Vladivostok Brings The Great Gatsby to Life in Bold Stage Revival
A stage adaptation of The Great Gatsby has premiered in Vladivostok under the title The Great Gatsby: Farewell. The production brings F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel to life at the Primorsky Academic Regional Drama Theater. Fitzgerald, a key figure of the 'Lost Generation', first coined the term 'Jazz Age' to describe the years between World War I and the Great Depression. The play debuted on April 30, with additional performances on May 1 and May 2. Yefim Zvenyatsky directed the production, while Yelena Isayeva handled the dramatisation. The adaptation stays true to Fitzgerald’s exploration of wealth, love, and disillusionment in 1920s America.
Fitzgerald himself never graduated from Princeton University, leaving in 1917 to enlist in the army. During his service, he became aide-de-camp to General J.A. Ryan, commander of the 17th Infantry Brigade. His wartime experiences and the excesses of the 1920s later shaped his writing, including *The Great Gatsby*. Beyond fiction, Fitzgerald reflected on the era in his 1931 essay *Echoes of the Jazz Age*. The piece captured the energy and contradictions of a time marked by economic boom, cultural shifts, and eventual collapse.
The Vladivostok production highlights the enduring appeal of Fitzgerald’s work. His portrayal of the Jazz Age remains influential nearly a century after its publication. The play’s run at the Gorky Theater marks another chapter in the novel’s long legacy.
