Wolfbane musical a roller coaster ride
By Casey Gillis on Apr. 21, 2010
(434) 385-5525
The musical “The Last Five Years,” the latest from Lynchburg’s Wolfbane Productions, begins on a pretty bleak note.
Cathy, a struggling actress in New York, enters the room to find her husband’s wedding ring and a “Dear John” letter sitting on the table, and breaks into a sad song, lamenting that “Jamie is over.”
As it comes to an end, Jamie, an aspiring novelist, bounds into the room, having just spotted Cathy for the first time, and proclaims that he’s been waiting for someone like her.
Thus begins what director Aaron Farr says is an emotional rollercoaster ride, for the characters and the audience.
The play, which Wolfbane is performing at Renaissance Theatre (see box for more), uses two storytelling techniques.
Cathy’s storyline is told in reverse, from the end of their marriage to the beginning, while Jamie’s is told in chronological order, from the day they first meet to the day it all falls apart. So, just like in those opening moments, you’ll get one scene of Cathy mourning their demise followed by one of Jamie in the throes of early love.
“You watch these great moments happen … then you get the exact opposite emotion almost immediately after,” Farr says. “Once you get the concept, it gets even worse because you’re seeing where this is going.”
The two characters are the only ones to appear on stage, but even they rarely interact with each other, except for a few moments that depict their engagement and wedding.
“It really builds up to (that) moment,” Farr says. “The audience is really waiting for it.”
He says the way it plays with time is something we can all relate to.
“It just looms over all of us. These are two people who love each other 100 percent, but are just at two completely different places in their lives, which is the real heartbreak of the audience.
“It kind of lets you reflect on your own relationships.”
Farr’s introduction to Jason Robert Brown’s musical came a few years ago, when Meme Hussey, who stars as the Cathy to Wolfbane founder Dustin Williams’ Jamie, made him listen to the cast recording.
The music, he says, grabbed him immediately.
“Each number stands out on its own,” he says. “Every single song is the big hit. The emotions behind it (reflect) very key moments in a relationship.”
Hussey says the music shows off both characters’ vocal ability and range.
“There’s so much humor and wit (too),” she says. “They’re things everybody has said (in relationships). It’s great for a modern audience. It’s really going to appeal to a lot of people.”
Both she and Williams agree that being the only ones on stage adds to the power of Cathy and Jamie’s story.
“It’s nice to do something where the story isn’t muddled up by other characters,” Hussey says. “It’s just two people. Anybody can relate to that.”
IF YOU’RE GOING
WHAT: Wolfbane Productions’ “The Last Five Years”
WHEN: 8 p.m. April 29-May 1 and May 6-8 and 3 p.m. May 2
WHERE: Renaissance Theatre, 1022 Commerce St.
TICKETS: $15 general admission and $10 for students and seniors
INFO: (434) 845-4427 or http://www.LynchburgTickets.com.
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