The Last Five Years, Theatre Review. The Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Helen Carter, Stephen Fletcher.

There are times when a production can simply not be bettered, it has the most fantastic response to it and lingers on well in the memory as one of the absolute highlights of the theatre year. That production is The Last Five Years, it was considered by all who saw it at the Actor’s Studio, a rip roaring accomplished piece of art from start to finish. That is where the two productions stop being comparable, as Stephen Fletcher, one of the finest young actors in Liverpool and the exceptional Helen Carter bought Jason Robert Brown’s play back to the stage for the second time and in one fell swoop made it a gleaming example of artistic beauty, of tremendous fortitude and belief and overall simple elegance.

A play that was surely impossible to improve upon as it relished in the wonderful tight atmosphere of The Actor’s Studio, the tenseness adding to the overall effect of two lives torn apart found a new home in the Epstein Theatre, its spacious stage making the audience draw their attention to the person singing their side of a story told from two very different perspectives.

Stephen Fletcher and Helen Carter have proved time and time again what they are capable of doing on stage in many diverse types of production but there is no doubting watching them portray up-and-coming novelist Jamie and struggling actress Cathy that these are the roles they were born for. Each song framed neatly their facial expressions, their intimate body language across five years, the humour and ultimate sadness at either point in their lives and when coupled with the fantastic songs such as Shiska Goddess, See I’m Smiling, The Schmuel Song and The outstanding The Next Ten Minutes, it is impossible to not fall in love with both of the actors on stage.

Aside from the undoubted ability of both actors, much must be sent in way of praise to the enlarged musical addition which complimented and enhanced the evening superbly. Alongside the returning Nick Philips on the piano and M.D. duties were the excellent violinist Emily Roe and Birmingham musician Luke Moore on cello. Nowhere did the music feel out of place, rushed or tampered, each piece adding musical fire skilfully to the fire that raged beneath the hearts of Stephen Fletcher and Helen Carter.

Every play that does well always deserves a bigger home to expand and grow, The Last Five Years is one such play and it made the leap with absolute integrity, enthusiasm and above all else charm.

Outstandingly superb.

Ian D. Hall