“The Last Five Years”

Written by Eddie Hackworthy, Photographed by Heather Aitken

1. “The Last Five Years” is a musical, but an unusual one:

“The Last Five Years” (TL5Y) is a very different experience from “Cats” or “Into the Woods.” The cast is traditionally comprised of only two people: one woman to portray Cathy Hiatt, an aspiring actress, and a man to perform as Jamie Wellerstein, a writer with whom she has a five-year romance. The show also has little spoken dialogue, telling its tale wholly through song. Most strikingly, the story unfolds in a unique way: the play alternates between Jamie’s point-of-view and Cathy’s – but Jamie’s experience is followed chronologically, from the relationship’s beginning to its end, while Cathy’s story is viewed in reverse. Their two perspectives merge only once, in the middle of the play.

2. TL5Y depicts real life:

Despite its time-warping tendencies, the show hits home for anyone who has been in a relationship. Chris Bleeker, stage manager, says her appreciation for the musical is twofold: “It expresses that relationships take work [and that] fairy tale endings aren’t required.”

Elizabeth Benecki, GPP groups coordinator, believes there is a musical out there for everyone, even those who may not typically like musicals. That is definitely the case for Adam Volle, the male actor for Jamie, who says TL5Y has been his favorite musical for well over five years. “Jamie is my theatrical avatar – another writer usually in his own world, addicted to love, who both loathes and adores his heritage.” Caitlin O’Neill feels similarly connected to Cathy: “As someone who has also endured rejection and failed auditions, I find Cathy’s struggle is written very authentically.”

3. TL5Y has something for (almost) everyone.

But O’Neill adds, “You don’t have to be a writer or an actor to empathize with the characters and themes of TL5Y. We can all learn something from the mistakes Cathy and Jamie make.” And according to the show’s director, Heather Aitken, “On a scale from ‘Book of Mormon’ to ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ ‘The Last Five Years’ is right in the middle. If ever there was a ‘dramedy’ it would be this show.” Aspects of this particular show have even been designed with non-fluent speakers of English in mind: programs will include song summaries in Korean and English, and Aitken has announced that cast members will dance in several numbers “to interpret the lyrics and music without the need for fluency in English.”

4. The musical score is unlike any other.

“Unlike many classic musicals that use one theme and its variations, ‘The Last Five Years’ is quite complex,” explains Aitken. “A range of genres are covered. The timing swings from waltzes to common time to the just plain weird, and the key [alternates] between major and minor, mirroring the violent changes in emotional states from one song to the next.”

5. You will love it.

Volle thinks so: “It’s funny as hell, but also authentic and tragic.” Aitken seconds, “The music is amazing! Everyone will find a song or scene that they relate to.”

With a diverse and talented cast, spellbinding music and real-life issues, all you really need to know about “The Last Five Years” is that you do not want to miss it.

The show will be staged at Gwangju Art Hall, near the Megabox movie theater downtown. Performances are July 17 at 7 p.m., July 18 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and July 19 at 2 p.m. Email gpptickets@gmail.com to reserve tickets or for more information.