THE LAST FIVE YEARS Reaction (Jeremy Jordan/Anna Kendrick) - Ep. 36 of Musicals I Know Nothing About

[@danionce7]

Girl I love your videos, don't know how to explain exactly the feeling but it's like a ray of light on a dark day. Thank You!!!!

[@Barbara2.0]

Thank YOU for such kind words, much love ❤

[@KMK11001]

Fun fact: In Hamilton in the song Say No to This, when Alexander sings “Nobody needs to know” it’s a reference to this musical! The notes are even exactly the same!

[@raquelDRS5936]

and also Lin Manuel Miranda himself confirmed the fact

[@allisons22]

such a cool tidbit!

[@markdenio4537]

It’s noted in the credits of the movie on Disney Plus.

[@lunebeyt]

A sad fact from the movie: Jamie broke it off with her through a note (just like her ex that she talked about in I can do better then that ) and the first song is her while reading the note 🥲

[@Barbara2.0]

Oh my God, who does that? :(

[@margaridatorres1273]

@@Barbara2.0 well, Jamie :(

[@michaelwilliamybarra2409]

Even worse, when you look closely at what the letter says when it's shown on frame, it's LITERALLY the lyrics to I Could Never Rescue You(coupled with how the score literally begins with the piano playing the main melody of this exact same song in the background)!

[@QuikVidGuy]

It took me a long time to really appreciate what people meant when they said "they're both to blame" because I was looking at the story over and over and seeing "Cathy worshipped him, he cheated on her, she was right to feel unappreciated." Nowadays I think I understand that the reason they fell apart was they they were each trying to use the other one to make their life into a neat story. They latched onto each other from day 1 and fought more to make it work than they did to get off the ground in the first place, to figure themselves out. Jaime wanted Cathy to be the miracle inspiration that would supply him with endless moments that feel fresh and exciting and that they would never have to put effort into maintaining it. His work would never be hard because he got his break early and Cathy would always inspire him. That's why his advice to Cathy is always "just try, it'll be fine" in different forms, as if she wasn't trying. He tried to tell her she was wonderful inside, but kept implying she wasn't meeting her potential. Cathy wanted to be the disillusioned hardworking every girl who gets rescued from a boring life by such a brilliant man who was destined to find her. And because it's destiny, she shouldn't question it. She shouldn't express doubts about their compatibility, until she knows he's cheating on her. She kept praising Jaime as a savior, and as a genius, and that slowly worked its way into Jaime's doubts about himself. He NEEDS to be the one protecting her. She isn't in control, he's the one holding the treehouse together. Whenever he felt imperfect he panicked and thought "if I'm not perfect I'm awful," which is why he needed her at all his publishing parties. And although his cheating is totally unjustified, it follows the line of thinking from that self doubt through his unwillingness to show any weakness. Those are the "conscious, deliberate mistakes," him indirectly lashing out at Cathy by going behind her back instead of reaching out to her for support. It makes sense with their careers. Jaime is the creator, Cathy is the performer. Either way, they need the story to be wrapped up in its expected structure, and life just... doesn't do that for you.

[@plentyofmagoes1143]

I completely agree. Especially with Kathy moving closer to a person she doesn’t want to be as the show goes along. From putting “I’m a part of that” next to “Climbing uphill” or “I can do better than that” we see she has kind of moved from a person fighting for the life she wants to someone who is compromising her life for someone else out of disillusionment for difficulty in her career.

[@undercoverfangirl5491]

Thank you so much for this explanation. Because while I knew they were both to blame, I was always on Kathy’s side (mostly because of the cheating) and I never really saw what she did so wrong. Reading this really explained everything for me. Also explains why it felt like she was obsessed with the guy.

[@nikkihacker6461]

It seems like a difference of support. She was always supportive with actions, until she couldn't anymore, but he was only ever supportive with words (it seemed). It always felt like he was saying "Okay babe. Go chase you're little dream while daddy goes and handles the grownup business."

[@dinoGhandi]

YES! I think the most revealing moment of this, for me, is in If I Didn't Believe In You. Throughout the song he throws all of these loving words of support and encouragement at her until she refuses to go to his party a second time. The moment he realises he's not going to get what he wants he instantly turns on her with "I will not fail so you can be comfortable Cathy. I will not lose because you can't win". And you're like ah. So finally here's the truth. He does not believe she is capable of winning. He sees himself as a winner and her a loser. It negates everything he's just said about believing in her and then when the final "If I didn't believe in you, I wouldn't have loved you at all" hits you're like... then did you never really love her?

