The Last 5 Years
The Last 5 Years
#0The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 1:25pmSo I just recently became obsessed with the cast recording of L5Y but I am sooo confused. I was wondering if someone could fill me in on like the progression of time during the show. Thanks soo much guys...pm me if you want!!
"Take a breath. Take a step. Take a chance. Take your time." -L5Y
NativeNewYorker
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/03
#1re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 1:28pm
Not sure what you want to know...but the show begins with Jamie singing about when he first meets Cathy and Cathy singing about the end of their relationship...each of Jamie's songs progresses forward, while Cathy's goes back, so by the end of the show, Cathy is singing about when she first meets him and Jamie is singing about the end of the relationship.
Their one duet is "The Next Ten Minutes", which they meet right in the middle of the songs...
It's a great show, isn't it? I love those songs...it's sad how realistic it is...
#2re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 1:28pmJamie, starts from when they met. Cathy starts from after he's left her. They meet in the middle during the Next Ten Min.
SammyGal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/10/04
#3re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 1:29pm
It's one of my fav. cast recordings!!
Sad to listen to and yet so truthful
On a clear day I can see myself for miles ~Taboo
#4re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 1:30pmyeah that's what i was thinking but I wasn't sure how they made that evident in the show. I would love to see a production of it. I wonder if it will ever come back, oh well I guess I'll just go back to obsessing over my CD player!
"Take a breath. Take a step. Take a chance. Take your time." -L5Y
FinnFanatic
Stand-by Joined: 6/21/04
#5re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 1:35pm
It's an amazing score. Their stories meet in the middle at their wedding ("The Next Ten Minutes"). I love how each of the two characters' music changes during the course of the show. Cathy starts out with ballads, and then they gradually become more and more upbeat. Jaime starts out with upbeat, rock-type songs, and his become more and more ballad-like. My favorites are "See I'm Smiling", "I Can Do Better Than That", "If I Didn't Believe In You" and "Nobody Needs To Know".
I love JRB's lyrics. I especially love how oftentimes the very ending lyrics to a song will completely counter-act what the song had been about. For example, in "See I'm Smiling" the lyrics are about how she's smiling, etc, but the last verse (after she blows-up...my fav part) goes:
"I swear to God I'll never understand/How you can stand there straight and tall/and see I'm crying/ And not do anything at all..."
And also, in "Stars and Moon" from SFANW, I LOVE the last line:
"And I though, My God...I'll never have the moon..."
JRB is definitely one of my favorites.
Matt_G
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/1/04
#6re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 1:37pmDoes anyone else prefer Lauren Kennedy in the role?
"Noah, someday we'll talk again. But there's things we'll never say. That sorrow deep inside you. It inside me, too. And it never go away. You be okay. You'll learn how to lose things..."
FinnFanatic
Stand-by Joined: 6/21/04
#7re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 1:38pm
I've seen the show three times (2 different productions). The first one was a community theatre, so it was so-so. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't amazing. The actors had amazing voices, but the overall show was nothing amazing.
I also saw a professional production of it in Boston done by the SpeakEasy Stage. This was wonderful. (I also got to meet JRB). Great vocals, amazing set, and wonderful lighting. I knew everything about the show before seeing it, so I was not confused. I'm not sure if it would be TOO evident that the stories go in opposite directions. It was something I was trying to think of during the 2nd viewing, but I couldn't really break away from the knowledge I already had of the show.
SammyGal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/10/04
#8re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 1:43pm
Sometime early next I think, They're performing it at the George St. Playhouse in Rutgers, NJ. Colin Hanlon from RENT will be playing Jamie.
Him and Sarah performed in tick,tick...BOOM! this past year at the same place and Sarah is now going to be playing Cathy.
Colin's vocals aren't like Norb's but if you want to see a performance of it, I suggest you should go. It's not a bad ride from NY.
