A Night at Gatsby's

Book excerpt: A Night at Gatsby's is an invitation to attend one of Jay Gatsby's fabulous Jazz Age parties and learn some of his story by listening to the characters' conversations over six scenes. All dialogue is taken directly from the novel--no first-person or other narrative content from the novel is used. The play follows the novel's chronology from the initial rumors and lies about Gatsby, through his reunion with Daisy and confrontation with Tom, and ends with Gatsby's death and lonely farewell. Except for the concluding scene 6, all action unfolds over one night from early evening to just before the following sunrise. So put on a metaphorical cloche hat or straw boater and join Nick, Gatsby, Daisy, Tom, Jordan, and guests in reliving Gatsby's personal maxim: Can't repeat the past? Why of course you can!