[@missmossie2010]

One thing I love about the music in this show is how the end of Goodbye Until Tomorrow/I Could Never Rescue You blends seamlessly into the beginning of Still Hurting. It just makes the whole story come full circle and it's brilliant.

[@QuikVidGuy]

did you notice it's also their wedding waltz?

[@michaelwilliamybarra2409]

In fact, the VERY first piece of music we hear at the top of the show is basically the Piano playing the main verse of "I Could Never Rescue You"!

[@Denf0]

Both sides set unrealistic expectations from the start, whether conscious or otherwise, and each had different but equally destructive coping mechanisms to deal with that which clashed violently. Kathy opts to pretend nothing bad is happening which manifests in her becoming increasingly emotionally abusive & controlling, and Jamie shifts the blame entirely onto her which manifests in his cheating & verbal abuse at the end. It's one big, beautiful, heart-shattering story of a relationship that was, frankly, doomed from the start and the music is nothing short of breathtaking - they couldn't have found two better stars for the movie honestly.

[@ka_ka_kaelin]

I don't know if it's been said already but the author, Jason Robert Brown, wrote this play about his previous marriage. The character of Cathy was so similar to his ex-wife that she actually sued him. Also, I love this video, I have been looking everywhere for others who take a deep dive into the meanings of the melodies, reprises, etc. I'd love to hear what you thought of the movie with the use of colors and transitions it adds a whole other level of depth to the story.

[@robertamling5684]

When you listen to Jamie’s songs, where at first he appears to be supporting Cathy, it’s also possible to interpret them as condescending messages that she’s just not trying hard enough, and that if she were, she would be as successful as he is. There are multiple ways to hear each song, which is one reason why it succeeds so well dramatically and emotionally.

[@swedishlikethefish9679]

you talked about them cutting the dialogue in "See I'm Smiling", and that's true for the movie! But in the original stage version, there is no dialogue at all there! All we get is her reaction and the audience has to piece together what he could have said there. It's such cool writing! this is one of my favorite shows! 👏

[@FMAkers-jq2kh]

Just thought I'd share this: I just found an NPR article, from around the time this movie was released, with the headline "Every Song In 'The Last Five Years,' Ranked By Uncontrollable Sobbing"

[@Barbara2.0]

Hahahahaha sounds about right

[@petertrufahnestock5162]

I like your point on communication. I have always been fascinated by those who take Jamie’s side, because whatever Cathy’s sins are, his are worse. But your theory actually helps me balance out the two story lines- that neither is good at communicating with the other. Of course, the crazy set up doesn’t allow them to talk to each other! So the audience is forced to decide what happens in between the “highlight reel.” In any case, it’s an amazing show and a great reaction!

[@Barbara2.0]

Thanks, Peter!

[@ceceliam9014]

Was interesting to see your interpretation of the relationship. The show is basically an opera, so you get pretty much the whole story in the songs. But I viewed Cathy as constantly and genuinely supportive, and I felt like she gave too much without vocalizing that the sacrifice was eating away at her. She kept failing and kept making him the best most important thing in her life. And I felt like he moved cheating and lying far into gaslighting territory when he denied it to her face all the time. So her sense of betrayal and bitterness grew, especially considering how much she'd given to him and his life. She was super codependent and he was self involved, though they loved each other. And when you see him convincing her to come to that party, she has repeated that her issue is the cheating (he's cheating with his publicist, who's at all these parties), so I always felt like that "support" for and "belief"her in in that moment was really him avoiding the real issue and moving it into a "you're just bitter and not supportive" realm in order to get what he wants from her. I think Jamie *talks* a lot about supporting her and believing in her, but in action I'm not sure he tends to carry through (I think that's indicated in the scene where he keeps saying he'll "be there soon", at least how I interpreted it) It's a brilliant musical. Loved your reaction and your insights!!!

[@miranda4073]

I first listened to this musical 15 years ago, but through this video I've noticed things I never noticed before! Most of them were things you pointed out, but I also noticed - in the Schmuel song, Schmuel gets the chance to go back in time, and that's kind of exactly what Kathy does throughout the musical! She's like Schmuel in more ways than one.

