Los Angeles - Last 5 Years

[Dusoleilcanwhistle]

Posted: 6/8/19 at 5:49pm

Caught the After Hours Theatre Company's production of THE LAST FIVE YEARS in Los Angeles last night and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Scott Porter and Janel Parrish delivered terrific performances and I finally saw a rendition of "The Schmuel Song" that I loved. 

The interesting conceit with this company is that they do "multisensory" productions, so before the show began they had "exhibits" about relationships and the characters in the show to view, touch, taste and smell (more thematic than anything else) and they utilized distinct scents at various key moments during the production.

The production allowed the actors to walk around the entire space and really kept the momentum going. 

It was also nice to hear the score played by the full six piece orchestra in a space that only seats about 40 a performance. 

If you're in LA - definitely recommended!

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 6/8/19 at 10:46pm

Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely look into this. I saw the original production in New York. Jason Robert Brown was "conducting" the night I saw it...and it was a little distracting.

[Pose2]

Posted: 6/9/19 at 3:46am

I had no idea Scott Porter could sing.  I love the programs, how very cool!   How was his "Nobody Needs to Know"?

[Dusoleilcanwhistle]

Posted: 6/9/19 at 4:50pm

Oh he can certainly sing - his voice is fantastic. "Nobody Needs to Know" was very well done, moving and powerful. As I've found most productions of L5Y, this one also felt much more on Jamie's side - part of that definitely had to do with Scott Porter's casting - it's really hard to not just root for him.

[Pose2]

Posted: 6/9/19 at 5:54pm

Awesome. I have always rooted for Jamie, in all of the performances of the this show.  I love that "all five senses are utilized".  It sounds like the MOST L.A thing I have ever heard!   May I ask the scents that were used during the show?  

[songbird6]

Posted: 6/9/19 at 6:16pm

As an addition to the sensory experience, there's a ticket option for cocktails served to you during the show... I'm curious about it but did you notice if that was distracting?

[Dusoleilcanwhistle]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 1:08pm

I did see them bringing drinks at a few different points in the show, didn't seem essential to me and not that many people seemed to be doing it, but wasn't really distracting.

Scent-wise, there was pine in the SUMMER IN OHIO number, what smelled like a fireplace during SCHMUEL, and some sort of incense around NOBODY NEEDS TO KNOW. There may have been more, but those I recall. Not really necessary IMHO, but a cute idea.

[bk]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 2:56pm

So, we now have a show in Smell-O-Vision.  Just stop already.  Do the damn show.

[mxfish1313]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 12:56pm

I'm so glad to have seen this post! My mom's coming to visit at the beginning of July and we've been looking for something fun to see. This is absolutely perfect!

[Micki7]

Posted: 6/17/19 at 6:19am

Saw this Friday night. I’m so thankful information like this gets disseminated on the message board! So far I’ve been directed to Gypsy in Sacramento, Marie in Seattle and and this show in Los Angeles (I live in San Jose.). What should I see next?

I forgot to keep alert for smells wafting through the performance space and I didn’t actually notice any at all, so no, it was not a distracting gimmick at all. Whatever happened simply enhanced the show almost imperceptibly.

I opted for the curated cocktails. Only problem was that while others were drinking before the show, as I occasionally do at other shows, I had to hold back knowing I would be getting four cocktails during the show. I liked the Christmas one during Schmuel best, although I chewed on the cinnamon stick all through it which almost destroyed me.

The performances were very good. It was unlike the movie (the only version I had seen before) in that the couple didn’t really step into their partner’s scenes except of course at the wedding. That made it very interesting because you had to work a bit to keep their relationship figured out. The high concept is that her scenes progress backwards while his move forwards. The programs weren’t handed out until after the show, but nobody seemed to have any problem following the structure which wasn’t explained anywhere that I could see. Maybe because everybody knew the show already. As evidenced by the people I heard trying to suppress their urge to sing along!

[defygravity2]

Posted: 6/29/19 at 12:00am

I agree with the posts above. This was my FAVORITE production I have ever seen of TL5Y (and I have seen quite a few!). This is a 'holy grail' of shows for me, and this company actually honored this piece of art in a way that it truly deserves. The tiny theater and theater in the round stage made for the most intimate and emotional theater experience I have ever had. Both actors were SUPER strong...it's always a challenge (it's a challenge) to find a strong Jamie and Cathy that have powerful voices and good chemistry. Janel Parrish added a super cool vibe that I had never seen in Cathy (she is usually played more needy and desperate), and her voice and acting was strong. Scott Porter was excellent as Jamie. He wasn't angry or over the top intense, so I ended up not hating Jamie at the end of the show...I actually felt sorry for him (his "Nobody Needs to Know" was gut wrenching).  The live musicians were incredible! The keyboard player also was the musical/vocal director...not an easy task for this complicated score. The 6 musicians were mixed in with the audience, and they literally didn't miss a beat! I would save the money and not order the cocktail service (I think it was an extra $45)....buying a drink before the show started only cost $12.I highly recommend this production if you live in the LA area...it was worth our two hour drive to see it!