A Party Back in Time

2–3 minutes

An eighteen-year APENG tradition celebrating The Great Gatsby took place this past month

Staff Writer

It’s 8:30. December 11th. Formally dressed men and women gracefully file into the mysterious building ahead. Whispers fill the air outside the imposing palace. Inside, a green strobe light reverberates around the room. Spreads of delectable cuisine stretch the length of the elegant ballroom. Only, this is no ballroom. This Portable E, Mrs. Smith’s room, during the revered Great Gatsby Party for AP English.

“The Gatsby Party is an opportunity for AP English students to step back in time and immerse themselves in the 1920s,” says Mrs. Smith, AP English Language & Composition teacher.

The esteemed party takes place when students complete their reading of F. Scott Fizgerald’s The Great Gatsby, which is set in the “Roaring 20s.” It’s an annual tradition that many juniors look forward to amidst a grueling AP English workload.

“The party was terrific,” says Aditya Padinjarel (11), a student in Ms. Wilkinson’s class. “After a lot of work in AP Lang, I think the Gatsby party is a good segue away from that, and it’s a good transition into the end of the semester. It’s just a whole lot of fun.”

The fun of the Gatsby Party consists of multiple events and activities, varying based on period and class participation.

“All sorts of things happen,” says Mrs. Smith. “What you would expect during a party [happens], the eating, the drinking. We have musical and dance performances. We have students who act as bartenders and act as waiters. We had a popcorn machine this year, we’ve had a cotton candy machine for the last couple years. We have students who pretend to be intoxicated. We have had multiple claims of adultery. There were [fake] fights that broke out in Ms. Wilkinson’s class. [The party] offers the opportunity to recreate the excess and absurdity of some of Gatsby’s parties.”

Part of the reasoning behind the chaos is the fact that students are required to create their own personas they must embody for the duration of the party. These personas vary from German oil man to British land development tycoon to hired assassin, and much more.

“My character is Bill Wang, similar to my name,” says Bill Wang (11), a student in Mrs. Smith’s class. “He’s an Asian immigrant who went to America and copies a British accent because it seems elegant. He pretends to be a member of high society, even though the only important thing about him is that he was the fourth Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz.”

Overall, reception of the party from students seems to be overwhelmingly positive, with many claiming that the Gatsby party was the best part of the school year so far.

“It was a great experience,” remarks Siddarth Kamath (11), a student in Mrs. Smith’s class, “I learned a lot and also had a lot of fun, which is the most important part. It definitely did surpass my expectations.”

Caption: Well off ladies and gentlemen enjoy their evening at an extravagant party. (PC: Mrs. Smith)