[@FMAkers-jq2kh]

Jason Robert Brown is a *terrific* piano player, and I wouldn't be surprised if he did the piano on this soundtrack himself :) (Also, fun fact: He has a cameo in the movie as - I think - the pianist who keeps speeding up during Cathy's audition.)

[@michaelwilliamybarra2409]

He also did the Piano track for "Jason's Song(Gave it Away)" for Ariana Grande, who HE ACTUALLY WORKED with, Along with Liz Gillies(Kat and Jade in Victorious respectively), when they were teens staring in his 2008 musical 13(which is now getting a film adaptation with Netflix, releasing this August!), as Charlotte and Lucy respectively)! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2W7poFqjs2Eqas kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnvTpKhol7Nsm5I Here they are both in 13. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p36Vpp1_j894h7M

[@theassortedhobbyist]

8:15 Most of the dialogue is in the lyrics of the song and any that weren't, like Cathy's phone call with her manager during "Moving Too Fast" or Jamie's phone call to Cathy and presentation of his novel during "Climbing Uphill", are not on any of the albums for the show. For context, whenever there is a performance of "The Last Five Years", the staging of the scenes usually has the actor singing by themself and the other actor either off-stage or they are covered in shadows. For example, "See I'm Smiling" during the original production of the show had Norbert Leo Butz (Jamie) not lit while Sherie Rene Scott (Cathy) is lit and speaking to Jamie in her timeline and anytime Jamie is lit, Cathy is now in the shadows because the audience is now seeing events transpire in Jamie's timeline and it goes back and forth a couple of times as the song escalates.

[@dancerkris95]

Yes, Cathy was jealous of his success. But you can see she was supporting him way more than he supported her when she wasnt in Ohio for theater. Accept for the one time near the end when she didn't want to go that was the ONLY time she didnt. She always went to his gatherings/parties with people regarding to his book. Yeah he would say he believed in her and supported but it was all talk with no action to prove that he did. Not once he ever showed up for her when she had her performances. When he did go see her the weekend of one of her performance he couldn't bother staying at least the next day for her birthday and to try to work things out because of another event he was going to with his publicist which is who he was also cheating on her with.

[@opal817]

So glad you've become a fellow JRB obsessive! definitely one of the most gifted contemporary theatre composers since Sondheim (whose influence you can really hear in "See I'm Smiling"). He won the TONY for best original score at 28 then wrote this show. which is like... rude. Bridges of Madison County may be even more beautiful and heartbreaking than this show. Even 13, his musical for teenagers, is better than you'd ever expect it to be. I'm so happy you get to experience them all for the first time. Can't wait to see your reactions!

[@ajmalaika1287]

"Nobody needs to know" now you get the reference in Hamilton :-)

[@Barbara2.0]

Yeeeeeeees

[@Barbara2.0]

This video's been sitting on my drafts for so long that I have now seen the show and have 2,578 more thoughts about it. Anyone wants bonus commentary on Patreon?

[@kaviweaver5152]

ALWAYS YES

[@kitsunechibiko]

I would LOVE to hear what you think on Patreon! I love this movie so much! Always love your bonus content!

[@Movidude74]

yes, but I cannot afford another patreon right now. le sigh

[@TheTradge]

Next you should listen to Bonnie & Clyde 😊

[@nicogerben]

If you have the chance, watch the original production with Sherie Rene Scott and Norbert Leo Butz In Sherie's performance the lyric "isn't he Wonderfull just 28, the savior of writing" from epitomizes the desperation Cathy feels in sensing him slipping away and her feeling 'not enough' really really beautiful

[@HaunaMyKiki]

Fun Fact: This musical is semi-autobiographical! It was written by composer Jason Robert Brown about his ex-wife Theresa O'Neill. We don't know _exactly_ how close the show was to their real relationship, but apparently it was close enough at one point that O'Neill _sued_ him for violating the terms of their divorce! JRB agreed to change aspects of the show to make it more dissimilar to their own marriage.

[@abbyvankeer8555]

How did you know that I had just re-awakened my obsession with this show! I’ve been listening to the soundtrack (and watching that one Jonathan Bailey video) on repeat for days now!

[@ajmalaika1287]

YASSS she should watch that vid, he kills it!

