How badly can this group maim “The Great Gatsby”? Weren’t two movies enough?
And yet, here comes a “Gatsby” musical from the people who gave us the failed “Paradise Square.” F. Scott Fitzgerald may have been difficult but he didn’t deserve this.
Music and lyrics are by “Paradise” purveyors Nathan Tysen and Jason Howland. The book– not the actual book, the book for the musical — is from Tysen’s wife, Kait Kerrigan. I’m sure these are lovely people but their credits do not bode well for success.
The director is Marc Bruni, who gave us the Carole King musical, “Beautiful.” which of course had songs by King, Gerry Goffin, Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann.
According to a press release, a private showcase will be held in an undisclosed location on an unknown date sometime in December. Then the show will be cast and seen in a regional tour next year. The show is Broadway-bound, but that’s all we know.
Who knows? This could turn out to be the greatest thing since…”Paradise Square.” As always we cross our fingers for good luck! But if there’s a prologue song called “We beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” I will not be able to contain myself.
