With the intention of sharing the novelty of Jason Robert Brown's music and writing, Your Lost Flamingo Company, a student-run theater group, will perform Brown's The Last Five Years for its first musical production.
The Last Five Years is a couple's re-telling of their five-year relationship that grew into marriage and ultimately ended in divorce, director and Ohio University sophomore Chris Bauman said. The man tells his account from past to present beginning with his first encounter with the woman, while the woman moves from present to past.
Eventually the two stories cross paths somewhere in the middle, male lead and OU sophomore Adam Greene said.
It's a real good juxtaposition
Bauman said. Reverse timeline is just interesting to watch.
Bauman said in addition to the innovative arrangement of the script another reason to see the musical is its music.
The songs are really catchy. The tunes get stuck in your head female lead and OU freshman Stacy Krekus said. I think everyone can relate to at least one song in the show.
Because the music and the script work so well together the play has attracted a large cult following, Bauman said.
The production has, however, experienced its share of troubles. Tight scheduling for the use of Kantner Hall left only three weeks to do everything from holding auditions to putting together an orchestra and rehearsing the entire musical, Bauman said.
We've been on a pretty rough schedule Bauman said.
The actors expressed similar sentiments about the stiff agenda.
Production has been rushed
to say the least
Greene said, We basically had one read through and were told to learn our lines over Spring Break.
Aside from time constraints, the normally self-funded group had to apply for support from the Student Activities Council because it is the group's most expensive production to date, Bauman said. Expenses included paying for the rights to perform the play and building its set.
Half our shows make money and half lose money
Bauman said. Any surplus we donate to local charities.
Though the musical faced problems in the beginning, the director and the performers expressed confidence in the final result.
It's looking like it's going to come together. It's really on track
Bauman said.
For more information on Your Lost Flamingo Company, visit www.lostflamingo.com.
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Erin McCarty
