[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Chalomot Productions’ The Last Five Years, by Jason Robert Brown, directed by Aaron Byrnes and with music direction by Mike Walker.
The Last Five Years is a well-loved and much-produced musical about an upcoming novelist, Jamie Wellerstein and an actress, Cathy Hiatt, who meet in college, fall in love and marry. Jamie’s first novel is published before he graduates and becomes hugely successful, propelling him into stratospheric fame. Cathy continues her education, then joins him in New York to begin the endless slog for good acting work. Their journeys are completely different. Not parallel, not even close.
The musical unfolds in a similar fashion. Beginning at the end for her, as he leaves her, and at the beginning for him as he falls in love. Their only onstage interaction is at their wedding, when they meet in the middle of the play. A beautifully sweet interlude, followed swiftly by their continuing journeys in opposite directions
It’s a magical concept for a love story. Knowing how it all ends only gives us more insight into how it falls apart. And a reminder that there are always winners and losers, the heartbreakers and the heartbroken.
Of course, the songs are spectacular, and since there is no other dialogue, they must do all the storytelling. And they do that perfectly. Maybe I’m morose, but my favourite song was sung by Cathy at the very beginning of the show and at the very end of everything for her. Melancholy and full of longing, she sees Jamie very clearly as the narcissist he has always been. But the irony is, she still loves him.
This was a pared-back production with the simplest of staging and lovely live music from their musical director, Mike Walker, who beautifully accompanies these two gorgeous vocalists through their fascinating and riveting stories.
The cast is doubled, each couple performing on different nights. The evening I attended, Cathy was sung with soft understanding, and Jamie was bold and brilliant. It would be interesting to see what the two other actors would bring to these iconic, complex roles. The production is exquisite. The songs are beautifully performed. As these two people careen apart, together and apart once more, we hold our breath, wishing they would turn around and see each other the way they need to do. The actors compel us to pay attention. They draw us in lovingly to their sad sad story. And we just can’t take our eyes off them.
Musicals are everything, aren’t they? More and more these days, I feel they are what we all truly need pretty much all the time. To get out of our heads and into someone else’s. Live theatre is so much better at that than film or TV. It’s immersive, intolerant of casual observers. You have to be all in all of the time. Something our lives are becoming less and less suited to. But theatre stubbornly persists. Thank the gods!
Where:
The Hudson Theatre
6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood
When:
Through April 12
Tickets:
Get $10 off using the code: 10MINUTES