The Jazz Age comes alive in ‘The Great Gatsby’ musical

By Peter Lindblad

Leanne Robinson had to grow up fast, even though all the characters she’d played were quite young. Then, along came Jordan Baker.

Taking on the role of the sardonic and rather nonchalant socialite, love interest of Nick Carraway and a self-sufficient golfer – alleged to have cheated in a major tournament – who breezes through life, gave Robinson a chance to become the epitome of the Roaring Twenties’ “modern woman” in the glitzy, whirlwind Broadway musical touring production of “The Great Gatsby.”

“I will say Jordan is the first true adult that I’ve played,” said the British actress and singer, who’s been with the visually spectacular national tour, set to bedazzle audiences at Madison’s Overture Center July 28-Aug. 2 with its energy and style, since the very beginning.

For six years, Robinson sunk her teeth into the role of Nabulungi in the West End of London production of “The Book of Mormon,” following her debut on the Broadway tour of the outrageous musical. Critics adored her as Zindzi Mandela in “Mandela: A New Musical” at the U.K. premiere and cast recording at the Young Vic Theatre, and Robinson also debuted as a featured soloist with Hugh Jackman at Radio City Music Hall, singing “Never Enough” from “The Greatest Showman.”

Playing Baker has given Robinson a chance to inhabit a more mature character.

“She represents the 1920s flapper woman. She’s independent,” said Robinson, who began rehearsals for the show in late December and January before hitting the road in February. “She is strong. She’s opinionated and not afraid to share her opinion. She is somewhat of a rebel with a cause.”

Although Baker’s morality is a little fuzzy, there are characteristics that appeal to Robinson, who is enjoying playing such a multi-dimensional character.

“I believe she wants autonomy over her life and her choices,” said Robinson. “We get to watch her go through this journey. We meet her in her element. She comes back from playing golf, and she’s in her friend’s house at the time. And we get to meet her at Gatsby’s party, and she’s the ‘it girl,’ so she knows everyone at the party and she’s comfortable even though she doesn’t come from that world.”

Neither does Robinson, who said she discovered her love of acting through her older sister.

“She used to do acting as a child, and I was a little sister, so I kind of had to just be there sometimes,” recalled Robinson. “I used to sing a lot more than I was acting.”

At 16, she decided to study musical theater, although she’d been a fan for a while.

“My parents would take me to see musicals as we were growing up, and we used to watch musicals and one of my favorite films growing up was ‘The Sound of Music,’” said Robinson. “So yeah, I love Julie Andrews. So, we were always exposed to musical theater in movie form and in live form.”

Eventually, Robinson realized she could do it, too. On the advice of a vocal teacher, she attended a performing arts high school. And her love of acting was born. Her first professional role was with “The Book of Mormon.”

“I’m very, very lucky and blessed to have gotten that opportunity to kind of start my professional career as a lead actress in a Tony award-winning, Olivier-winning, amazing show,” said Robinson.

Having a big part in “The Great Gatsby” is another feather in her cap, as she sees Baker as a “chameleon,” of sorts.

“She can blend but stand out all at the same time in any environment that she wishes to be in,” said Robinson. “And I think she’s very exciting in that way. So, we get to see her in her element in the beginning, and then we get to watch her play and flirt with the idea of being in love for real. And then we get to watch this relationship go through its journey and somewhat conclude.”

In various ways, Robinson can relate to Baker.

“I can understand the idea of being a young woman who wants to make her own choices,” said Robinson. “She has a career, which is unlike the other women of that time. So, she plays golf, she makes money, she has her independence. I’ve been working since the age of 16, so I can relate to the idea of being in charge of your own life and making your own decisions and falling in love. We can relate to falling in love in some way, shape, or form.”

Of course, “The Great Gatsby” is one of the great works of American literature. Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, it follows Carraway as he befriends wealthy enigma Jay Gatsby, who’s fixated on Daisy Buchanan, his old flame, and getting back together with her. As a first-person narrator, Carraway observes the whole tragedy unfold.

