A contemporary romance adds nothing new to theatrical dialogue - unless, of course, there's a twist. The twist in The Last Five Years is a clever one. The musical unfolds as a sequence of songs, with very little dialogue. Two attractive, twentyish actors portray a couple who meet, fall in love, get married and eventually part. What's the twist? The guy's story is told in forward time - meaning that his first songs are about meeting the girl of his dreams. The girl's story is told in reverse. She is saddened by the demise of what once was a promising relationship.
The musical is set in New York City. Jamie (the guy) tells of his fast rise to fame. Just out of college, his first novel catches fire. Caught up in the parties, TV appearances and book tours, he is both excited and a bit apprehensive ("Moving Too Fast"). Catherine, meanwhile, realizes her acting career is not taking a similarly meteoric rise ("A Summer in Ohio"). The immaturity of both characters does not allow them to look past the present. Catherine chafes at Jamie's success. She does not want to live in his shadow. Jamie, meanwhile, fails to realize that both his exuberance and moodiness are causing the relationship to fray. It takes a stellar cast and top-notch direction to pull it off. Luckily, both elements are firmly in place in the production staged by Skylight Opera Theater. Both actors easily exchange center stage, as one song often blends into the next.
As Catherine, Lisa Brescia is almost luminous. One can feel her vulnerability, her neediness and her desperate attempts to avoid the realization that her marriage is failing. Michael Deleget is a nearly perfect physical prototype for Jamie, the dashing young novelist. It's easy to see why other women are drawn to him (particularly after he's married, he discovers). Deleget is particularly good at capturing the essence of Jamie's male ego. Both have superior voices, a vital element for the musical's success.
The show's creator, Jason Robert Brown, is best-known for his work on Alfred Uhry's Parade, which opened on Broadway in 1998. The show was proof of Brown's talent; he won the Tony Award for Best Musical Score. The Last Five Years seems somewhat dwarfed by the fabulously ornate Cabot Theater. One might have wished for a more intimate space, given that the show has only two actors. However, the set design and costumes are up to par with the Skylight's typically high standards (the New York City skyline, seen through curtains, is particularly effective). The orchestra, too, is a treat.
