The Last Five Years

The Last Five Years is a 2 person, emotionally intimate musical known for its powerful score and innovative structure. When I looked up the play, as I hadn’t seen it before, I wondered how just 2 actors could keep audiences interested. How wrong I was.

We walked into a room with a small stage containing a chair on either side of the stage and a bench in the middle. With a cast having brilliant musicality and timing. with recorded music it was faultless. The use of 2 books, a leather jacket and a couple of minimal changes on stage was all they needed to tell the story, a contemporary musical. Lighting was used effectively, helping the story along.

The story was of a 5 year relationship between Jamie Wellersteen (Adam Hodges) and Cathy Hiatt (Catrin Street-Mattox). Jamie told it chronologically, beginning to end, whilst Cathy was in reverse. The only time they met on stage was sitting on the bench in the middle of the stage at their wedding. They sang through the stages and their body language and facial expressions, alongside the music, told the tale.

Adam and Catrin kept us engaged from start to finish, diction and projection was excellent. Adam even used 2 voices in one part and I particularly liked Catrin’s audition scene. The use of a wedding veil helped to enhance the wedding scene. The swapping of a jacket was a clever idea. Adam used it for his journey which then swapped to Catrin as she moved to the end of her journey. The beginning of each journey was anticipation, joy, love and excitement and the end of each journey with disappointment, arguments, lack of trust.

I must compliment the cast, producer and director who jointly gave us a wonderful, thought provoking show.

What talent, both acting and singing. Congratulations Adam and Catrin who worked so well together.

I look forward to your next production.

 

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