An unconventional 'Last Five Years' production draws universal appeal in Seoul

A scene from the ongoing Korean production of the musical "The Last Five Years" at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno District, central Seoul [YONHAP]

[REVIEW]

Ever wondered what went wrong in your past relationships? The musical “The Last Five Years” may have some answers.

Charting five years of romance between two 20-something-year-old New Yorkers, the musical has a simple enough narrative: The two deeply fall for each other, but their different stages in life — Jamie a successful writer and Cathy a struggling actor — ultimately drive them apart.

Unique insights on the relationship, however, come from the presentation of the story, which is told in two separate perspectives. Cathy’s side of the story is conveyed backward — from the couple's breakup to the first time they meet — while Jamie’s five years roll in normal time. The characters exist in different times throughout the show, and the only point where they actually interact is when their timelines intersect in the middle at the time of their proposal and wedding.

A scene from the ongoing Korean production of the musical "The Last Five Years" [YONHAP]

“The Last Five Years” has yet to make it to Broadway since its 2001 premier in Illinois. It nonetheless has a recognizable fan base, seeing well over 200 productions across the United States as well as translations into Dutch, Japanese, German, Italian and Korean and thousands of #L5Y online.

What makes the ongoing Korean production unique is the local director’s call to keep both Cathy and Jamie on stage for the whole show, even though they do not meet. Typically actors in this show exit the stage while the other is singing.

“I saw both Cathy and Jamie as being responsible for the five years,” Lee Ji-young, director of the production, explained to press earlier this month. “To better highlight that, I decided to keep the two actors on stage, at different spaces, throughout the whole show.”

This near-surgical breakdown of Cathy's and Jamie’s relationship makes for a universal, yet personal show. Many who have been in love will be able to relate to this musical. They may be unable to help but draw parallels to their own failed love or broken marriages.

The show’s writer, composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown blames timing — hence the musical’s play with time. At no point besides the proposal are the two characters ever on the same page emotionally: They might as well be flowing in opposite directions.

Poster for "The Last Five Years" featuring, from top, clockwise, Park Ji-yeon and Min Kyung-ah as Cathy, and Choi Jae-rim and Lee Choong-joo as Jamie [SENSEE COMPANY]

And as tempting as it is to take sides and argue as team Jamie or team Cathy — currently a heated conversation online — the show makes clear that neither is fully at fault. It does show, however, that people live and love at their own pace.

“The Last Five Years” was inspired by Brown’s first marriage, a fact which became apparent when he and his ex-wife entered a legal battle over the show.

The case was settled after Brown erased several references to O’Neil — including Cathy’s nickname, Angel, which was Brown’s nickname for O’Neil, and Cathy’s Irish heritage, as O’Neil is an Irish Catholic.

A scene from the ongoing Korean production of the musical "The Last Five Years" [YONHAP]

Brown is a prolific American composer and lyricist, best known for composing the score of the musical “The Bridges of Madison County” for which he has received two Tony Awards. He took another Tony last year for “Parade” which had a revival run the same year.

“The Last Five Years” runs for 90 minutes without intermission. Actors Choi Jae-rim and Lee Choong-joo alternate Jamie, and Park Ji-yeon and Min Kyung-ah play Cathy. It is open through April 7 at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno District, central Seoul.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]