The famous story is now being retold as a musical, which Robinson sees as a fresh interpretation.

“I think it gives it a new lens, which is always exciting with stories that we know and love,” said Robinson. “When someone takes it and just injects some new ideas into it while honoring the original, apart from music and tap dancing and shiny costumes, you get to see the relationships of these characters fleshed out.”

That’s especially true of the relationship between Daisy and Jordan, who is featured more prominently.

“You get some intimate moments with them,” said Robinson. “You get a version of what Nick and Jordan’s relationship could be. Which is exciting because I don’t think the movie … especially Jordan. Jordan is in the musical. She’s a whole mood. She doesn’t really get that in the film or the book so much. So, I feel like the musical really does justice to just giving her story a real arc, and you get to see inside of Daisy’s and her friendship.”

For Robinson, the best part of the show is one where she steps aside, letting her castmates shine.

“My favorite part, even though I’m in it but I don’t do much, is ‘La Di Da,’” said Robinson. “It’s where we have our big tap numbers. It’s incredible. It really is. And every night, I’m on stage at the time and I’m watching and I’m like, ‘Wow, my cast is really incredible.’”

So is Robinson, who gets her moment in the spotlight.

“I’ve got two great numbers, which are different, which is always exciting,” said Robinson. “I’ve got my big number, ‘New Money,’ near the top of the show, and it’s lots of dancing, high energy. And then I’ve got this really beautiful, jazzy, intimate, charming duet with Nick. It’s just completely different, and I think it’s really nice that you get to see the two sides of Jordan through these two numbers. It’s very clever actually.”

In playing Baker, at the height of the Jazz Age, Robinson gets to try an American accent for the first time. And she feels she gets to bring the Baker character alive in different ways.

“Because she isn’t as fleshed out in the books and the movies, I get to create her at the same time, and I get to add layers that I think work for her and that was also an exciting journey and process to do, which I’m still doing,” said Robinson.

She said she’s reading different books about “The Great Gatsby,” including one entitled “Beautiful Little Fools,” by Jillian Cantor. It’s written from the perspective of the female characters of the story.

“This story is focused from their lens, and you get to pull little gems from that and layer her into my Jordan, and so, it’s really fun,” said Robinson. “I’m very much enjoying having Jordan in my body and expanding her and trying to find new ways to keep her alive for me, because it’s a long draw, and we do the same thing every day. So, it is a good challenge for me as an actress to [see] how can I refresh her today. Like what can I find today, what nuance can I add today, and that’s always exciting.”

Before the curtain rises, Robinson has tea and water after waking up in whatever city the show’s in, beginning a much-needed routine of hydration. Then, she tries to sample that city’s food, like the delicious oysters she had in Boston. In the middle of the day, she’ll often do some exploring, until about 5 p.m. That’s when it’s time to relax a bit, eat something light and do some preparation.

Then, before you know it, it’s showtime, and “The Great Gatsby” is ablaze with classy costumes, inspiring music and beautifully choreographed dancing. So, get ready for an absolute extravaganza.

“I think people, first of all, are going to have fun,” said Robinson. “They’re going to come to the theater, and they’re going to see this aesthetically stunning musical. The set is gorgeous. The music is beautiful and the story [is told in a] unique way.”

Leave your worries at the door.

“We come to watch musicals and art and plays for some version of escapism I think, and I think it’s worthwhile to just go out and have a good evening and watch a story and laugh and feel emotions and just be present in the moment, and you get to leave all the other stuff out,” said Robinson. “You immerse yourself in the lives of these people, and I also hope that with the way that we tell the story, people get to see tiny bits of themselves. You get to see these characters and feel like, ‘Oh, they’re real. And I understand her and I understand him and I understand that person and the choice that they made.’ And you get to see a little bit of reflection of life. I think that’s a very great thing if you can feel that when you go and see a show.”