The Last 5 Years theatre review

The Last 5 Years is one of the most popular musicals amongst fans of the genre to emerge this century.  It tells the sweet and sad story of a couple who come together at the start of their careers, whose relationship falls apart as their respective careers take very different turns.  The gimmick with this show is that Cathy's story is told in reverse chronological order, while Jamie's is told from start to finish.  Their scenes alternate, and the only time the two appear together in the same time zone is at the midpoint, when he proposes marriage.  With such a bold device to accommodate, the staging of the action is an interesting challenge.  Auckland Music Theatre's new production misses the mark where staging is concerned, failing to serve skilled singers Heather Wilcock and Andrew Allen.

This show is a two-hander.  That is what it is.  That is how it is written and a large part of what makes it interesting theatrically.  Director Andrew Potvin would disagree with me.  His vision includes a chorus of six nubile young women.  Their first appearance was surprising and somewhat cryptic, but I was open to the possibility that they might add to the experience.  Having more to watch could mean more to like.  But in this case it doesn't.  The chorus are choreographed in a way that they often illustrate lyrics on a very literal level.  And it made me cringe.  One would expect that supporting actors would provide ears for the singers to bend.  Well, no, our leads still sing to themselves or to an imagined partner.  So...

Presuming one can ignore the pointless chorus, there are some great beautiful moments to enjoy.  The highlights for me, though, are vocal ones.  Wilcock's voice is pure and strident and sounds somehow effortless and powerful.  For the most part, she sings the songs very straight.  It is hard to fault, but I feel that the part lends itself to greater personalisation.  Allen's voice is less evenly matched to the demands of these songs, however he proves his musicality with some stylish licks and unique runs.  Certainly, both singers prove themselves worthy of their place on stage.

When it comes to acting, though, the characterisation of both parts is slight.  Most songs were given a rather basic emotional wash, rather than the dynamic mile-a-minute thought processes that would best serve the writing.  Both actors, though, are rather young.  It could well be that they will understand Cathy and Jamie far better five years from now.

See this show if you are unfamiliar with the material; the material is so strong it nearly stands on its own.  The vocal performances are admirable, but the rest struggles to reach adequacy.