[@Barbara2.0]

I have a gift 😜 hahaha

[@youngprinceramon]

So Jason Robert Brown actually wrote this and 13: The Musical (Which Ariana Grande was in) and I’ve actually met him! He was writing music for a new show they were working on here in my city. And I have his autograph with him wishing me luck with everything Also fun fact about this musical, it was actually (Allegedly) written to mirror his divorce. But his ex wife made him change certain aspects to less resemble their separation. Jason Robert Brown has also played piano for a few of Ariana Grande’s performances

[@margaridatorres1273]

I recommend Parade from the same composer, if you want to get your heart broken again

[@michaelwilliamybarra2409]

There's a concert done of that show with the composer, Jason Robert Brown, conducting himself, and Jeremy Jordan also stars in that as Leo Frank(along side Laura Benanti as Lucille)! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHqulqqcaL-HsNE kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2O8mX1peMdrbNk

[@soaribb32]

Yes, auditions are terrifying.

[@FMAkers-jq2kh]

Here's a song that was cut: "I Could Be in Love With Someone Like You", Jamie's original first song, which was taken out for, I believe, being too close to Jason Robert Brown's first marriage. It was replaced by "Shiksa Goddess" kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXKwg2qHZ8mljpY

[@Barbara2.0]

Thank you!

[@ajmalaika1287]

As far as I know, there isn't dialogue during the songs, the other performer is either alone on stage or the other is a stage, they interact but they don't talk

[@lunebeyt]

In the movie there is some dialogue between them during songs and they left it blank on the soundtrack

[@booluther]

One of my fave ever musicals ⭐️ and yes there’s not really any dialogue in the show though they add a bit more to the film

[@cheerful-wreck7013]

This show is too good!! This was written by Jason Robert Brown, and if you want to listen to more of his shows I suggest Bridges of Madison County.

[@RamblingRose08]

My favorite musical. 😊

[@braydonegan1240]

Please check out "Fun Home" if you haven't already, so good, hits ya in the feels.😩❤😩❤

[@Movidude74]

Two funny stories about this show. Sometimes when the Revival was playing at Second Stage, Jason Robert Brown would be the pianist/conductor. I was lucky enough to see one of these performances and when Cathy is having the bad audition and has to act opposite JRB the audience about lost it. Also, Lin Manuel Miranda borrowed a part of the show. the last line of Say no to This is Nobody Needs to Know and uses a bit of the melody of that song from this show. I won lottery seats the night JRB saw Hamilton and as everyone else is in shock, he let out a laugh, a guffaw even of recognition. (He gave permission but I guess did not know the context. Tho the show is not autobiographical there is some inspiration from JRB's first marriage, and I think that is part of why Jamie ends the show sad, and Cathy ends happy. She still sued him over it.

[@Barbara2.0]

Yeah I got the Hamilton reference later, but it's crazy that you were there when he was!! Hahaha

[@Movidude74]

@@Barbara2.0 I was ridiculously lucky early on with lotteries and such, including 3 views off Broadway and 4 On before the cast recording came out. I don't even care to admit my number now

[@itsjustmesam26]

I’m so glad you reacted to this! More people need to listen to this. Lyrically, it’s my favourite musical ever. Also I’ve loved this musical for almost a decade and I didn’t realise the connection between Still Hurting and Moving Too Fast until you mentioned it, ha!

[@kitsunechibiko]

If you love Jeremy Jordan story-telling, go listen to Tarrytown! Such a hidden gem! That version also stars Andy Mientus and Krysta Rodriguez!

[@michaelwilliamybarra2409]

Speaking of Jeremey and Andy, there were ALSO both in the 2015 concert production of Parade(As Leo Frank and Britt Craig respectively), also by Jason Robert Brown(and of which he himself conducted too), along side Laura Benanti, Joshua Henry, Ramin Karimloo, and more! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHqulqqcaL-HsNE kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2O8mX1peMdrbNk

[@chunkc_]

10:20 the way I didn’t even notice they were reprise the melodies. 😲 You have such a good ear!!!

[@jadynjohnson2518]

Speaking of Jeremy Jordan... you should definitely react to Bonnie & Clyde

[@michaelwilliamybarra2409]

He's also Jack Kelly in the Disney Musical Newsies(which is considered his true rise to Broadway Stardom after debuting with Bonnie and Clyde), AND he also stared as Leo Frank in the 2015 concert of Parade(also by Jason Robert Brown, who even conducted this concert), alongside Laura Benanti(as Lucile Frank). kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHqulqqcaL-HsNE kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2O8mX1peMdrbNk

[@katybeard]

Yes!!!!

