s resolute husband, Tom. Louisa Thompson’s atmospheric set and Colleen Werthmann’s apt costumes added to the production.
‘Gatz’, part of the Sydney Opera House’s Adventures series, played the Playhouse from the 15th to the 31st May.
