Patricia was in "The
Last Five Years" in March in Winnipeg, Canada
"A fresh and contemporary
musical from Tony-Award winning composer Jason Robert Brown, The
Last Five Years chronicles a young couple's romance in a new and
exciting way: her story starts at the end of their relationship;
his
begins on the day they met. Funny and uplifting, the show
captures some of the most heartbreaking and universally felt
moments of modern romance."
Before coming to New York, this production ran into problems
dealing with Brown's ex-wife, Theresa O'Neill, who threatened to
sue Brown due to the plot of the musical paralleling their own
troubled marriage. Lincoln Center Theatre originally was to
produce the musical at it's Mitzi Newhouse Theatre, but later
dropped it due to disagreements between the theatre and the
artist. Marty Bell and Arielle Tepper picked it up only days
later and with some small changes in the female character,
minimal lyric changes, and a song dropped (only to be replaced
by a new song), the show commenced
performances in early February at the Minetta Lane Theatre.
After a short preview period, the show opened to
positive-to-mixed reviews. Here are some excerpts from leading
New York critics:
"Pulses with dangerous, irresistible
giddiness... Norbert Leo Butz is a fast-rising new star... Mr.
Brown is a leading member of a new generation of composers who
embody high hopes for the American musical... Messrs. Butz and
Brown have captured the delicious energy of being young, gifted
and meteoric in New York City... Beowolf Borrit's elegant
setting... Mr. Brown confirms his sparkling facility as a
composer, fluidly mixing diverse styles. They range from waltzes
to rhythm and blues, from Sondheimesque urbanity to a clever
'Chorus Line'-like audition piece for Cathy... Ms. Scott brings
humor and sincerity as well as a powerhouse voice to her
interpretation... The production is truly blessed in Mr. Butz,
with his gleaming vitality and multicolored voice."
-Ben Brantley, The New York Times
"Compulsively enjoyable... The two
characters 'make beautiful music together'... The show moves
smartly along on the specificity of truth... Unpredictably
heartfelt insights, energized by a seductive, rhythmic drive...
Expressive, low-rumbling strings of the six-piece orchestra...
Poignant and ironic... Daisy Prince directs with a sure hand and
thrill-seeking confidence of a sensibility soul mate... Beowolf
Borrit's set is simple yet striking... New York sense of
humor... Here is a real modern falling-in-and-out-of-love
musical... Their last five years make us feel much better about
the future of musical theater."
-Linda Winer, The New York Post
"A bracing
musical theater piece... Brimming with persistent melodies,
thoughtful lyrics and a heartfelt, compelling story...
Articulated with surprising tenderness... Brown's fine score is
diverse... Catchy tunes. There are several here that stick in
the memory... Poignant... Intelligent lyrics... Blessed with two
gifted performers... Scott reconfirms her status as a major
musical-theater performer... Scott turns her into a funny, sexy
and touching woman... Director Daisy Prince has done a good job
keeping the time frames separate and the story clear... A potent
reminder of what musicals can be like when they make up their
minds to really sing."
-Michael Kuchwara, Associated Press