[@Why-are-there-handles]

I recommend Lizzie The Musical! The songs are super catchy, my favorite is probably ‘Shattercane and Velvetgrass’ :) it’s about Lizzie Borden too, which is always a plus lmao

[@LeeExe]

I think something people overlook is that Jamie is very condescending during Schumuel Song. He says she should just go out there and keep auditioning, but we see, from her side, that she is auditioning every day. Imagine hearing no every single day, and then your husband, who sold his very first novel at 24, tells you that you're just not trying hard enough. (Also I always thought that Part of That and Climbing Uphill should switch places in the timeline)

[@Barbara2.0]

Good point

[@missmossie2010]

Plus the absolute gaslighting that happens in If I Never Believed In You. While "If I never believed in you, I'd never have loved you at all" may be true (because it should be - if you love your partner, you should believe in them), saying it out loud to her, in an argument no less, is manipulative and condescending. This, along with many other things, is why I could never sympathize with Jamie's character. (Agree about A Part of That and Climbing Uphill switching places)

[@musicallover8401]

That’s so interesting, I feel as if the Schumuel song is one of Jamie’s only redeeming songs. I feel as if it came from a genuine place. He’s thinking that her part time job was a distraction from auditioning. So in an attempt to help, he tells her to stop working so she can fully dedicate herself to her dream. I didn’t feel that it was condescending, but I can see how it might be interpreted that way.

[@runevancraywinkel426]

I wish I could watch this movie with you. Sooo goood. The Schmuel song is so fun to watch.

[@mellidon]

Just thought about this movie today… never watched it but it always intrigued me as a Jeremy Fan…

[@jonathanlopez6953]

the cast recording has no dialogue. There is no Broadway cast by the way...its all off or off-off broadway.

[@HaunaMyKiki]

Jason Robert Brown also wrote my all-time favorite musical, Parade! I strongly recommend you check it out ...Just be prepared to feel like absolute _shit_ by the end of the show! 😭

[@Barbara2.0]

Have to admit those are the best shows, who are we trying to fool here? Hahaha

[@HaunaMyKiki]

@@Barbara2.0 Oh for sure! Parade is _particularly_ brutal though. I'd wager it'd be the darkest show you'd cover. Beautiful show, but it's a very heavy subject matter.

[@juicybutterriblydrab]

@@Barbara2.0 if you listen to Parade, I recommend the 2007 Donmar cast recording! Not as good singers/accents, but you get a lot of dialogue to the point that you basically get the whole story (and it's the most current version of the show).

[@HaunaMyKiki]

​@@juicybutterriblydrab The Donmar version is fine as a first listen if you want the full story by just listening to it. Hard to beat the full orchestra and the incomparable Brent Carver and Carolee Carmello in the OBC recording though! (Also sorry, but "People Of Atlanta" is just a _way_ better song than "Hammer Of Justice." Don't know why they ever replaced that song in the first place! 😤)

[@michaelwilliamybarra2409]

@@Barbara2.0 There's also THIS 2015 concert of the show conducted by Jason Robert Brown himself, and it has Jeremy Jordan staring as Leo Frank, AND Laura Benanti as Leo's wife Lucille(among MANY other famed a list actors in the other roles including Ramin Karimloo, Joshua Henry(who also performed as Jamie in a concert performance of the Last Five Years with Cynthia Erivo as Cathy), Katie Rose Clarke, and so on)! kzbin.info/aero/PLVEcAauscwGqWnmvu19PKOXgD7dJ_gW08 kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2O8mX1peMdrbNk

[@PatrickHogansrol]

If you like this, I strongly recommend Songs for a New World. It's a musical by the same composer as this. It's a bit similar to The Last Five Years in that it's a small production with only four actors, but very different in that it's an anthology with each song being a different character's story with the theme of the American experience in all its ugliness and beauty.

[@kitsunechibiko]

Thank you for giving Jamie the benefit of the doubt. I feel like this movie doesn't give him the chance to defend himself. What's the point of having two characters telling their narratives if one's narrative becomes decisively "the villain"?

[@Barbara2.0]

Yeah Cathy is not free from blame either, the way I see it. Of course cheating is the ultimate betrayal but she could have made more of an effort to show him support and not be so codependent. A relationship is about give and take and it sounds like she was so stuck on her perfect fantasy future that she wasn't giving much in the present

[@garylife5320]

Saw Norbert Leo Butz and Sherie Rene Scott in this at the Minetta Lane Theatre with Jason Robert Brown on piano. Such Brilliance. These two do the score justice but NL Butz puts anyone else to shame.....

