The Last Five Years
| The Last Five Years | |
|---|---|
| File:The Last Five Years CD Cover.jpg 2002 Album Cover | |
| Music | Jason Robert Brown |
| Lyrics | Jason Robert Brown |
| Book | Jason Robert Brown |
| Productions | 2001 Chicago 2002 Off-Broadway 2005 Germany 2006 London 2007 Edinburgh Fringe 2009 Barcelona 2010 Sweden 2012 Denmark 2013 Off-Broadway revival 2014 Film 2014 Norway 2015 Finland 2015 Denmark 2015 Ireland 2016 Madrid 2016 Poland 2016 West End 2017 Melbourne 2017/2018 Mexico 2018 Barcelona revival 2018 Israel 2018 Stockholm 2018 Dallas, Texas 2018 Edinburgh Fringe 2018 Kearney, NE 2018 São Paulo, Brazil 2019 Syracuse, NY 2019 Edinburgh |
The Last Five Years is a musical written by Jason Robert Brown. It premiered at Chicago's Northlight Theatre in 2001 and was then produced Off-Broadway in March 2002. Since then it has had numerous productions both in the United States and internationally.
The story explores a five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein, a rising novelist, and Cathy Hiatt,[1] a struggling actress. The show uses a form of storytelling in which Cathy's story is told in reverse chronological order (beginning the show at the end of the marriage), and Jamie's is told in chronological order (starting just after the couple have first met). The characters do not directly interact except for a wedding song in the middle as their timelines intersect.
The Last Five Years was inspired by Brown's failed marriage to Theresa O'Neill. O'Neill sued Brown on the grounds that the story of the musical violated non-disparagement and non-disclosure agreements within their divorce decree by representing her relationship with Brown too closely. Brown, in turn, sued O’Neill for interfering with his creative work and his creative process. As part of the legal settlement for both suits, Brown removed all references to the character being Irish Catholic, and changed the song "I Could Be in Love With Someone Like You" to "Shiksa Goddess" in order to reduce the similarity between the character, Cathy, and O'Neill.[2][3]
The Last Five Years cast album was released by Sh-K-Boom Records in April 2002.[4] A film adaptation starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan was released in February 2015.[5]
Synopsis
Cathy is sitting alone lamenting the end of her marriage ("Still Hurting"). We shift to meet Jamie. It is five years earlier and he has just met Cathy. Jamie is overjoyed to be dating outside his Jewish heritage ("Shiksa Goddess").
Cathy and Jamie are in Ohio. It is her birthday and he has come to visit her as she works in a show there ("See I'm Smiling"). She is anxious to fix any problems in their marriage but she becomes angry when Jamie tells her he has to go back early to New York. During breaks in the music, we see a younger Jamie, talking to a literary agent about his book.
Jamie is moving in with Cathy. He comments on how lucky he is that everything is going right for him; his book is being published and his life with Cathy seems too good to be true ("Moving Too Fast"). Elsewhere an older Cathy is making a call to her agent: it seems her career isn't going the way she planned it.
Cathy is attending Jamie's book party. She sings about how he ignores her for his writing but she will always be in love with him ("I'm a Part of That").
Jamie and Cathy celebrate their second Christmas. He tells her a new story he has written about an old tailor named Schmuel and he gives her a Christmas present: a watch, promising to support her as she follows her dreams of acting. ("The Schmuel Song").
Cathy is in Ohio and writing to Jamie. She describes to Jamie her disappointing life in Ohio among her eccentric colleagues ("A Summer in Ohio").
Jamie is sitting with Cathy in Central Park. Jamie proposes to her and, for the first time in the musical, they sing together ("The Next Ten Minutes"). They get married, exchanging vows to stay together forever.
Jamie is facing temptation from other women, especially now his career as a writer has escalated ("A Miracle Would Happen"). Cathy, meanwhile, is auditioning for a role("When You Come Home to Me"). She is getting down about the rejection she faces as an actress and complains to Jamie ("Climbing Uphill").
Jamie speaks to Cathy on the phone, trying to convince her that there is nothing going on with him and his editor, Elise. He wants to celebrate a book review but Cathy refuses to go out.
