BWW Reviews: THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Signature Theatre is Simply Sensational

It's been a little more than a month and I've seen three different productions of Jason Robert Brown's wonderful chamber musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS. First, it was at Baltimore's Spotlighters (see my review elsewhere on this site), then it was the entertaining production at New York's Second Stage (directed by the composer) which added more props (like a row boat in Central Park, a dock, bookcases filled with the bestselling book by Jamie Wellerstein) and having the orchestra look like they were attached to the theater's back wall at different levels where one could observe them all performing without music (except the keyboard). The two terrific leads are played by Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe. It has been extended twice and now ends its run May 12.

How could the Signature Theatre production be any different? Well, it certainly is. Under the expert direction of Aaron Posner, James Gardner as Jamie and Erin Weaver as Cathy Hiatt (the Shiksa Goddess) give an emotional and loving portrayal of two individuals who are madly in love with each other and they show it, but are doomed to failure and we don't know why.

This is a powerful and physical presentation. The wonderful set design by Daniel Conway features a spiral clothes line of a draft of Jamie's first novel which starts at his desk and flows into the ceiling along with nine different clocks all set at 9:15.

The reason why 9:15 stems from the following lyric during the wonderful "Schmuel Song" where Schmuel says, "So he grabbed his shears, and he cut some lace, As the hands moved left on the old clock's face! And his fingers flew and the fabric swirled - it was nine-fifteen all around the world!"

Gardner sings it like I've never seen it sung. He infused all of his different personalities impersonating a Russian tailor, one with a Yiddish accent, and when he plays a "clock" he cups his hands to the sides of his face to look like the face of a clock. His is an amazing portrayal. He starts the number by using the "clap on, clap off" gimmick to light a small Christmas tree and ends the number the same way with a slight wink towards the audience.

This is a Jamie Wellerstein that even though he has his failures (like his infidelity) one still roots for him and his wife Cathy to stay together.

The musical begins telling us the marriage does not succeed as Cathy sings "Still Hurting" and Weaver demonstrates her incredible emotion during this opening number. One can truly understand why she is hurting. Jamie starts the evening hoping to meet his "Shiksa Goddess" (a non-Jewish female) and Brown's lyrics are hysterical and the audience hears each and every funny lyric thanks to great sound by Matt Rowe. In fact, one hears each and every important lyric during the entire short 90 minute intermission-less evening.

Weaver, who was so fabulous in the Signature's XANADU playing the leading role of "Kira", is stunning as Cathy. Her "Summer in Ohio" brought down the house.

The couple only meet once during the evening in the middle of the musical during "The Next Ten Minutes". It's certainly a moving number. Expect to use tissues.

Gardner has a couple of outstanding numbers including the hysterical "A Miracle Would Happen" in which after he's married he wishes every girl he sees should look like "Mr. Ed". His emotional "If I Didn't Believe in You" was just wonderful.

Weaver does a hysterical "Climbing Uphill/Audition Sequence" when she auditions before a casting director and asks "Why does the pianist hate me".

The finale, "Goodbye Until Tomorrow/I Could Never Rescue You" will leave you humming this infectious melody.

This is a very physical production and it was so clear that Cathy and Jaime really did have emotional bonding between them, more so than I've seen ever before.

There was also very effective lighting by Andrew F. Griffin that seemed to punctuate many numbers (especially during "The Schmuel Song" when all the nine clocks would light up together).

But the music, the incredible music, is enough to get thee to see this show thanks to the incredible orchestra conducted by William Yanesh and featuring Doug Dube (Violin), Aron Rider (Cello), Deb Brudvig (Cello), Gerry Kunkel (Guitar), and Chris Chlumsky (Bass). I wish it could be recorded.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS runs until April 28, 2013. There is a special "$22 for Tuesday" on April 16. There will be post-show discussions after the April 17 and April 23 performances. There is a Pride performance on April 19.

I expect many performances are already sold-out so act quickly. For tickets, call 703-573-SEAT, online at www.signature-theatre.org, or in person at the Signature Box Office at 4200 Campbell Blvd. in Shirlington.

2013 Sondheim Award Gala Monday, April 22, 2013

The Signature Theatre 2013 Sondheim Award Gala will take place Monday night, April 22, 2013, at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, DC. The honoree this year is Producer/Director Harold Prince. For tickets, call 571-527-1828 or visit www.signature-theatre.org/2013-sondheim-award-gala.

COMPANY is next Musical

Signature Theatre's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer directs a new production of the musical comedy COMPANY produced at the theater twenty years ago featuring both James Gardner and Erin Weaver. It will run May 21 to June 30, 2013.

Signature Wins Four Helen Hayes Awards

Congratulations to the Signature Theatre for winning four Helen Hayes Awards last night. They are for Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Production to Frank Labovitz for DREAMGIRLS, Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical, to Cedric Neal for DREAMGIRLS, the Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical REALLY, REALLY by Paul Downs Colaizzo, and for Outstanding Resident Musical, DREAMGIRLS.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

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