[@julianapelozato7262]

this is one of my favorite musicals but I have a love and hate relationship with Jamie. I love him at the start of his part but I end up hating him at the end. he was adorable in shiksa goddess but then all happens and I love Cathy too much to forgive him

[@Barbara2.0]

Yeah I think that's the most interesting thing about the show, you keep bouncing from one to the other, not knowing who to trust, but in the end I think they both play their parts in the break up

[@julianapelozato7262]

@@Barbara2.0 exactly, I love the whole dinamic of the show, and I strongly recommend watching the movie. As a cinema student Im a sucker for the photography and the colors of the movie, and how the colors follow the progression of their relationship

[@renedavidmorazanvalladares7692]

I've been waiting for your reaction to this musical. As always loving your content. 🫶

[@Barbara2.0]

Thank you so much! 🥰 Hope you enjoy the video

[@xpoeticdreamz]

Uhg that first song always gets me

[@sabinam8553]

I both love and don't love reaction videos. Like I looove seeing people react to things I care about but also so many of these videos are lacking any sort of emotion or analysis. But this was sooo entertaining. I was entranced by you, couldn't look away for the whole 40 minutes. You're so emotive, you have such a pleasing face and such an interesting accent. And right from the start, I knew that you write cause it's so obvious that you know what you are talking about. The attention to detail, the appreciation of the little things others wouldn't notice. Arghhh this was probably my favorite reaction video ever. Instantly subscribed. Also, you should have probably just watched the film cause it's mostly just the soundtrack, there isn't much dialogue. Anyways, I will be definitely check out more of your stuff and would love to see you react to more of Jeremy's work, I am a big fan of his :)

[@Barbara2.0]

First of all, WELCOME TO THE CHANNEL!!! Second of all, this comment just made my whole day and I think I'll explode with how grateful I am for your kind words. Thank you, thank you, thank you! P.s.: I've reacted to Newsies as well so that's more Jeremy content for you ;)

[@sabinam8553]

@@Barbara2.0 ee i can't wait to watch that! x

[@ajmalaika1287]

If you loved this so much, Merrily we roll along will blow your mind

[@theaterkween5791]

I love your interpretation of the Schmuel song because it is vastly different than how I have always viewed it. I have always viewed the song as Jaime saying that he is the magical thing in Kathy's life. Like only he can fix all of her troubles and worries. I've always viewed the song in a manipulative and gaslighting sense. It really goes to show the genius of the show because depending on your life experience the songs and the relationship, in general, can mean many things. There are so many ways to interpret the whole show. I use to think of Jaime as the sole villain of the show, and as the only reason, their relationship ended. The more I grow, the more I can see that they both bear the weight of their failed relationship, I do think Jaime a little more than Kathy because of the whole cheating thing, but neither is innocent.

[@Dark1ght666]

So glad you finally finished this one. An all time favourite of mine (jason robert brown is soooo good) I ended up having to go see this twice last year. I swear i'm not obsessed! Anyway you should check out Songs for a new world, another album from jason robert brown and some really fantastic acted songs with shoshana bean. At the very least go and listen to surabaya-santa.

[@SnackityWackity]

Id like to reccomend 35mm: A Musical Exhibition. Its a great “show” and i use that term loosely bc there is no actual story! Its a collection of songs based on photographs and photographs based on songs by an amazing LGBT married duo. Each song holds a different story that i think youd enjoy!

[@Barbara2.0]

It's on the list! ;)

[@SnackityWackity]

@@Barbara2.0 yay!

[@QuikVidGuy]

so it's it more like a concept musical or a revue

[@SnackityWackity]

@@QuikVidGuy neither…? Its like a really cool collection of songs, some are very likely related.but other than that i guess you could say each song gives its own concept.

[@joshkoplow4148]

I know this is an older video, but if you see this comment and want to revisit this show, I think you should listen to the 2013 Betsy Wolfe/Adam Kantor recording because I think they give the most entertaining performances as well as singing the score the best!

