Five Years is Too Long…

by Deitra Oliver

Don’t wait! Get your tickets to see The Last Five Years presented by Cumberland Players and Herrick Theatricals today! This production is one of the many reasons I love community theater: I don’t have to take the train to New York and pay New York prices to see an excellent show. Director Julie Morell brings the popular musical to New Jersey with a clear understanding and care for the story and characters, along with a wonderful eye for detail.

The Last Five Years, by Jason Robert Brown, is a two-person musical detailing the five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein (Zachary R. Taylor) and Cathy Hiatt (Alexa Wilder). The story of their relationship is told from each of their perspectives: Cathy from the end to the beginning, and Jamie in chronological order. Throughout the emotionally packed show, the two never interact on stage together, except for the wedding. This sequence provides a moment of intense connection and synchronicity between the characters that is otherwise missing from their relationship. As Morell points out in their director’s note, this is a story that has often sparked debate, with audiences landing on either “Team Jamie” or “Team Cathy”. The fact that the story was written based on Brown’s personal relationship lends itself to this line of discussion. I’ll leave it to you to decide your takeaway, but at its core, this is a story about love and how it can sometimes go wrong, no matter how real or deep the feelings are.

The theater itself is quite a nice space, with a large stage, and my personal favorite, comfortable seating. This year marks Cumberland Players' 80^th anniversary, and The Last Five Years is the second show in their historic season. It was an excellent choice. The production team worked cohesively to create a visually and musically impactful show. Led by Director Julie Morell, Production Manager Brendan Bradley, and Stage Manager Jason Reynolds, the production had a clear voice, excellent staging, and a fluid flow. I especially appreciated the transition after the wedding, with the characters essentially switching sides and time periods in their storytelling. It was a smart choice and smoothly executed. It helped to keep the staging from feeling stagnant.

The set design also played a key role in establishing the world of the show. While simplistic, each setup clearly reflected not only the location, but at times the character’s state of mind. The set construction team, Michael Blandino, Monica Dimauro, and Danny Vanmeter, did a superb job. Lighting Designer Katherine “Rin” Kaltwasser truly “shone brightly” here. The lighting was intimate and effective, enhancing the storytelling, setting the mood, and highlighting the characters.

Music Director Kristy Joe Summers did wonders with this score. While instrumentally, they opted to utilize tracks, vocally, the cast was stellar. Their obvious talent is undeniable, and much of that success can certainly be attributed to the work done with Summers in rehearsals. In wrapping up the review of the production team, I would be remiss not to mention Keirstin M. Northup, the Board Operator. This is such an important role, as none of the lighting or music would happen without it. Northup did not miss a cue or a beat; everything looked and sounded great.

This is a two-person show, which can be hit or miss. If one or both performers have voices I don’t enjoy or a delivery I find problematic, it can be borderline torturous. With larger casts, there’s a mashup of different vocal abilities and energies, making it easier to be forgiving of less-than-pleasing performances. The Last Five Years offers no such hiding places. Instead, its performers are bravely and boldly presented, individually and only briefly together, to tell their stories. Doing this successfully requires a caliber of talent that deserves recognition and applause.

Zachary R. Taylor and Alexa Wilder quite literally knocked my socks off. From the opening song “Still Hurting”, Wilder’s voice and emotional depth drew me into Cathy’s story and heartbreak. Taylor’s smitten and high-energy rendition of “Shiksa Goddess” was powerful and fun, and I knew I was in for a treat. Taylor and Wilder are vocal powerhouses, talented storytellers, and gifted actors. There was not a single moment where I was not engaged with what was happening on stage.

I know I said the “Team Jamie” or “Team Cathy” debate is unimportant, but I will admit that going in, I was fully “Team Cathy”. While I wasn’t completely swayed, the depth and believability of Taylor’s performance made Jamie just a bit more sympathetic to me. I would honestly love a cast recording of these two; it was that enjoyable.  I wasn’t able to see the understudy performers, Madison Adams as Cathy and Austin Satinsky as Jamie, but having seen Satinsky in other roles, I am confident this is well within their wheelhouse.

The Last Five Years is not to be missed. It is running through April 26^th at the Cumberland Players Theater at 66 East Sherman Ave. Vineland, NJ 08360. Purchase tickets today at: https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1056193/the-last-five-years-vineland-cumberland-players Secure your seats while you still can.