The Last Five Years
book, music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown Singapore Repertory Theatre KC Arts Centre, Singapore The Singapore Repertory Theatre kicks off its 2025 season with this bijou, bittersweet musical by Jason Robert Brown. Directed by Daniel Jenkins, this Off-Broadway hit features acclaimed local singer-songwriters Inch Chua and Nathan Hartono as struggling actress Cathy and successful novelist Jamie navigating a tumultuous five-year relationship. The story is a familiar one of romance and heartbreak but Brown's conceit is to tell the tale from two contrasting perspectives. With Cathy, we start at the very end of the relationship, as she contemplates the end of her marriage. Jamie's story, on the other hand, proceeds in chronological order, beginning with him in the heady throes of love. The actors perform each number solo, only meeting in the middle when their storylines beautifully converge. There are shades of Nick Payne's Constellations and Harold Pinter's Betrayal here...