[@aliadeleon1893]

Please react to 21 chump street pleaseee it's not a long musical

[@ediblemongoose]

While the movie was good and all, the OC recording is just exponentially better. Norbert Leo Butz (OG Fiyero from Wicked) plays Jamie, and his performance is a freaking revelation. He makes you actually sympathetic towards Jamie, and makes it feel like a much less cut and dry scenario. Hid rendition of If I Didn’t Believe In You makes me cry every time. I highly recommend giving it a listen at some point.

[@yeonsung30ryeo]

This. I watched the movie first and enjoyed it. Later on, I stumbled upon the original cast recording and my gosh. It was different. I actually liked Jamie there but still hated him towards the end. It actually hurt more because I loved him.

[@FMAkers-jq2kh]

Norbert Leo Butz is most likely one of the best musical actors of his generation, and his performance in THE LAST FIVE YEARS is one reason why. His versions of "Nobody Needs to Know" and "If I Didn't Believe in You" are *amazing*.

[@tzukishiro]

No

[@karentecott640]

Love your reactions. There's a musical I find wildly underrated and largely unknown. Caroline or Change. Book by genious Tony Kushner (Angel's in America) music by the great Jeanine Tesori.

[@Barbara2.0]

Thank you! And I actually saw Caroline or Change a couple years ago when it was here in London, really enjoyed it. The cast was fantastic!

[@michaelwilliamybarra2409]

@@Barbara2.0 Tony Kushner is also a frequent collaborator with Director Stephen Spielburg. Kushner did the screenplay for Munich, War Horse, Lincoln, and the new film adaptation of West Side Story! Also Jeanine Tesori, who's been known to work with alot of playwrights who generally write straight plays, who would also write the lyrics. There's Kushner with Caroline Or Change, Lisa Korn with Fun Home(another great work based on the graphic memoir of the same name by Lesbian Cartoonist Alison Bechdel), and most recently Soft Power with American Chinese playwright David Henry Hwang(M. Butterfly, Yellow Face, the 2002 revisal of Flower Drum Song(which Lea Salonga stared in)(though she collaborated on the lyrics with him), and more). She's also premiering the revised musical Kimberly Akimbo, which she worked on with David Lindsay-Abaire(who both did Shrek the Musical in 2008), Off Broadway this upcoming Octorber!

[@JB-qf5ep]

I can't side with Jamie at any point really. I mean, he sings an entire song about he is just glad she isnt Jewish and nothing else about her matters. At the start of their relationship, he sings 'Ive been waiting for someone LIKE you', but Cathy sings 'I have been waiting for you'. If you listen to 'See I'm Smiling', we find out it is Cathy's birthday - so Cathy has her birthday in Ohio every year, and Jamie has never been to see her in Ohio until the end of their relationship, which means he not only never sees her in her show, he also has never spent her birthday with her! And he finally gets to Ohio and he is trying to skip seeing her show AND her birthday, after he has just cheated on her. Then he doesnt just lie, he gaslights her. She sings 'And I know in your soul it must drive you crazy that you wont get to play with your little girlfriend...No Im not, no Im not' - grammatically that means he called her something, like 'crazy' or a 'liar', for calling him a cheater, which he is. He tried to tell her that it was all in her head, so he is a gaslighter. And dont get me started on phrases 'I could never rescue you' and 'I will not fail so you can be comfortable' - what a condescending bastard. What a cruel thing to say to your wife just because she she wants to skip a party when she has been to every single one of your career when you havent once spent her birthday with her or seen her in a show. Seriously, I can't believe the sack on this guy to 'run out of rope' before her.

[@twist_ending7545]

You should do a video on The Mad Ones!

[@rhiannonfoster5847]

yay new reaction!!

[@rainbowandre9580]

Pippin, pippin, pippin. Please react to Pippin. Or Matilda the musical

[@ChrisCB0328]

Okay so for me the first time I listened to the show I was on Jamies side up until he cheated. I related to him so much because I also have had lots of career success in such a short amount of time. I do understand that they both are in the wrong however I felt like Kathy was more in the wrong all the way up until the point where Jamie cheated, then Jamie was 100% more in the wrong. I also think that this is a good example of why despite being the same age as someone and despite liking them in a romantic way, when it comes to dating in the real world, dating someone who is in the same stage of life as you is so much more important than physical age. I feel like if Jamie and Kathy had met at a different time in their lives (After Kathy actually had her life figured out) they would have worked out much better in the end.

[@Barbara2.0]

That's a really good point about being at the same stage in life

[@Mobsy1905]

I Always Saw “If I Didn’t Believe In You” As A “You Wouldn’t Have Anything Without Me”. Like Him Saying All Of Her Success Is Because Of Him. TBF, I Don’t Like Jamie, So I Might Just Be Biased.

