If 'Gatsby' is not great, it doesn't miss by much

Really now, how could it be possible? The novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald is, well, brilliant. After multiple readings, the lush language and the images Fitzgerald's words conjured up of narrator Nick Carraway, the romantic Jay Gatsby and the flirtatious Daisy Buchanan were vivid. I thought what I imagined was too deeply ingrained to accept anyone else's vision.

But then, on opening night, Nick begins his story with the first words of Fitzgerald's novel: "In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice I've been turning over in my mind ever since."

As the character spoke, the words came up on a backdrop. There was something so comforting about hearing and seeing the exact language of the novel. The stress began to slip away. Words did not appear again until the last lines, but that opening set the tone. By the end of the evening, there was a longing to see it again. And then again.

This adaptation by Simon Levy clearly understood that Fitzgerald's words are sacred and can't be improved upon. What was added, deleted or changed to adapt the story to the stage was so faithful to Fitzgerald that it became seamless.

Stephen Wrentmore, ATC's associate artistic director, directed this piece with a reverence for the language and the story. The sets were simple but the vision grand - a revolving stage quickly brought us from one location to another; minimalistic set pieces were used to suggest opulence, or poverty, or a hydroplane. There's a purity to this story and its characters that Wrentmore honored and underscored.

And then there were the actors.

David Andrew Macdonald courageously took on the role of Gatsby (courageous because he was willing to compete with what so many readers of the book imagined he would be like). He brought a charm that never seemed smarmy, and a vulnerability that never read as weak, to this eternal optimist and serious romantic.

Monette Magrath has a challenging role as Daisy Buchanan. Daisy appears flighty, giddy and perhaps a tad shallow. But there's great sadness and great hope just under the surface. Magrath captures this character of contradictions and makes it clear why Gatsby and everyone she meets seems to fall in love with her.

With such dazzling characters, Nick Carraway barely has a chance of standing out. But he was not a wallflower in Zachary Ford's hands. He is our guide through this story of hope, love, class struggles and life in the Hamptons (or East Egg and West Egg, but come on, we all know it's the Hamptons in Long Island).

Other roles that stood out: Sofia Jean Gomez was full of sass and a hard surface that barely covered a soft heart in her role as Daisy's friend and conspirator, Jordan Baker; Marta Reiman's Myrtle, Tom's (Daisy's husband) brassy lover, was spot-on; Remi Sandri took on three roles and made all of them distinctive and well-rooted; and Kevin Black did a fine turn as the tragic and simple George, Myrtle's beaten-down husband.

Kudos, too, go to David Kay Mickelsen for the costumes that spoke so gracefully of the Roaring '20s.

There were a few hiccups, however. William Peden was flat as Daisy's husband, Tom. The guy's a cad, a snob and an all-around jerk, but Peden didn't quite infuse the character with life.

And then there was the ending. While impressive (to give details would spoil it), it was stylistically jarring, as though it had just jumped in from another play.

Still, this is "The Great Gatsby," faithful to Fitzgerald and to the spirit of the novel. Expectations were far exceeded.

If you go

• What: Arizona Theater Company's production of "The Great Gatsby."

• Playwright: Simon Levy, adapted from the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

• Director: Stephen Wrentmore.

• When: 2 and 7 p.m. today; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. next Sunday. Continues through March 17.

• Where: Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave.

• Tickets: $31-$56.

• Reservations, information: 622-2823.

• Running time: About 2 hours, with one intermission.

Contact reporter Kathleen Allen at kallen@azstarnet.com or 573-4128.