(L-R) Byran Mittelstadt (Jamie); Margaret Berkowitz (Cathy); Jackie Bonsignore (Cathy); Jayde Mitchell (Jamie) at Sierra Madre Playhouse (Photo – Luis Luque)
While this is a musical, as all lines are sung, there is no chorus, no dancers, no catchy songs that you’ll find yourself singing on the ride home.
By Carol Edger Germain
The story is told by just two characters, husband and wife, singing the past and the future of their romance from opposite ends of their five years together. It’s a challenging concept, conquered brilliantly by award winners Jason Robert Brown (author) and Josh Shaw (director), treating us to this unique rollercoaster of perspective, a ride certain to evoke personal reflections of anyone who has ever been in love.
Cathy, played by Margaret Berkowitz on the night of this review; is played by Jackie Bonsignore in some performances. Jamie was played by Bryan Middlestadt in this performance and by Jayde Mitchell in alternate performances. I think that most of the audience will experience a connection to more than one of the love situations unfolding on stage. The husband tells the story from the exciting beginning of the romance to the end, and the wife reminisces from the end of romance, with only one joint physical scene at their wedding.
The play opens with Cathy, an aspiring actress, sorting and packing their possessions, dismantling the home and the memories, as she forlornly acknowledges that Jamie is moving on with his life without her. Then we jump to an excited Jamie describing his infatuation with a new acquaintance he is planning on courting, after first considering how to present this “shiksa goddess” to his Jewish family (which until recently would be mutually good-natured but current events put a slight twinge on their initial reaction). The events of the couple’s lives move forward, Cathy with her acting career, and Jamie experiencing initial success with his book writing goals.
The set design is clever, with small changes made smoothly and quickly to create numerous locations instantaneously, since there is little to no dialogue to connect the stages of the story. The changes of set silently weave the story both directions. Musical director/pianist Josh Foy directed the 5-piece ensemble, which performed this evening. He serves as the sole musical source as pianist on alternate performances. I suggest you check the schedule if you have a preference. I felt that the musical ensemble was just a bit too much to balance with just two actors/voices, occasionally overshadowing the singing. Not as intimate as I imagine the solo piano accompaniment could be. I am inspired to see the performance again on a night with just piano. Well worth your time, a unique performance you shouldn’t miss.
Margaret Berkowitz (Cathy) and Byran Mittelstadt (Jamie) in “The Last Five Years” (Photo – Luis Luque)
The Last Five Years Directed by Josh Shaw Music Direction by Josh Foy Cast: Margaret Berkowitz, Jayde Mitchell, Jackie Bonsignore, and Bryan Mittelstadt Sierra Madre Playhouse 87 W. Sierra Madre Boulevard Sierra Madre, CA 91024 626-355-4318 sierramadreplayhouse.org Free parking on Sierra Madre Blvd. or the large parking lot behind the theater Date/Time Friday, May 31, 8:00 pm - With Ensemble Saturday, June 1, 4:00 pm - With Live Piano Saturday, June 1, 8:00 pm - With Live Piano Sunday, June 2, 2:00 pm - With Live Piano Friday, June 7, 8:00 pm - With Live Piano Saturday, June 8, 4:00 pm - With Live Piano Saturday, June 8, 8:00 pm - With Ensemble Sunday, June 9, 2:00 pm - With Live Piano Friday, June 14, 2024, 8:00 pm - With Live Piano Saturday, June 15, 4:00 pm - With Live Piano Saturday, June 15, 8:00 pm - With Live Piano Sunday, June 16, 2:00 pm - With Live Piano
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