THEATRE REVIEW – The Last Five Years Starring Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren

It’s Fine, It’s Fine, It’s Fine

Expectations are interesting. On one hand they can help build momentum for a show as it is starting out. Or they can be bad. If you have been following up with the Internet over the marketing for this show, it falls in the latter. I cannot claim to go into shows with absolutely zero bias, but I can get close. I went into this production with a clear mind and attitude. Overall, it was not a bad night on Broadway. It was certainly not a good one, either. That is the issue. If you have bad expectations against you with a production that achieves emotion a handful of times from a score that is sincerely heart-breaking, it is going to be a long ride.

To be fair, I do not think there has ever been a perfect production of The Last Five Years. It is a tricky score and both characters are famously aggravating (still Team Cathy, of course). The problem is the directing. It seems like the direction had to be lowered because of Nick Jonas’ forced acting, which leaves Adrienne Warren in the desert. What else is she supposed to do when nothing is given to her? She at least makes the most of it on the acting front.

inside a broadway theater to see nick jonas

There is a moment that perfectly captures every issue with the direction of this production. “Nobody Needs to Know” is supposed to be a gasp-inducing moment. (SPOILER) Jamie cheats on Cathy!!! With lines like:

“I grip and she grips
And faster we’re sliding
Sliding and spilling
And what can I do?
Come back to bed, kid
Take me inside you”

Brutal stuff! Instead, we have Nick Jonas telegraphing every moment and beating us over the head basically pantomiming “See, look! I can ACT!” Not the worst part, though. The other “mistress” is supposed to be in the bed with him and he PICKS UP the sheets, showing us there is no one under there? Poor acting choice, poor set design, poor moment. It culminates to only passable emotions.

Speaking of set design, I missed it here. Smaller models of New York City! A fun idea, poor execution because there is no execution. There seemed to be a hint of a concept that maybe this whole thing was supposed to be about modern dating in NYC. Great! Still searching for it. Also the show is very well-known for it being just Jamie and just Cathy as they sing their songs. Many moments of this production were confounding because the timing was off. Are we in Jamie’s time? Cathy’s?

I will admit I saw the marketing videos of Nick and did not like them. I will also admit that I was rooting for him to prove me wrong. He only slightly did. The voice sounds fine, but some of the notes that need to be hit just were not being met. Again, passable but does not get off the ground emotionally.

There are still good things to root for. The instrumentalists sound wonderful and the lighting design did a nice job of separating the timelines by colors (for the most part). If this production still interests you, PLEASE go see it. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. I am just here to add my two cents. Whatever you do with your money is not my business. My hope is you find tickets less expensive than your expectations.