Theatre Review. The Last Five Years. Ustinov Studio, Bath.
In the words of the Beatles song, ‘You say hello, and I say goodbye,’ The Last Five Years is about a romantic hello and a bitter goodbye. The ultimate break-up musical centres on Cathy and Jamie, charting their relationship from mutual infatuation to angry break up. Jason Robert Brown’s story is structured in a reversal symmetrical plot with Cathy’s story beginning at the end and Jamie’s at the start with the couple meeting in the middle at their wedding.
Of course there’s so much more as the story of love and disillusionment, aspirations and dashed hopes is universal, which is why this production of the 2001 musical connects so strongly. There’s the singing – brilliant – the musical direction (Ellie Verkerk-Hughes take a bow), the neat set and costumes (Ethan Cheek) and the exquisite lighting (Jonathan Chan) and sound ((Matthew Giles) – and for me the New York and Jewish references. I now know what a Shiksa Goddess is – basically it is Cathy who is non-Jewish – and I’ve learnt who Daisy Mae was (a comic strip sweetheart) – although I knew about Mr Ed – the talking horse in the long ago TV comedy I watched as a child. The Last Five Years isn’t just an intimate musical but an education on American modern cultural references – and voices – as I’m sure at one point I heard Cathy briefly turn into Judy Garland.
Aspiring actress Cathy (Martha Kirby) suffers from the inspiration of the real-life relationship it was based on as it is largely seen through novelist Jamie’s eyes. He sets the pace and the tempo although Cathy more than holds her own in this latter-day battle of the sexes as each aspires to something the relationship can’t deliver. She sings, then he sings – she’s up, while he’s down – you get the picture. She vocalises the end of their marriage in Goodbye Until Tomorrow while he is ecstatic with A Miracle Would Happen – if only they could have met each other half way – which they do with their beautiful wedding dance as they sing The Next Ten Minutes together. You kind of want them to visit Relate at this point.
Director Hal Chambers ensured that despite the two separate narratives taking place in the same space the actors continually played off each other and interacted with the musicians – enhanced by exquisite movement directed by Georgina Lamb. It effectively meant there was a cast of six as Rebecca Demmer (cello), Wills Mercado (guitar), Angus Tikka (bass guitar) and Tim Jasper (piano) added to the story as alternatively friends of the couple, neighbours, agents, producers and even lovers. Entertaining, engaging, emotional, compulsive story storytelling and above all fabulous singing throughout with the accompaniment of the live musicians – a five star production that is perfect for the intimate space of the Ustinov.
Harry Mottram
THE LAST FIVE YEARS appears at the Ustinov Studio from Tuesday 25 November 2025 to Saturday 3 January 2026. Tickets are on sale now at Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at theatreroyal.org.uk
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