Take Advantage Of The Last Five Years Narrated By Jason Robert Brown Displayed As Print
first libretto I ever bought, As a kid far removed from theatre, being able to finally fill in the blanks left by the cast albums was remarkable.
Also this musical breaks my heart, thanks JRB, This is such a beautifully dramatic, understated play that I was pleased to see when it debuted, and has again become my newest musical obsession due to the film adaptation starring the sublime Anna Kendrick, and the talented Jeremy Jordan.
Be warned, though, this is not a happy, uplifting tonic of a show it deals with a relationship in crisis, and all the drama that that entails.
But, I highly recommend the play, the libretto AND the movie in equal measure, I think allcomponents of the triangle stand well alone, but also complement each other in every way.
The Last Five Years is one of my favorite musicals, Jason Robert Brown's music and lyrics are sometimes reminiscent of themselves, but his work in LFY is in some ways even better than Parade, for which he won the Tony.
Those two are his best shows, with the most mature music and lyrics,
This edition of the book is interesting, published this year, because it sheds some light on some of the behind the scenes.
Brown's preface tells the interesting story of how he came up with the entire structure on
a walk from a publisher's office to his home.
And the notes throughout the book define the timeline along the plot,
The nonlinear structure has been criticized as being gimmicky, but I think it is perfect for the story being told.
It gives each song an ironic twist, and makes the whole show kind of uncomfortably tragic, Great, quick read, as very few words are not sung in this piece, I don't think I've read books in Musical genre and I hope this won't disappoint, Love this musical and get something new with every read through or listen An emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years.
The show's unconventional structure consists of Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically the two characters meet only once, at their wedding in the middle of the show.
Jason Robert Brown won Drama Desk Awards for the music and the lyrics after the OffBroadway premiere instarring Norbert Leo Butz and Sherie Rene Scott.
The show has since been produced at almost every major regional theater in the U, S. , and has been seen in Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Germany, Italy, Canada, Spain, and the UK, currently obsessed and this is a GREAT musical and anyone who disagrees is a heretic! I would give my left thumb to see this musical live.
There is so much hope and pain, It has a true authenticity of a relationship that was burned out hot and fast, It's been my favorite musical for years, but I've never seen it on stage, The libretto definitely crystalized the vision of the staged show, Very quick read! i think both parties need a firm slap to the face
especially jamie
he needs at least five slaps to the face This was absolutely tragic and almost beautiful at the same time.
I adore the musical, but this explains the kind of behind the scenes aspects that are missing in the musical.
The Basic Summary: This little play chronicles Jamie and Cathy's five year marriage from their first date to just after their divorce.
They are both artists, as Jamie is a highly successful writer, and Cathy is a struggling stage actress.
Cathy starts the play sitting on her own just after the divorce, wondering why it is that Jamie can be off, perfectly fine, when she's "still hurting.
" She tells the story backwards from that day, Now Jamie, he starts off the play just after their first date, saying goodbye to Cathy, He then turns in to himself and details about how his mother just wants him to settle down, and how he mulls over how he could really love Cathy.
He tells the play in chronological order, They go through their ups and downs, and multiple times, Cathy bemoans how lonely she is when Jamie is off at his publishing parties.
Jamie complains to a friend and often to himself about how the monogamous marital life is a lot harder to keep up with than he'd imagined.
Pretty soon, both of these problems will bring out the worst in them, and sadly, their notsoperfect love will end.
My : This was such a good little play! I love the songs "See, I'm Smiling," "Shiksa Goddess," and "The Schmuel Song.
" Though those are my particular favorites, the songs in this play are genius, We get fastpaced and funny mixed in with sweet and sorrowful, and it balances out perfectly, There's not much dialog, which is actually nice as a singer, because I obviously care about the songs.
The plot itself moves a bit fast sometimes, and is a tad spotty, Other than that, though this is a great play, Jason studied composition at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N, Y. , with Samuel Adler, Christopher Rouse, and Joseph Schwantner, He now divides his time between Los Angeles, California and Spoleto, Italy, Jason is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild and the American Federation of Musicians Local, Jason studied composition at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N, Y. , with Samuel Adler, Christopher Rouse, and Joseph Schwantner, He now divides his time between Los Angeles, California and Spoleto, Italy, Jason is a proud member of the Dramatist's Guild and the American Federation of Musicians Local, sitelink.