Review by J. A. Di Bello
ELLENVILLE, NY (September 7, 2015) – Love, be it real, imagined, or simply proclaimed reigns eternal as an irresistible and absorbing
subject, especially when its joys, frailties and heartbreak are explored and exposed by the magic of theatre. Well aware of these facts, Brendan Burke, Producing Artistic Director has thoughtfully brought to the stage of the Shadowland Theatre in Ellenville, Jason Robert Brown’s award winning, three-character musical, The Last Five Years.
The element of Time in this set-to-song narrative is paramount as it adequately serves as the production’s third character. Further, it is Time that allows two convincing and vocally proficient actors, Eddie Egan as Jamie Wellerstein and Katie Reid as Cathy Hiatt, to forcefully deliver the full range of each character’s emotions, stretching from the titillating 
tingle of first love to the disheartening thud of a collapsed marriage. Jamie shares his personal ascent and Cathy her descent through clever and catchy lyrics, as Jamie’s story is revealed in chronological order, while Cathy’s is delivered in reverse. They join on stage with a Time related duet representing their marriage, “The Next Ten Minutes.” It contains some of the musical’s most brilliant and prophetic lyrics. “I am not always on time,” Cathy coyly reveals, as Time continues to carry them further and further from each other. In terms of a marriage, they seem as two ships passing in the night: “one without a sail and the other without a rudder.”
Aside from youth as a complicating factor in this tale of passion, the relationship is a mix of religion and custom, i.e., a mixed marriage: Cathy a Christian and 
Jamie a Jew. He recognizes her needs and as he affectionately refers to her as a “Shiksa Goddess” and attempts to reconcile Cathy’s disaffection by arranging for a Christmas tree and telling the fable of Schmuel the tailor and his dreams of a convoluted relationship with Time. Further and to lend greater credence to the role Time plays in this love story, Jamie presents Cathy with a Christmas gift: a watch. He a successful writer understands her desire, if not need, to follow her own dreams.
Through a variety of musicals genres, three-time TONY award winner Jason Brown has managed to include in his musical a little bit of country, a smattering of rock, some pop and more than just a polite obligatory hint of Klezmer. The story line consists of 14 scenes, all, with the exception of the duets mentioned above, are sung in toto by either Cathy or Jamie. Fortunately, Thomas Conroy, as Music Director of this noteworthy production
at the Shadowland, has a solid command of the show’s four piece accompaniment and the process necessary to theatrically present a most unique and thought provoking musical.
To stand apart from musicals as a category is a distinct characteristic of The Last Five Years. The production is repeatedly referred to as a two-person musical, but as stated above, it is not. There are three assertive characters governing the action on the stage of the Shadowland: Jamie, Cathy and Time. Staging at Shadowland is open and Scenic Designer Jonathan Wentz appears to be keenly aware of Time’s role. His design immediately visible to patrons 
entering the theatre consists of six, large, vertical panels, each displaying a fragmented calendar with large numbers. When places are called, Time stands center stage with Jamie and Cathy.
Further, in this musical teaming love with romance, Jamie and Cathy share a lone girl-next-door kiss. As stated earlier, the characters exist independent of each other, their separation evidenced in terms vocalization and physical contact. To that end, Director Michael LaFleur’s accommodating stage placement of Jamie and Cathy reflects a similar degree of distance. Initial scenes place Cathy down-stage right, traditionally the warmest stage location, while Jamie stands solo down-stage-left, a position of distance and objectivity.
The Last Five Years is the most entertaining, thought provoking theatre of the current season, delivering cleverly composed music and lyrics, with skillful presentations, while at the same time pricking the mind with concepts and questioning the potential of Time. “As time goes by,” it is said, “The world will always welcome lovers.”
Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years is playing at the Shadowland Theatre in Ellenville through September 27. Tickets are available at the Box Office 845-657-5511 or online http://www.shadowlandtheatre.org
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