Jason Robert Brown’s eulogy to a doomed marriage makes its long overdue Broadway debut.
Matthew Murphy
Jamie Wellerstein and Cathy Hiatt have never been in sync.
The same can be said forNick JonasandAdrienne Warren… for the most part.
Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren in ‘The Last Five Years’ on Broadway.Credit:Matthew Murphy
Their wordless flirtations, where they step into the same timeline, are alluring.
But still, they aren’t on the same page.
In some ways, this serves the material quite well.
Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren in ‘The Last Five Years’.Matthew Murphy
As all his dreams come true, Cathy’s only get further away.
The distance between them should be palpable, and it is.
But not always in a way that feels intentional.
Nick Jonas in ‘The Last Five Years’.Matthew Murphy
Both stars rise to the occasion.
Jonas is funny, playing up Jamie’s arrogance as he winks at the audience.
Warren is captivating, making the material her own with soaring vocals.
Adrienne Warren as Cathy Hiatt in ‘The Last Five Years’.Matthew Murphy
But big songs also demand big emotion which Warren effortlessly achieves.
It’s a well-considered, layered performance.
Even through the backwards progression, Cathy feels whole, consistent.
In that regard, Jonas is walking shakier ground.
They’re big shoes to fill, and Jonas mostly manages to hold his own.
He’s at his douchiest and his funniest.
But emotionally, the performance is lacking.
Alas, this Jamie is more bravado than nuance.
Sharing the stage with Warren only accentuates what his performance is missing.
Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren in ‘The Last Five Years’.Matthew Murphy
She is genuinely moving, evocative with every note.
At her side, Jonas underwhelms.
There’s no question that both of these stars know how to command a stage.
But the emotional disconnect is impossible to overcome in a show that’s almost entirely sentimental ballads.
The breakdown of a single marriage suddenly carries such seismic angst.
Their talent is undeniable.
These songs soar, and these performers rise to the occasion of that showcase.
They’re funny, flirty, and always charming.
But their performances never quite come together, and the material demands more compatibility than this production delivers.Grade: B
