Kensington Arts Theatre Presents "The Last Five Years"

The Kensington Arts Theatre jumps back into its 2010-2011 season this weekend, with the opening of its second production:  The Last Five Years.

The intimate musical, by playwright Jason Robert Brown (who wrote book, music and lyrics), tells the story of a marriage gone bad from two different views and two different directions:  meeting to break-up, and break-up to meeting. The husband's tale starts at the couple's first meeting, through their divorce; while the wife tells the story from the relationship's end and travels back to its beginnings. Both spouses are actors, whose work brings them together but ultimately helps tear them apart. 

The production stars two extremely talented local singers and actors:  Ryan Burke in the role of  husband "Jamie," and Michelle Simon, as wife "Cathy." 

Simon, originally from Cleveland, is a "natural" for the play. The story takes place in New York and Ohio;  Simon worked as an actress in New York City after graduating from Syracuse in musical theatre.  "I moved to New York three days before September 11."  Simon moved to the DC area and made her local theatre debut in 2003.  By day, she now works at the Discovery Channel. 

Simon said she was "driven" to try out for the play.  "I loved the music... I had to come out for it.  I also loved the playwright, Jason Robert Brown. He's a young playwright, and he wrote the lyrics, music, and orchestration." 

She also felt drawn to the story.  "I felt a big connection--there are a lot of Ohio references, and the words in wedding song are so beautiful I used them in my own wedding." 

"It's also a very interesting way to portray a relationship.  A lot of people will relate to it."

For Burke, who plays the husband, the play marks his debut in community theatre.  He says he also can relate to the story.  "I was in a good-to-bad relationship, so I can channel it.  Love is such a complex thing--to see it from two aspects is amazing, a story for an adult crowd." A sophomore at Montgomery College, he plans to to transfer to the University of Maryland to major in theatre, and wants to try professional theatre after graduating.

Director and producer Craig Pettinati, who started Kensington Arts Theatre in 2002, says he "always wanted to to do this show, but was afraid to for many years.  I wanted to show how it should be done, my way."

"I needed David (music director David Rohde) to do this show... it has very beautiful music, but hard. "

He says it was also important to find the right actors.

"For this show--a two-person show-- we needed actors that can sell a show by themselves.  It's not easy to do, to actually have to sing well, be easy to listen to, and act.  They both do it all."

The hardest part, for the actors? 

"Stamina!" said Simon. "It's literally 1-1/2 hours of singing—and changing costumes when not singing."

The play continues each weekend at the Kensington Town Hall through March 19, for ten performances including two Sunday matinees. Performance dates are February 25, 26, and March 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, and 19.  For tickets, visit katonline.org.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled the director and producer's name. We regret the error.