Tabard has often thought that one cannot get enough of a good thing. Supping on champers and chocs after a three-courser at the Ivy before the liqueurs come round, we have pondered whether ‘overkill’ is possible within London’s theatrical bubble. An affirmative answer arrived in our inbox this week.
First, we received a press release about a stage interpretation of The Great Gatsby coming to London for the first time this summer. Then we received another release about a second Great Gatsby stage adaptation in Wilton’s Music Hall. And then a third email popped in about a third theatrical rendering of the 1925 novel at the King’s Head Theatre.
Three shows based on the same book in the same city between April and August. Did the ghost of old F. Scott Fitzgerald appear to three directors in the same dream on the same night, calling ‘Daisy’ while shining a bright light in their eyes? Did the furore of bankers’ bonuses make a trio of creative teams think that society was calling on them to stage this tale of decadence and disaster? Or did news of the Baz Luhrmann film with Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan make them all want a piece of the action?
I know what answer our money is on.
At least the shows are all different - Londoners will be able to choose between an eight-hour “word for word” performance of the novel, an immersive show at Wilton’s with themed food and accessories to dress up and a musical at the King’s Head. And with that news, we go to make some ticket purchases, and find our choccies.
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