The glitz and glamor of the roaring 20s came to life on the stage of the Yuba Theatre last weekend in the Downieville High School Drama production of The Great Gatsby. This sparkling adaptation beautifully captured the beloved American classic by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In Shakespearean tradition, the gender-bending casting showed off the considerable talents of our student stars, some of whom have been performing in DHS drama productions since elementary school. Mia Martinelli was self-assured and passionate in her role as self-made millionaire Jay Gatsby. Jay’s desire for wealth and popularity in the Jazz Age hid a deeper obsession – his burning desire for Daisy Buchanan, played by the lovely, sweet, and fickle Natalie Rust. Nick Carraway, played by Abigail Sainsbury, provided the perfect narration that held the piece together. Arianne Jackson was heavy-handed and hulking as the browbeater Tom Buchanan. Other performance highlights included Riley Pearmund with an authentic Mafioso persona, and no one will forget Landon Jackson as the flippant and flashy Myrtle Wilson. Abby Mooers impressed us all with acting ability beyond her age as the sophisticated flapper Jordan Baker. Other notables were Christopher Nevarez as Mr. Wilson (who also wowed us with his reprise of Rosendo’s “old man”), Kyran Antrim as the Sheriff, and Bette Jo Land, who is always a reliable stand-in and outstanding comedienne. Thank you to everyone who helped with the production, including Amber Baca-Sainsbury for directing, Tim Jordan and Riley Pearmund for tech support, and Kathy Fischer for choreography. The Sierra County Arts Council is pleased to continue the tradition of amazing student performance at The Yuba Theatre.