Musical Brilliance and Emotional Depth Shine in Limelight Theatre’s 'The Last Five Years - In Concert'

In a dazzling display of musical storytelling, The Last Five Years - In Concert at the Limelight Theatre is utterly spellbinding, drawing the audience into the heart of Cathy and Jamie’s poignant love story. Emily Layt and Chad Boyd breathe life into their characters, embodying every triumph and heartbreak with electrifying authenticity. The musical’s unconventional narrative structure — one character moving forward in time while the other rewinds — is brought to life through the magnetic chemistry between Layt and Boyd. Their performances are deeply compelling, weaving a raw and bittersweet tapestry that captures the blossoming and eventual unraveling of a complex relationship. From start to finish, the audience is entranced by the emotional depth and musical brilliance on display.

Emily Layt’s portrayal of Cathy is a mesmerizing study in nuance and emotional depth. Her opening number, “Still Hurting,” delivered with heartrending vulnerability, sets a somber yet powerful tone that echoes through the venue, leaving the audience spellbound. With each note, Layt bares the raw fragility of Cathy’s heartbreak, forging an immediate emotional connection. As the story unfolds in its poignant reverse chronology, Layt seamlessly navigates Cathy’s journey of love and loss, crafting a vivid tapestry of introspection and resilience.

In “I’m a Part of That,” Layt captures the delicate dance of devotion and denial with exquisite precision, drawing the audience into Cathy’s fervent belief in the facade of her faltering relationship. Her performance is an emotional tightrope walk — imbued with hope yet laced with quiet desperation — that resonates deeply. As Cathy’s illusions shatter, Layt delivers a masterful transformation, allowing us to experience the searing pain of realizing that something cherished is never as perfect as it seems. With every shift in emotion, Layt brings us closer to Cathy’s heart, making her journey profoundly personal and universally relatable.

Chad Boyd’s portrayal of Jamie is completely captivating, bringing an electric vibrancy to the stage with his dynamic performance. In “Shiksa Goddess,” Boyd radiates charm and wit, delivering the song with a contagious energy that has the audience in stitches, offering a delightful moment of levity amidst the emotional weight of the story. Yet, Boyd’s portrayal extends far beyond Jamie’s initial exuberance, as he skillfully delves into the character’s complexities, revealing the darker undercurrents of ambition and self-doubt that strain his marriage.

His rendition of “Moving Too Fast” is a standout moment — a whirlwind of energy and passion that perfectly encapsulates Jamie’s boundless drive and internal conflict. Boyd’s spirited delivery mirrors Jamie’s frantic rise to success, creating a stark and compelling contrast to Cathy’s quieter introspection. As Jamie’s journey progresses, Boyd masterfully transitions from the eager, starry-eyed writer to a man burdened by his own choices, bringing a gripping depth to the character. Each layer of Boyd’s performance makes Jamie’s evolution feel painfully real, leaving the audience both enthralled and unsettled by his unraveling.

The concert is a showcase of extraordinary musical performances, each highlighting the actors’ exceptional vocal prowess and emotional depth. “The Next Ten Minutes,” the poignant duet where Jamie proposes to Cathy, is a breathtaking moment of connection. Layt and Boyd’s harmonies intertwine effortlessly, creating a tender intimacy that resonates throughout the venue. The scene has a serene elegance, allowing the emotional weight of the moment to take center stage.

Equally memorable is Layt’s performance of “A Summer in Ohio,” a spirited number brimming with humor and biting irony. Layt captures Cathy’s resilience with a vibrant energy, balancing her frustration with a sly wit that has the audience chuckling one moment and empathizing the next. Her deft handling of the song’s comedic undertones underscores Cathy’s ability to find strength and levity even amidst the struggles of her career and relationship. These performances, rich with heart and humor, solidify the concert’s emotional and musical brilliance.

In the poignant juxtaposition of “Goodbye Until Tomorrow” and “I Could Never Rescue You,” Emily Layt and Chad Boyd deliver performances that leave the audience deeply moved. Layt’s Cathy radiates a heartfelt optimism, her voice soaring with hope as she celebrates the joyful beginning of her relationship. Her portrayal brims with a sincere, almost infectious promise for the future. In stark contrast, Boyd’s Jamie lays bare the sorrowful finality of their relationship in “I Could Never Rescue You.” His mournful delivery, tinged with regret and resignation, is a gut-wrenching counterpoint to Cathy’s earlier optimism. This stark emotional divide is a masterstroke, highlighting the heartbreaking divergence of their paths. Layt’s ability to embody such genuine hopefulness, even as the audience literally cries in front of her at the inevitable tragedy of their story, is a testament to her emotional range and skill, making the moment unforgettable.

While the minimalist set of the concert version might initially surprise those anticipating a more grandiose production, its simplicity proves to be a profound artistic choice for this concert-style rendition. Stripped of elaborate scenery, the staging mirrors the fragmented emotional worlds of Cathy and Jamie, emphasizing their parallel yet disconnected lives. This subtle yet powerful approach draws the audience into the intimate core of the story, where the focus remains firmly on the characters’ inner turmoil and raw emotional arcs.

The spotlights play a pivotal role, isolating each character within their own narrative and underscoring the poignant truth of their relationship: though they share physical space, their emotional worlds are worlds apart. Aubrey Barker’s lighting design becomes a storytelling device in itself, amplifying the themes of isolation and introspection. By embracing minimalism, the production allows Emily Layt and Chad Boyd’s performances to take center stage, transforming the barebones set into a canvas for vividly painted emotions. This stripped-down aesthetic not only heightens the impact of their storytelling but also reinforces the universality of the themes, turning simplicity into a deeply resonant strength.

The musicianship in The Last Five Years - In Concert is a strong highlight, enhancing the emotional resonance of the production. Violinist Kimberly Zielinski delivers beautifully rendered melodies that add a layer of poignancy to each scene. Her sensitive playing weaves subtle emotional textures into the story, drawing the audience further into the characters’ inner worlds with each bow stroke.

At the heart of the musical experience, however, is musical director and pianist Keith Teepen, whose masterful performance becomes a centerpiece of the evening. Teepen’s passionate and precise playing brings the score to life, imbuing it with a richness that feels almost tangible. His artistry transforms the music from mere accompaniment into a dynamic storytelling element, amplifying the narrative’s emotional peaks and valleys. Together, Zielinski and Teepen create an extraordinary musical synergy, turning the score into a character in its own right — one that powerfully underscores the joys, sorrows and tensions of Cathy and Jamie’s journey. This collaboration is a true highlight, leaving an indelible mark on the evening.

Tonight and tomorrow are your last chances to see The Last Five Years - In Concert — a production that perfectly balances raw emotion and musical artistry. This is an unmissable celebration of storytelling and musical artistry, showcasing the remarkable talents of Emily Layt and Chad Boyd in a truly unforgettable way. By attending, you’ll be directly supporting a fundraiser critical to sustaining local theater in light of recent, statewide arts funding cuts. Don’t wait! Grab your tickets and experience a performance that will captivate, inspire and remind you of why the arts matter so deeply.

The Last Five Years - In Concert runs Friday, November 22 through Sunday, November 24 at the Limelight Theatre's Matuza Blackbox.

For more information, full cast and crew credits and links to tickets, visit the The Last Five Years - In Concert page here on JaxPlays.