Director Luke Marty, producer Jon Chaters, and Music Director Robertx Wilkinson’s instinct for tackling Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years is an exceptionally good choice for the Toronto Stage Company. These three individuals clearly embody tenderness and compassion in their communal vision for staging a story about real people.
Told through song, the musical follows a five-year relationship between Cathy Hiatt (Steffi DiDomenicantonio), a struggling actress, and Jamie Wellerstein (Nicolas Palazzolo), a rising novelist. What’s fascinating about Brown’s musical is that Jamie’s story unfolds in chronological order (starting after the couple has met). Cathy’s story is told in reverse-chronological order (beginning with the end of her marriage to Jamie). The audience sees the struggles of the two characters as they try to build successful careers while still finding time to be together.
Cathay and Jamie do not interact at all in the performance, except for their marriage, which occurs about halfway through.
In Toronto Stage’s production, Marty has Cathy positioned stage right and Jamie stage left.
Having never seen the production before, this opening night becomes an emotional ache, a love story told by two people who want the audience to hear their side of how they got together and why they had to go their separate ways.
It works nicely on many levels.
For one, Marty ensures his set design does not look ‘stagy’ at all. It’s a stripped-down, multi-level set with necessary, appropriate props and dressing (courtesy of Amy Slattery) that allows the two actors to move up and down to different vantage points. Make sure you read Marty’s online programme note on your phone. He explains what the stage also represents, which provides interesting context.
With that understanding of why Marty envisions the set as he does, Ryan Davy’s lighting design is sharp and focused, creating the right ambience. Thanks to sound designer Jacob Lin, I could hear the lyrics clearly from where I sat in the house. That’s really important, especially when the story is driven by lyrics.
Clothed fashionably in costumes appropriately selected by Nola Chaters, Marty and Wilkinson continually ensure that DiDomenicantonio and Palazzolo move with purpose, logic and reason. Again, nothing ever appears stagy or sounds unfamiliar. These are genuine people that Marty and Wilkinson care about, as does the audience.
Steffi and Nicolas remain focused and grounded. They are two gifted artists who sing these songs with gorgeous-sounding vocals, understanding the meaning behind each word and pronouncing it with a dignified clarity, producing an ethereal, high-quality sound. In their moments of song, the performers reach out in character, as if hoping the other will respond in kind and reach back. It’s quite touching to watch the two of them do this.
The one moment when the two connect at their wedding leaves me feeling a duality of emotions – hopeful that Jamie believes he has found the one person with whom he wants to share the rest of his life, and sad knowing that Cathy has done all she could to save her marriage.
I couldn’t help but think more about the production on the train ride home and while writing this article the next day. We humans, an unpredictable lot, are filled with genuine love and spirit, yet complicated by weakness and troubles. We also question whether we have, do, or did the right thing in our relationships with others.
That’s a good thing if theatre makes its audiences think, especially if Cathy and Jamie are doing or have done the right thing.
And the good thing is to go and see The Last Five Years.
Running time: approximately 90 minutes with no interval/intermission.
The production runs to Sunday, January 25, at the newly named Terminal Theatre (formerly Fleck Theatre), Queen’s Quay Terminal, Third Floor, Toronto. For tickets: terminaltheatre.ca
THE TORONTO STAGE COMPANY presents
THE LAST FIVE YEARS written and composed by Jason Robert Brown
Directed by Luke Marty
Musical Direction: Robertx Wilkinson
Costume Design: Nola Chaters
Graphic Design: Playing with Fire Productions
Lighting Design: Ryan Davy
Set Design: Luke Marty
Sound Design: Jacob Lin
Production Manager, Props, Set Dressing: Amy Slattery
Stage Manager: Katie Fits-Gerald
Orchestra members: Robertx Wilkinson, Duncan Stan, Evan Lamberton, Cheryl Ockrant, Joseph Martel, Gemma Donn
Performers: Steffi DiDomenicantonio and Nicolas Palazzolo
