L5Y question

[ashley0139]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 10:17pm

Is there a reason the 5 in The Last 5 years is backward? Just wondering if that is like "their thing" or there is a significance of it.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 10:26pm

Do you know the show very well? The female character's story starts at the end of their relationship and works backward to the beginning - and the Male Character's story starts at the beginning and works forward to the end. It's an amazing piece of theatre.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 10:27pm

is there dialogue in it or just the music?

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 10:33pm

there's just a very little bit of dialogue - it is almost entirely sung-through. The staging of the Minetta Lane Production was so beautiful. I've never seen a show like it in my life. When JRB gets it right - he really nails it.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 10:36pm

thanks

[ashley0139]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 11:11pm

I knew what it was about and I thought 5 backwards might be since she started at the end- but then the male starts at the beginning so why wouldn't it be forward? I don't know. I think I am reading too much into it.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 11:17pm

No the backward 5 is there to show the nature of the musical. One character moving forward in time, one back.

I saw it during it's preview here in Chicago and I thought it was one of the best scores I've heard in years. The show is very moving and the cast recording is wonderful-- I recommend it all the time, even to non-theatre fans. And since it's sung-through you can follow the whole thing whe you listen to the CD.

[Che2be]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 4:26am

umm- where to start...

I don't think their is a REASON why the she starts at the end and he at the beginning, but it is a great device of story telling because you can see the perspective of that person at THAT point in the relationship... JRB later explains those feelings or reactions to thinks by showing you what caused them... it is great

in the beginning you see Cathy fighting with Jamie about why he is being shifty and unavailable while he visits her on her birthday-

it's not until Jamie is at the end of his story (close to the end of the show) that you realize that he was there right after cheating on her with another woman..

there are soooo many little things like that, that JRB totally nails... I praise him for moving the genre forward.

Robert

[ashley0139]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 9:29am

Lol. Che2be, I understand the story and think it is a brilliant concept. I was only wondering if there was a reason the 5 is backwards on my cd.

[Jwaa]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 12:15pm

I adore the way it only meets in the middle and ah when it does its great.
Yes i totally agree with the JRB comments here!

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 12:39pm

Last 5 Years at the Minetta Lane Theatre was probably one of the most enjoyable theatre experiences in all my life. I love when you go to see a show, and are completely blind as to what it is going to look or sound like. Most shows you know the music, have seen a clip--yada yada. I knew nothing about L5Y except that Sherie Rene Scott was in it, and I've never been more pleased and moved at the theatre since then. What a wonderfully beautiful production.


That had nothing to do with your question, but everyone seemed to have answered it, and I am just looking back with fond remembrances.

[Taryn]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 2:35pm

Sure, Jamie's story goes forward, but there wouldn't be any nifty about having a normal 5 to show that.

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 8:28pm

I think that part of the reason Cathy's story goes backward is because she's living in the past while Jamie is moving forward with his life.

The 5 is backward because it's a clever way of hinting as to the nature of the show without giving anything away. Don't analyze it too much. Yes, it could be forward and make sense, but it's more thought-provoking in reverse (as you have proven by your interest).