Jamie is fighting with Cathy, trying to get her to listen to him. He accuses her of being unsupportive of his career just because hers is failing. Though his words are harsh, he promises her that he believes in her ("If I Didn't Believe in You").
A younger Cathy is in the car with Jamie, who is going to meet her parents. She tells him about her past relationships and hopes not to end up in a small town life like her friend from high school ("I Can Do Better Than That"). She asks Jamie to move in with her.
Near the end of the relationship Jamie wakes up beside another woman ("Nobody Needs to Know"). He tries to defend his actions and blames Cathy for destroying his privacy and their relationship. Jamie promises not to lie to this woman and tells her that "I could be in love with someone like you," just as he does to Cathy in "Shiksa Goddess."
Cathy is ecstatic after her first date with Jamie. She sings goodbye ("Goodbye Until Tomorrow"). She proclaims that she has been waiting for Jamie her whole life. Simultaneously but five years forward, Jamie sits in their shared apartment writing laments over the relationship ("I Could Never Rescue You"). As Cathy waves Jamie "goodbye until tomorrow", Jamie wishes Cathy simply "goodbye".
Music
The musical style draws on a number of musical genres, including pop, jazz, and classical, klezmer, Latin, Rock, and Folk. The orchestration consists of piano, acoustic guitar, fretless bass, two cellos, one doubling on celesta and tubular bell, and violin, doubling cymbal.
- "Still Hurting" - Cathy
- "Shiksa Goddess" - Jamie
- "See I'm Smiling" - Cathy
- "Moving Too Fast" - Jamie
- "I'm A Part of That" - Cathy
- "The Schmuel Song" - Jamie
- "A Summer in Ohio" - Cathy
- "The Next Ten Minutes" - Jamie & Cathy
- "A Miracle Would Happen/When You Come Home to Me" - Jamie/Cathy
- "Climbing Uphill/Audition Sequence" - Cathy
- "If I Didn't Believe in You" - Jamie
- "I Can Do Better Than That" - Cathy
- "Nobody Needs to Know" - Jamie
- "Goodbye Until Tomorrow/I Could Never Rescue You" - Jamie & Cathy
- Source: [6]
Original casts
| Character | Chicago (2001) | Off-Broadway (2002) | Off-Broadway (2013) | Film Adaptation (2014) | West End (2016) | São Paulo (2018) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamie Wellerstein | Norbert Leo Butz | Adam Kantor | Jeremy Jordan | Jonathan Bailey | Beto Sargentelli | |
| Cathy Hiatt | Lauren Kennedy | Sherie Rene Scott | Betsy Wolfe | Anna Kendrick | Samantha Barks | Eline Porto |
Production history
Original Chicago production
The show debuted at Northlight Theatre in Skokie, Illinois in 2001, running from May–July 1. The production starred Lauren Kennedy as Cathy and Norbert Leo Butz as Jamie.[7] Kennedy had a previous commitment (a role in South Pacific in London) and was replaced by Sherie Rene Scott.[8] Scott, therefore, performed the vocals on the cast recording.
Off-Broadway
The show opened Off-Broadway at the Minetta Theatre on March 2, 2002 and closed May 5, 2002. Directed was by Daisy Prince, and Butz and Scott again starred.[9] The production won the 2002 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics, as well as receiving Drama Desk nominations for Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Actor, Outstanding Actress, Outstanding Orchestrations, and Outstanding Set Design.[10] It also received the Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Actor, and the Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical.
Off-Broadway revival
The show was revived in 2013 Off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre for a limited engagement with Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe in the roles of Jamie and Cathy, respectively. Brown himself directed.[11] In March 2015, Kantor and Wolfe reprised their roles in a two-night-only concert production of the show at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.[12]
European Premieres
The show premiered in Paris, France[13] in 2013 presented by American Musical Theatre Live featuring Jonathan Wagner as Jamie and Miranda Crispin as Cathy. [14]
The show was given its Northern Irish premiere at The Lyric Theatre, Belfast in 2015, running for a limited engagement. It starred Fra Fee as Jamie and Amy Lennox as Cathy. The production was directed by Stephen Whitson.[15]
The show premiered in Stockholm, Sweden at Teaterstudio Lederman in April 2018. It starred Emil Nyström as Jamie and Cilla Silvia as Cathy. The production was directed by Robin Karlsson, with music direction by Johan Mörk.[16]
There will be a premiere of the show in Basel, Switzerland presented by Boutique Theatre Basel in June 2019.
