Review By Kyle Osborne
photos: Teresa Wood
‘The Last Five Years,’ a bittersweet, yet delightful musical at Signature Theatre, tells the story of a relationship from beginning to end, and it does so with only songs. To be exact, fourteen wonderful songs that range from a heartbreaking ballad at the top, to a Vaudevillian-style number (Shiksa Goddess) that sends waves of appreciative laughter throughout the audience.
Jamie (James Gardiner) and Cathy (Erin Weaver) play the ill-fated couple, and these two can sing! It starts with Cathy, sitting on the bed in the empty New York apartment, singing “Still Hurting.” Jamie has left and Cathy is picking up the pieces and, as the song suggests, is not over it yet. While Cathy’s storyline starts at the end of the relationship, Jamie’s starts at the hopeful beginning. The characters, except for a brief appearance, don’t share songs. She goes, then he goes, then she goes, and so on.
It doesn’t seem like a device that would work as smoothly as it does, but writer Jason Robert Brown’s songs are so full of life and work so well as the sole narrative, that the non-linear juxtaposition works just fine—it actually keeps things more lively.
Jamie is quickly becoming a very successful writer, only in his 20’s, while Cathy is trying to rise as an actress with little success. Cathy is stuck between disappointing auditions and trips to Ohio to take roles in regional theater. The disparity in their levels of success is the root of their conflict.
Obviously, there’s no shortage of ‘relationship gone wrong’ stories in the world, but what makes ‘The Last Five Years’ stand out from others is how clever the lyrics are and how mellifluous the most of the songs are. Not to mention the physical comedy that makes a song like “A Summer In Ohio” a giggle-inducing tune.
Watching James Gardiner mature as an actor and singer over the past several years has been rewarding for those who’ve paid close attention. His versatility has landed him a collection of plum roles, each one different than the one before. As the co-lead, Gardiner gets the time and material to really show his stuff. He doesn’t just sing his ass off, he acts the songs so that every emotion or subtle expression is conveyed. It’s not just Gardiner’s everyman appearance that makes him so relate-able, it’s an easy smile, a twinkle in his eye—sometimes mischievous, that he can access. It must not be as easy as he makes it look, but it’s something in his “bag” that is always a pleasure to witness. And that’s true in this case, too.
It’s practically become a given that the set and lighting design are top notch at Signature. That remains true. It’s a one act journey that flies by more quickly than the title would suggest, and it will hit the heart and funny bone of anyone who’s ever been in a rocky relationship.
‘The Last Five Years’ continues at Signature Theatre through April 28th, For tickets and more information, please visit: http://www.signature-theatre.org