By Harry Mottram: Some get a Dear John letter, for others it’s an angry public row in a pub and for many it can be a roller coaster ending in tears and recriminations. Jason Robert Brown’s semi autobiographical musical The Last Five Years lands at the Ustinov Studio in Bath this week with an extended run to take the show into the New Year. In a reversal symmetrical plot structure with Cathy’s story beginning at the end and Jamie’s version of their relationship starting at their meeting the relationship is brought to life through song with numbers that include Goodbye Until Tomorrow/I Could Never Rescue You, Still Hurting and Nobody Needs to Know. Most people will sympathise with the couple’s angsts, emotional needs and desire for a relationship that works.
It starts with romance builds to a wedding day and a shared future but – well… no spoilers. Martha Kirby plays Cathy. Her recent credits include Eva Peron in a revival of Evita at the Leicester Curve, Raven in the UK tour of Bat Out Of Hell, Bella Cohen in Rags and Sandy in the UK tour of Grease. Jamie is played by Guy Woolf whose recent stage credits include a Broadway World award nomination for his role in The Cher Show, As You Like It at the Globe Theatre and Yankl and the Beanstalk at the Pleasance Theatre.
Jason Robert Brown’s semi-autobiographical story was to see him at odds with his former wife Theresa O’Neill who took exception to his use of their failed marriage as the inspiration for the fiction. A legal battle ensued and he was forced to make some basic changes – mainly to Cathy’s character. Which underlines the strength of feeling The Last Five Years created. Witty, funny, poignant and a candid account of a relationship that reflects so many who have invested so much of their lives in someone they love. Set to a musical score with elements of pop, jazz, classical, Klezmer, Latin, Blues, Rock, and Folk the production is a feast for the ears and senses with the music created live on stage.
Tickets at https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/events/the-last-five-years/
Evenings 7.30pm
Matinees Weds & Sat 2.30pm (Wed 3 Dec 10.30am)
No evening performances Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve
Babes in Arms performances 3 Dec 10.30am, 10 Dec 2.30pm
Running Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Runs: Tue 25 Nov 25 — Sat 03 Jan 26
Martha Kirby – Cathy
Guy Woolf – Jamie
Piano – Tim Jasper
Guitar – Wills Mercado
Bass Guitar – Angus Tikka
Cello – Rebecca Demmer
Director – Hal Chambers
Musical Director – Ellie Verkerk-Hughes
Associate Musical Director – Tim Jasper
Designer – Ethan Cheek
Lighting Designer – Jonathan Chan
Sound Designer – Matthew Giles
Movement Director – Georgina Lamb
Casting Director – Harry Blumenau CDG
Bath Voice and Local Democracy Reporters
The journalists are funded by the BBC as part of its latest Charter commitment, but are employed by regional news organisations. A total of 165 reporters are allocated to news organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland including Bath Voice. These organisations range from television and radio stations to online media companies and established regional newspaper groups. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities, second-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
Bath Voice Monthly Newspaper is distributed free to thousands of homes and some supermarkets – distributed from the first of the month. Harry Mottram is the News Editor
Email him at news@bathvoice.co.uk Bath website: https://bathvoice.co.uk/news/
Bath Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/bdtf2kep Also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bath_voice And Bluesky @bathvoicenews.bsky.social And also on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/harrymottram6/
Read the newspaper online at :https://issuu.com/bathvoice
To advertise to thousands of Bathonians call Shaun on 07540 383870 or email him on sales@bathvoice.co.uk