Sierra Madre Playhouse presents The Last Five Years. Book, lyrics, and music by Jason Robert Brown. Directed by Josh Shaw. Music Director is Joshua Foy.
The last Five Years is the story of Playwright Jason Robert Brown‘s first marriage. The play is so much his personal experience that he was sued by his first wife and the lawsuit had to be settled just before the New York premiere back in 2002. The story is simple, two characters, Cathy (Jackie Bonsignore) and Jamie (Jayde Mitchell) get married. He becomes a successful novelist while Cathy continues to be a struggling actress. His success and her failure take a toll on their marriage and start to drift them apart.
As simple as it might sound, the story travels because relationships are a central part of our lives, so all of us can easily relate to the characters and start feeling for them. Jamie and Cathy sing their story separately except for “A Miracle Would Happen/When You Come Home to Me”, where they sing together. The musical contains 14 songs in total.
Brown used a clever storytelling tool to make the musical even more appealing. Cathy tells the story backwards, beginning the play with “Still Hurting”, a song about the end of their marriage. Jamie, on the other hand, tells the story in chronological order beginning with “Shiksa Goddess”, a song about his happiness find a girl like Cathy. The contrast in emotions of those two first songs sets the tone of the play.
Bonsignore shows her soprano skills and delivers a magnetic performance. She is able to portray the nuances of a woman in love and the devastating crash that comes after a stagnant career and marital failure. Her voice effectively communicates the emotional states of excitement and sadness, the two ironic elements of her character.
As for Mitchell, his voice sounds full and rich, matching the attributes of his character. He blends with ease the transition from an optimistic novelist to a man consumed in his own success, unable to resist the temptations of fame.
The music direction by Joshua Foy is fantastic. The musicians bring an air of romanticism and fill the stage with a magical score that transmits the ebbs and flows of an intense relationship. Director Josh Shaw put together an excellent group of artists dedicated to their craft who deliver a fascinating production in the iconic Sierra Mare Playhouse. This musical with relatable topics engages and entertains to make it an excellent experience in an intimate theater. Due to the length of the run, the show is double cast. Margaret Berkowitz and Jackie Bonsignore play Cathy and Jayde Mitchell and Bryan Mittelstadt play Jamie. Bonsignore and Mitchell performed on Saturday May 25, the day we attended to review the play.
The Last Five Years
Sierra Madre Playhouse
87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
May 17 – June 16, 2024 (see Sierra Madre Playhouse’s website for full schedule)
Tickets: sierramadreplayhouse.org
Book, lyrics, and music by Jason Robert Brown. Directed by Josh Shaw. Music Director is Joshua Foy.
Cast (double cast): Cathy: Margaret Berkowitz. Cathy: Jackie Bonsignore. Jamie: Jayde Mitchell. Jamie: Bryan Mittelstadt.
Musicians: Jon Lee Keenan (Bass), Jessica Chen (Violin), Alexander Elliott Miller (Guitar), Betsy Rettig (Cello 2), and Derek Stein (Cello 1).
Creative team: Set/Props: Josh Shaw. Costume Design: Hailey Springer. Lighting Design: Grace Berry. Stage Manager: Bri Westad. Assistant Stage Manager: Carolyn Wasson. Substitute Stage Manager: Colton Bassett.
