At 7:00 pm on June 24, 2021, I attended an exciting dance story performance by Mixed eMotion Theatrix at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton, California. Directed and choreographed by Artistic Director Janet Roston, Gatsby Redux was filled with the company’s trademark exquisite dancing, theater production and more. Inspired by the 1925 novel by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, Roston’s work occurred throughout the Center’s gorgeous grounds, and provided the audience with wonderful sights, sounds and textures of the jazz age portrayed in Fitzgerald’s novel. For a little over an hour, everyone was transported back in time.
Scenes from Gatsby Redux were originally created for the Los Angeles Music Center’s Moves After Dark, which I attended, but at the Muckenthaler, Roston was able to truly bring the work into focus and provide a proper venue for her dance story of Gatsby, his girlfriend Daisy and the opulence of the upper class during those years. This all began with the cast of Gatsby Redux arriving in several vintage automobiles from that era and the complete music score throughout the evening of songs by Sophie Tucker, Tommy Johnson, Helen Kane, and Ira Gershwin, to name a few.
Tiffany Wolff and Jaqueline Hinton in Gatsby Redux – Photo by Barry Weiss
Led from scene to scene by women in white dresses carrying tall flags; one with a megaphone so that we could hear, we were introduced to the cast arriving dressed in elegant white dresses and suits designed by Allison Dillard. We observe Daisy, performed beautifully by Tiffany Wolff as she prepares to meet the guests and see a bit of her emotional instability. The audience was led to the amphitheater to watch two men perform in the audience area followed by a touching duet between Daisy and Gatsby, performed throughout with great clarity and strength by Camal Pugh.
Performed to music by Debussy, Gatsby entertains his guests with a spectacle of on the mansion’s front lawn involving a goddess in gold (Jaqueline Hinton) and the company’s ensemble performing a dance of flags. Not the strongest of Roston’s work, it was, however, entertaining.
Mixed eMotion Theatrix ensemble in Gatsby Redux – Photo by Barry Weiss
One of the many highlights of the evening was a flashy and sensual solo performed in a small cast iron gazebo by the lovely Olivia Perez. This was followed by the cast performing exciting duets on a sidewalk area finishing with a seductive quartet between 3 male dancers (Daniel Valentine, Michael Quiett, and Jesse Klick) and Myrtle Wilson (Sarah Wines). Myrtle is courted by the three men with wonderful lifts and sensual dancing before she points to Tom Buchanan (Daniel Valentine) and dashes off. It is a choice she would come to regret.
Another highlight of this full-evening work was an expertly crafted game of croquet involving her full cast of dancers. Yielding croquet mallets, Roston incorporates duets, trios, quartets, ensemble unison, and organized chaos to evoke a wonderful game of croquet among friends.
Hard to watch, but only because it was performed so well, was the scene between Tom and Myrtle (Valentine and Wines) in what was described as a low rent hotel room. It is a date gone wrong due to the brutality by Tom. Wines’ acting is as excellent as her dancing and Valentine’s is so good the audience truly hated him.
There’s a vivid scene between Gatsby and a group of elites of “East Egg” where Roston subtly at first, portrays how Gatsby is rejected by those he sees as his peers. He learns the hard way that he is not. The choreography is strong, as is the performance of the ensemble.
Camal Pugh in Gatsby Redux – Photo by Barry Weiss
The highlight for me was a solo performed by Gatsby (Pugh) in a small grassy island filled with tall palm trees. Pugh’s technique shines here as does his acting ability with his audience literally feet away.
The evening’s story culminates back in the amphitheater, the audience seated in the audience this time, to watch the company perform onstage in front of cartoons from the era given various digital mosaic treatments projected on the back wall. It was a terrific way to finish the evening as the sun began to set in the west.
Gatsby Redux ensemble – Photo by Barry Weiss
The entire ensemble of Gatsby Redux included Annika Alejo, Hana Bible, Jaqueline Hinton, Jesse Klick, Camal Pugh, Michael Quiett, Olivia Perez, Daniel Valentine, Sarah Wines, and Tiffany Wolff.
Director and Choreographer: Janet Roston; Costumes: Allison Dillard; Projections: Joe LaRue; Dramaturgy: Ryan Bergmann; Music Editing: Mark Governor, Brian Lucas; Assistant Choreographer: Sarah Wines; Producer: Ryan Bergmann; Covid Compliance Officer: Marcedes Clanton; and Party Guides: Sarah Mullis, Kate Coleman.
To visit the Mixed eMotion Theatrix website, click HERE.
To visit the Muckenthaler Cultural Center website, click HERE.
Written by Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Mixed eMotion Theatrix – Gatsby Redux – Photo by Barry Weiss
