The Last Five Years (Vic TC) – theatre review

Powerful vocals, a strong musical score and a deteriorating relationship are the hallmarks of The Last Five Years, written and composed by American Jason Robert Brown, starring Verity Hunt-Ballard (Sweet Charity) and Josh Piterman (West Side Story). It is the story of two twenty-somethings – he Jewish and she not – who fall in and out of love over, you guessed it, five years.

Jamie Wellerstein (Piterman), an up-and-coming writer struggles to balance his sudden success with his increasingly tumultuous love life. Meanwhile Cathy Hiatt (Hunt-Ballard), an aspiring actress, deals with the frustrations of her own career while watching her husband succeed from the sidelines. All is revealed in song and a short book reading, with the starting point being the end of the marriage. The lyrics unpack the highs and lows of the relationship, the triumphs and the tribulations, as told in a series of vignettes.

For him, it is an endless array of parties and schmoozing, not to forget the lure of attractive women other than Cathy. For her, it is knockbacks, disappointment, self-doubt and constantly waiting for him.

The action moves between New York and Ohio. Cathy’s story is told in reverse chronological order (in other words, her character moves backwards), while Jamie tells it from beginning to end. Their narrative lines cross in the middle for a wedding.

There are 14 numbers in the 80-minute work without interval. The style draws on a number of musical genres, including pop, rock, classical, Latin, folk and jazz. The story was inspired by writer and composer Brown’s failed marriage to Theresa O’Neill. O’Neill threatened legal action on the grounds that what was written too closely represented her relationship with Brown. The show premiered in Chicago in May 2001, before being produced off Broadway in March 2002.

The strong chemistry between the two dynamic performers is evident throughout. Individually and collectively their strong, soaring voices are a treat to listen to, something I vividly recall from their previous productions. The intimate nature of the venue, in which the audience is close to the action, only serves to highlight and heighten their vocal attributes. They are accompanied by an excellent six-piece band – under the musical direction of Daniel Puckey – who, too, is highly deserving of (and receives) healthy applause at curtain call.

Directed by Chris Parker, Vic Theatre Company’s production of The Last Five Years, a tale of love and loss – complete with courtship and romance, drama and pathos – is playing at fortyfivedownstairs (45 Flinders Lane) until 11 December 2016.

Alex First