Show Synopsis:
Cathy, a struggling actress, and Jamie, an author, tell the story of their five-year relationship in this song cycle. Cathy's story goes in reverse while Jamie's goes in order, and they only meet in the middle at their wedding. After dating and marrying, Jamie finds that he can't keep himself from cheating on Cathy, and they divorce.
Song Context:
Jamie has come to see Cathy in a summer stock show, and they see each other for the first time in weeks after the show. Although they both know that their relationship is crumbling, Cathy tries to convince herself and him that it is not.
Fun Facts:
1. The role of Cathy is based on Jason Robert Brown's relationship and former marriage with Theresa O'Neill. O'Neill threatened to sue Brown if it was too biographical, so he rewrote a song into "Shiksa Goddess" to lessen the similarity.
2. Betsy Wolfe, who played Cathy in the 2013 Off-Broadway revival of The Last Five Years, previously performed on Broadway with Sherie Rene Scott in Scott's semi-autobiographical musical "Everyday Rapture." Scott played the role of Cathy in the original Chicago production and sang the role on the original cast recording.
3. The cost of making a cast recording was rising rapidly, so the original cast recording of The Last Five Years was made by the small record company Scott and her husband had founded, Sh-K-Boom Records.
"I guess I can't believe you really came
And that we're sitting on this pier.
See, I'm smiling -
That means I'm happy that you're here.
I stole this sweater from a costume shop.
It makes me look like Daisy Mae.
See, we're laughing.
I think we're gonna be okay.
I mean, we'll have to try a little harder
And bend things to and fro
To make this love as special
As it was five years ago.
I mean, you made it to Ohio!
Who knows where else we can go?
I think you're really gonna like this show.
I'm pretty sure it doesn't suck.
See, you're laughing and I'm smiling
By a river in Ohio
And you're mine.
We're doing fine.
I think we both can see what could be better.
I'll own when I was wrong.
With all we've had to go through,
We'll end up twice as strong.
And so we'll start again this weekend
And just keep rolling along.
I didn't know you had to go so soon.
I thought we had a little time.
Look, whatever, if you have to.
Then you have to, so whatever,
It's all right.
We'll have tonight.
You know what makes me crazy?
I'm sorry, can I say this?
You know what makes me nuts?
The fact that we could be together,
Here together,
Sharing our night,
Spending our time,
And you are gonna choose someone else to be with.
No, you are!
Yes, Jamie, that's exactly what you're doing.
You could be here with me
Or be there with them -
As usual, guess which you pick.
No, Jamie, you do not have to go to another party
With the same twenty jerks you already know.
You could stay with your wife on her fucking birthday
And you could, God forbid, even see my show
And I know in your soul it must drive you crazy
That you won't get to play with your little girlfriends.
No, I'm not, no I'm not!
And the point is, Jamie,
That you can't spend a single day that's not about
You and you and nothing but you
""Mahvelous"" novelist, you!
Isn't he wonderful, just twenty-eight!
The savior of writing!
You and you and nothing but you,
Miles and piles of you
Pushing through windows and bursting through walls
En route to the sky.
And I...
I swear to God, I'll never understand
How you can stand there straight and tall
And see I'm crying
And not do anything at all."