On a clear day I can see myself for miles ~Taboo
eyeonbroadway
Broadway Star Joined: 6/11/04
#9re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 1:47pmI just ordered this cast recording the other day solely based on comments I've read on the message board so I'm glad to see some discussion! I'm anxious to hear it since I'm totally unfamiliar with the show...
FinnFanatic
Stand-by Joined: 6/21/04
#10re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 1:48pmI prefer Lauren Kennedy in the role. I just picked up a copy of "I Sing!", which was done by the York Theatre Company. Lauren sounds AMAZING on the recording.
Matt_G
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/1/04
#11re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 1:49pmDon't get me wrong, I adore Sherie, but I thought Lauren brought a lot more to that role. Plus I thought it suited her voice much better.
"Noah, someday we'll talk again. But there's things we'll never say. That sorrow deep inside you. It inside me, too. And it never go away. You be okay. You'll learn how to lose things..."
BWayBoy88
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/23/04
SammyGal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/10/04
#13re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 2:08pm
Sarah Litzsinger- sorry I forgot to put her last name before.
http://www.georgestplayhouse.org/play6.html
On a clear day I can see myself for miles ~Taboo
tumadre2
Understudy Joined: 5/31/04
#14re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 2:19pmGo see it. :) Sarah Litzsinger has an amazing voice (She was in Amour on Broadway, and was the longest running Belle in Beauty and the Beast on Broadway). And Colin is just superb. His Jon in tick, tick...Boom was great.
Understudy Joined: 12/31/69
#15re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 2:26pmLaguna Playhouse did a fantastic production last year...it's a wonderful theater piece that should be done more often.
#16re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 3:07pmThx Sammy...I really wanna go see it! The music is just incredible, it ranges from funny songs to ones that are deeply emotional. I love Norbert and Sherie and I am looking forward to hearing Sarah and Colin's interpretation!
"Take a breath. Take a step. Take a chance. Take your time." -L5Y
GovernorSlaton
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/04
#17re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 5:07pm
L5Y is one of my favorite shows, and one of my favorite cast recordings. I heard Lauren Kennedy sing part of "Goodbye Until Tomorrow", and I did like her version a bit more. But Sherie, as one Amazon reviewer said, "acts the hell out of those songs".
Here is a helpful synopsis:
http://theatre-musical.com/5years/synopsis.html
#18re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 5:12pm
I know I am going to be completely flogged for this, but I think L5Y is the worst of the JRB cast recordings. It just doesn't have the "Oomph" that PARADE and SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD had. I am not saying I don't like it, cause I do.....I am just saying it is not the best of his works.
LET THE FLOGGING BEGIN.
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
#19re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 5:16pmSarah Litzinger does have an amazing voice. I saw her in Beauty, and I LOVED her rendition of "A Change in Me"...now one of my favorite songs of the show. I think she'll make a fantastic Jamie.
#20re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 5:17pm
Governor-that link was really helpful thanks!
spiderdj82- I don't think there will be any flogging...everyone has their own oppinions and favorites so whatever. This board would be incredibly boring if we all agreed..ugh can you imagine?
"Take a breath. Take a step. Take a chance. Take your time." -L5Y
#21re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 5:19pm
DJ, you are no longer my favorite person.
Last 5 Years is amazing.
(Now, what is this about "flogging"?)
Billy Lawlor, do you mean that she will be playing Cathy?
Or was that a joke that flew over my head?
I starred in a short film called Magnetic Personality. Check it out!
#22re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 5:20pm
Yes I can imagine it. Not really, I just wanted to have a different opinion then you to make it interesting. 
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
#23re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 5:21pm
Flowery, I am torn up about your statemnt. BOO HOO. BOO HOO 
I didn't say it wasn't amazing, which it is. I was saying that it is my least favorite out of the three cast recordings. Granted, I have never seen any of them live.......But, whatever JRB does, I will think it is amazing.
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
#24re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 7/12/04 at 5:22pm
Trying to stir the pot?
Bad boy.
I starred in a short film called Magnetic Personality. Check it out!
