The Last Five Years

Tony-award winning composer, Jason Robert Brown, bring to life this intelligent and witty 2-person musical, a standard love story with a twist. The Last Five Years is a guy-meets-girl piece that is made original by the unique structure; Jamie works from the first date to the end, but Cathy starts at the final curtain of the relationship and works backwards to the start.

Suddenly a familiar tale is turned on its head, the audience given sneak glimpses into the bright and dark corners of a love that does not last. The two characters tell their own story in their own time, gradually working towards the same emotional climax – his proposal in Central Park – before spinning off again into their symmetrical stories. The multi-award winning show has been performed around the world since its off-Broadway New York in 2002, with Brown directing its current off-Broadway revival and a film adaptation currently in production.

Quintessentially “New York,” The Last Five Years follows Jamie – a young, aspiring writer getting his first tastes of literary success – falling in love with Cathy – a beautiful, but emotional actress, struggling to find her feet in a tough industry.

Tall Trees’ production is brought to life by outstanding young performers Angela Harding as Cathy and Luigi Lucente as Jamie. Both accomplished performers in their own right, they have individually performed across Australia in music theatre, opera, cabaret, and television. Queenslander Harding was the first place winner at the 9th Annual Cabaret Showcase in 2011 for her self-penned show, the same year that Lucente was a grand finalist for the prestigious ANZ Rob Guest Endowment Award.

With the show’s intimate and complex love story a sharp change from his roles in major shows including Wicked and Jersey Boys, Lucente says he feels “grateful and excited” to be taking on the role of Jamie. “A role like this doesn’t come along very often; a chance to play a completely real and believable person. He’s talented, he’s charming, he’s in love and he’s incredibly flawed.”

Director, Jez Hunghanfoo, praised the team working on the show. “It’s a dream scenario, being asked to work on a show like this. The script is joyous and brutally emotional at parts, the music is stunning, and Luigi and Angela are captivating as performers. They come into a scene together or apart, and they live those characters; they bring Jamie and Cathy alive every time.”

With the backing of a full six-piece band conducted by Musical Director, Evan Englezos, the show performs a short season in June at Treble Clef Jazz Lounge in the Yarra Valley, before moving the production to St Kilda’s Theatre Works in July.

Tickets available from www.talltreesproductions.com