[@RonHeartsMe]

My friend looooves this musical. I enjoyed it a bit but I guess I’m just too gay to love it lmao.

[@Barbara2.0]

Hahahaha fair

[@lillim.5060]

Your commentary on this was really fascinating, I feel like most people take Cathy's side because of the cheating. Don't get me wrong, the cheating is absolutely horrible, but I don't think it was a deciding factor in the breakup. If he never cheated, but everything else stays the same, they still wouln'd work because of all the underlying issues for both of them plus the communication problem. Which makes the whole story so much more heartbreaking in my eyes.

[@hannahm36790]

Omg I love this. If you’re a Jason Robert Brown fan you should react to Parade. It just finished a revival on Broadway

[@angelinemae6564]

Please let us know if you have watched the movie and what you think about it 🥰

[@garylife5320]

Also, ALL of Jason Robert Brown's musicals are equally as good as this though most were not financial successes. I would encourage you to listen to his first musical, Songs For A New World (I prefer the original "blue" version. Also Parade, and The Bridges of Madison County. I am in awe of this man and so fortunate to have met and chatted with him. Hope you enjoy!

[@alexp.d3689]

I cried during this ... You should definitely react to the film ,and I would suggest you to listen to The Bridges Of Madison County ,a Musical written by the same guy who wrote the last five years Jason Robert Brown ... But have some paper tissues with you ,cause Kelly O'Harra's voice is gonna make you cry big time ...

[@haleyleahann8296]

Neither character has any sense of self reflection and therefore can not change. Cathy is better, jealous and so incredibly co dependent-- Jamie supported her so much. Jamie is also co dependent in other ways, enables Cathy, and jumps into things even thought he can sense that he shouldn't.

[@Just_a_lonely_dancer]

Do goosebumps the musical. It's a bob

[@runevancraywinkel426]

Hey Barbara. I love you xxx.

[@Barbara2.0]

Hey Rune, love you too 🥰

[@saphira4366]

I think everyone has very conflicted feelings about the story and which of the two is to blame, and for me, it's mostly with "If I Didn't Believe In You". Especially in the movie version, it makes me hate Jamie so much - the first time I heard it, I couldn't even really listen to it. Because in the movie, you explicitly see that Cathy *does* support him. She goes to all of these book launches and readings and parties, though he always ignores her at them (see "A Part of That" and "A Miracle Would Happen"). He prefers spending them with other women and his publicist, with whom he's cheating on her by this point, and she knows that. And I think she *has* communicated that to him. But he's straight up gaslighting her into believing that she has never been there for him, while he's always supported her - while we also see that he never goes to her shows in Ohio. But of course, this isn't the same in different productions. I've also seen one where it's not as clear what Cathy has done for Jamie, and the way Jamie was portrayed made it much easier to sympathize with him, even though he still cheats. I think it's one of the things that makes TL5Y so interesting, you already have these differing perspectives in the songs and then there's so much you can do with the way you stage it. It's all about how you interpret it.

[@haleyleahann8296]

I use this film in my movie musical unit to discuss narrative-- I like to ask my students who is the more unlikable individual in the relationship and they couldn't take the easy (but very true) route of both being terrible and toxic. Personally, I think Cathy is the one I have a bigger problem with....which considering Jamie cheating is saying something. I also asked my students if they thought that had they met later in their lives if they still would have gotten together and lasted-- only one person in a very large class thought they might-- the others...no hope.

[@Barbara2.0]

That's so interesting! Thanks for sharing

[@theatrekidxdylan9922]

Please watch spring awakening bootleg

[@yeonsung30ryeo]

I hated Jamie so much that whenever I listen to the album, I remove his songs and only listened to Cathy's lol

[@Barbara2.0]

Hahaha shame though, his songs are so good!

[@yeonsung30ryeo]

@@Barbara2.0 I'm past that phase now so I do listen to his songs as well. I've matured more than when I first listened to it anf now understand both pov. Still love Jeremy but Norbert really makes it hurt so much more.

[@leonh.kalayjian6556]

Watch the movie. It's free on KZbin. I liked it so much better with video. Editing now.... Saw the end of your video and how you say you're going to go watch the movie. You have a very good analysis of this. But mostly Jamie is at fault.