Having established itself as a contemporary musical theatre classic by now, The Last Five Years traces the highs and lows of struggling actress Cathy’s and rising author Jamie’s relationship, from sweet beginnings to bitter end. The score is gorgeous—drawing from a mix of rock, pop and musical sensibilities—but what is most memorable about the two-hander show is perhaps its unique structure.
Unfolding over two opposing chronologies, we see Jamie moving through the relationship from first meeting to final goodbye, as Cathy’s story transpires in reverse, from painful divorce to hopeful early days. Alternating between both timelines to paint a complete picture of their five-year romance, their journeys converge for a single, unforgettable moment in the middle.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of taking sides when it comes to The Last Five Years. Are you team Cathy, or team Jamie? But Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT)’s production approaches the relationship with great nuance and empathy. It’s not about who was right and who was wrong, or whose faults were greater. Rather, there’s the distinct sense that this is simply a relationship that fell apart—with two flawed individuals who might have loved each other but were not quite right for one another, pulled even further apart by timing and circumstance.
Local musicians Nathan Hartono and Inch Chua are brilliant as Jamie and Cathy, delivering performances that certainly prove their mettle as musical theatre actors. Hartono, especially, is spectacular, effortlessly capturing Jamie’s boyish enthusiasm and proud charisma with a flawless vocal performance—all whilst swinging around the set with carefree abandon, providing the show with much-needed dynamic energy and movement. Chua, meanwhile, infuses the score with her own unique style, embodying the way Cathy’s daunting insecurities were once vulnerable hopes.
The disconnect between them is made all the more clear by director Daniel Jenkins’s staging. Jamie and Cathy spend the show circling each other—sharing space, trading instruments and passing props—yet never come in direct contact, save for the one, fleeting moment where their timelines intersect, highlighting the bittersweet possibilities of what could have been.
The Last Five Years runs until 1 March 2025.
