Northern Stage hosts solo stage adaptation of ‘The Great Gatsby’

From May 1 to 5, Northern Stage in White River Junction hosted a one-person adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic, “The Great Gatsby.” The performance — which was followed by an audience discussion and Q&A — was produced by Literature to Life, a performance-based program that presents staged literary adaptations verbatim.

Following an introduction by teaching artist Mel House, actor Bryce Foley arrived onto the stage — which featured only a bar cart, two side tables and a trio of chairs. Foley proceeded to speak as narrator Nick Carraway. 

Foley’s narration was accompanied by minimal sound and lighting effects, along with the lines of approximately eight other characters featured in the adaptation.

During scenes with multiple speakers, Foley played all sides of the exchange, seamlessly switching from one character to the next with distinctions produced by different vocals, mannerisms and stage positions.

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Kevin Grullon said he and Foley engaged in lengthy character preparation work prior to working with the text. To prepare, Foley would act in fictional scenarios as any given character from “The Great Gatsby” for extended periods of time, Grullon said. Thoron, who mentored the two but mostly remained hands-off during rehearsals, said many of the exercises were borrowed from Handman — which was “really fun to watch.”

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