Ross Raihala — Theater Critic

As improbable as it may sound, this take on “The Great Gatsby” presents itself as a sort of slapstick romcom. It may well be the first adaptation of what’s widely considered to be one of the great American novels that can be accurately described as a madcap romp — until the second act.

Taub packs a whole lot of story into the show and tells most of it through song. At times, that means dense lyrics that almost feel unwieldy, which Taub cleverly addresses early on. She also does a fine job of creating distinct personalities on stage, including Catt and Paul as well as the women Paul assembles to create what would ultimately become the National Woman’s Party.

The cast, too, is exceptional. In what initially comes across as a thankless role, Bailey (who is ridiculously hunky for a stage performer) belts the best song of the show, the barn-burning anthem “Somebody Will,” which gets a brief, celebratory reprise in the second act. (Oddly enough, the show also offers a brief nod to “Purple Rain” that had Tuesday’s audience cheering.)

That said, “Mrs. Doubtfire” radiates with the look and feel of a proper Broadway blockbuster, with a huge cast and eye-popping number of costumes. But, oof, the choices the production made for the Mrs. Doubtfire character are questionable, starting with the mask that’s supposed to look like Williams (not McClure) in drag but instead feels almost inhuman.

“Girl from the North Country” will please Dylan fans who are comfortable (and even eager) to hear his music performed in unexpected new arrangements and, again, the show is often fun to watch. But those seeking a coherent and engaging story will have as much luck as a bunch of down-and-out sad sacks in the Great Depression .