In Concert
On September 12, 2016, Jason Robert Brown, along with SubCulture, presented a one night only benefit for the Brady Center to prevent gun violence. The Town Hall in New York City hosted this event. Cynthia Erivo played Cathy and Joshua Henry played Jamie. Jason Robert Brown conducted the orchestra.[17]
West End
On October 29, 2016, Samantha Barks and Jonathan Bailey took on the roles of Cathy and Jamie in the West End, London.[18]
Syracuse Stage
In June 2019, the musical was directed by Jason Alexander in a production in Syracuse, New York. Alexander introduced two dancers who shadow the characters of Jamie and Cathy; reviewer Linda Lowen wrote "With approval from Brown, Alexander's vision has resulted in a production more interactive, more compelling, more visual, and more suited to those twenty-something millennials who -- like Jamie and Cathy -- grapple with love, career, independence and commitment."[19]
Film adaptation
An adaptation starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan was directed by PS, I Love You director Richard LaGravenese.[20] The film premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.
References
- ^ Brown, Jason Robert (22 May 2012). "The Schmuel Song". Jason Robert Brown. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
- ^ Vogel, Scott (June 17, 2005). "Young Composer's Wonder "Years"". Washington Post. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
- ^ [1] New York post, March 6, 2002
- ^ "The Last Five Years Original Off-Broadway Cast". Cast Albums. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
- ^ Harp, Justin. "Anna Kendrick, Jeremy Jordan for 'Last Five Years' musical adaptation". Retrieved 2013-03-04.
- ^ MTI Shows song list MTI shows
- ^ Jones, Kenneth.Marriage Dissected: Brown's Musical, Last Five Years, Opening May 23 in IL" Playbill.com, May 23, 2001
- ^ "Talkin' Broadway - Sound Advice: 4/16/03". Talkinbroadway.com. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
- ^ Brantley, Ben.Novelist and an Actress Sharing a Leaky Boat" The New York Times, March 4, 2002
- ^ Jones, Kenneth; Simonson, Robert."Drama Desk Awards Announced; Goat, Metamorphoses Tie for Best Play, Millie Scores" Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine Playbill.com, May 20, 2002
- ^ Hetrick, Adam (May 30, 2012). "Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years Will Get Off-Broadway Revival at Second Stage". Playbill.com. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
- ^ "Betsy Wolfe and Adam Kantor Reprise Roles in THE LAST FIVE YEARS, Beginning Tonight at A.C.T". Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
- ^ Andrew Gans (June 7, 2013). "Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years and Benj Pasek and Justin Paul's Edges. Will Make Paris Debuts for Limited Engagement". Playbill.
- ^ Bryan Pirolli. "The Last 5 Years". TimeOut Paris.
- ^ "The Last Five Years – Lyric Theatre, Belfast". Musical Theatre Review. 1 July 2015.
- ^ Stolt, Annette. "BWW Review: THE LAST 5 YEARS at TeaterStudio Lederman". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
- ^ Fierberg, Ruthie. "What Happened at Last Night’s 'Last Five Years' Concert?" playbill, September 13, 2016
- ^ "Samantha Barks and Jonathan Bailey Lead The Last Five Years starting October 28th" broadwayworld, October 27, 2016
- ^ Lowen, Linda (June 2, 2019). "'Last Five Years' at Syracuse Stage a unique, gorgeous and innovative production (Review)". Syracuse Post-Standard.
- ^ Gioia, Michael. "Jeremy Jordan and Anna Kendrick Will Explore The Last Five Years On Screen in Richard LaGravenese Adaptation". Archived from the original on 2013-02-24. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
External links
- The Last Five Years at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- New York Times review, March 4, 2002
- Curtain Up review, March 2002
- The Last Five Years at the Music Theatre International website