I attended the Great Gatsby Immersive Experience on New Years Eve of 2019, and it was by far one of the best and most unique experiences I have ever had in terms of theatre. The costumes for the entire production were exquisite, as you were so close to the actors that any flaw would’ve been immediately obvious, so the attention to detail was on point.
As the experience was immersive, we got to play a part in the whole production, as you felt like you were truly in 1920s New York. As well as the actors, most of the guests (including us!) were in costume, which made it feel even more real. Often, we were pulled onto the floor to Charleston or sing, which was also therefore key to the actors costume, especially their shoes, as they had to be able to dance well in them whilst keeping in the style, which in my opinion was done very well. We were also lucky enough to be chosen as a part of Jordan’s entourage, which was an absolutely insane experience, and allowed us to see almost every set and a variety of special moments including her interactions with Nick, Tom, Myrtle, Gatsby and Daisy, as well as seeing her costumes especially in a lot of detail. We also witnessed a scene in Daisy's dressing room, in which she changed costume completely, which was interesting to see as she even had accurate undergarments on underneath her dress. The bar staff were also in costume and character, each with their own unique demeanor, which further added to the whole experience.
In terms of the costumes themselves, they had a clear ode to the 20s, but with a modern twist, and in my opinion fit the characters perfectly/ Nick’s suit was recognisable, but fairly plain, to show his middle status, compared to Gatsby’s more flamboyant, very well fitting pink suit. This then matched with Daisy’s soft pink/blush dresses, which showed their relationship, as well as showing Daisy’s soft, loving personality. Jordan had a pair of long white trousers on, which were quite formal, and although not traditionally 20s, fit her character perfectly as a strong, independent woman. These were paired with 2 different beaded tops- the second lower cut with feathers for when she was trying to attract Nick. Myrtle, in contrast, was dressed primarily in a tatty brown dress, to show her lower class,, and also to show the difference in her and Jordan, which further emphasised the divide between the two. however she had a sparkly broach on, as well as red undergarments, to show her controversial relationship with Tom. Tom wore a well fitting grey suit, to show his upper status, which further contrasted with Wilson, Myrtle’s husband, whose suit did not fit well at all, to show his much lower status. Overall, as a set, it is clear how well these costumes fitted together, and how they showed each character and their relationships with others. Some of the other characters in the production also had very clever styling that revealed parts of their personality; for example, Rosy wore a long coat and wide brimmed hat that covered some of his face, to add to his mysterious character, and Lucille wore a dark purple dress with lots of gold beading as an ode to her showbiz background.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this experience, as it was the perfect way to bring in the new year. I loved all of the costumes, and it was really inspirational to see this standard of costume in a theatre production. The experience as a whole was also unforgettable, with the interactions with the actors as well as the many detailed rooms and sets, and it was an extra bonus to attend the after party after the show and speak to some of the cast including Jess who played Jordan, who gave us a little more insight into the details in the sets and costumes. I would definitely recommend this production as it was so different and unique, and really brought me back to the roaring 20s, and it was definitely something I would attend again, as it gives you a different experience every time.
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