The door of the Boston University Student Theater at Agganis Arena may soon need a disclaimer: bring your own tissues. This Thursday, BU On Broadway opens its abstract and unconventional production of the emotionally-charged, smash-hit musical “The Last Five Years.”
“The Last Five Years,” originally written by Jason Robert Brown, first premiered in Chicago in 2001. The musical looks into the five-year relationship of Jamie Wellerstein, an aspiring novelist, and Cathy Hiatt, a struggling actress.
The narrative is presented with an interesting twist. While Jamie’s side of the relationship is told from beginning to end, Cathy’s tale is told in reverse chronological order.
In the opening song, Cathy deals with the couple’s breakup, yet in the song that follows, Jamie sings about their first date. Their stories continue from there, crossing at one point in the middle.
BU On Broadway’s production of “The Last Five Years” aims to add even more complex layers to this unconventional show. There is a different version of Jamie and Cathy at the beginning, middle and end of the narrative, which makes this a six-member cast, instead of the usual two-member cast.
“We are using the three people to create a one rich person,” said Zach Schiffman, the show’s director. “It gives us the opportunity to really see the processing behind some of their decisions.”
Each of the actors represents a different emotional aspect of their respective characters. In the beginning, Jamie and Cathy are energetic and youthful. In the middle, the pair is confused yet loving. By the end of the chronological narrative, Jamie and Cathy are both hardened and angry.
“We get to see how they change and how this relationship is such a transformative thing for them,” Schiffman said.
“You can see the emotions so tangibly,” said Izzy Weinberg, who plays Middle Cathy. She said she quickly began to notice things she and her fellow cast mates had in common. The next challenge was building on that and making three performers act one character.
“We’re trying to infuse this idea of Cathy with the actors, as opposed to telling everyone to slip into this one role,” Schiffman said,
Jamie’s character went through the same process.
“It’s odd that I’m playing a third of collective consciousness,” said Jimmy Bie, who plays End Jamie.
He described how, early in the production, the three actors playing Jamie were directed to walk in a circle and act as Jamie in different situations until they began to emulate each other’s movements and reactions.
This detail-orientated continuity can be found in the tech department as well. Subtle changes in the color schemes of both the costumes and the lighting reflect different features of the characters.
“We are trying to use a lot of details to show that the same characters at different stages of their character arcs,” said Ruby Yang, the show’s technical director.
Schiffman has made some significant changes to the work, but he emphasized that it is wholly in respect for the original source material.
“I directed this show as an homage to the text,” Schiffman said. “I believe it’s wrong to say that to honor the text you do it exactly as written. That’s not how you do it. You do it by using what is there and building things and creating things,” he later added.
While BU On Broadway’s production does add a handful of spoken lines, the show is still primarily a musical. Melodies and musical themes reappear throughout the whole work.
“All these musical themes give you a lot to read into with the show,” said Jessie Rosso, the show’s music director. “You learn something new every time you listen to it.”
Schiffman agreed that the music was an essential part of the show.
“It taps into an innate feeling we all have about relationships and companionship,” he said.
Those realistic and heavy emotions are at the heart of “The Last Five Years,” said Ethan Schalekamp, who plays Middle Jamie.
“The whole show is like a what-if,” Schalekamp said. “It could happen to you.”
The show’s relationship with its audience is intimate and substantial. The effect the musical could leave on those watching is as much a part of the show as anything else.
“This show is built around empathy,” Schiffman said. “While the two characters aren’t able to be empathetic to each other, we all latch onto the show because we’re empathetic human beings.”
“The Last Five Years” opens at Boston University’s Student Theater on Thursday Dec. 1 and runs through Saturday Dec. 3. At the time of this writing, tickets are sold out.
Exceptionally well-written….A +10 in every respect….