The Last Five Years is the compelling story of Jamie, a nice Jewish boy, and Kathleen, a good Irish Catholic girl, who fall in love, get married and fall apart over the course of five years. It debuts Feb. 15 at Neely Auditorium at Vanderbilt University.
This intimate, two-person musical uses a novel form of storytelling in which Kathy travels backwards in time (beginning the show at the end of the marriage), and Jamie travels forwards (starting with the couple’s first date). Jamie is an emerging novelist enjoying his first taste of success, while Kathleen is a struggling actress having trouble hitting it big, making the play by turns wildly funny and crushingly sad. The songs are presented as soliloquies, except for a wedding song in the middle sung as a duet.
“The unique structure and content of the production allow for interesting takes on how relationships grow and break apart,” said Jeffrey Ullom, director of the production and assistant professor of theatre. “The Last Five Years is about two people who love each other but don’t belong in a relationship. It’s easy to love someoneor even be ‘in love,’ butto be in a relationship is work.The main characters in this production have ideals of/for love, but the question is how much do they really understand each other. They have different ways of defining success and different methods for finding happiness. And these are important discussions to have when in a relationship (or before beginning one).”
The Last Five Years will be performed at 8 p.m. Feb. 15, 16, 20, 21 and 22, and at 2 p.m. on Feb. 17. Admission is $8 for the general public, $5 for graduate and professional students, and free for undergraduates with Vanderbilt identification. Tickets go on sale Feb. 11 at the Neely Auditorium box office. Tickets may be reserved by calling (615) 322-2404.
Media contact: Missy Pankake, (615) 322-NEWS
missy.pankake@vanderbilt.edu