See how relationships ‘build up and can wind down’ at this Macon show
Ever been unsure whether you were coming or going in a romance?
“The Last Five Years,” on stage at Theatre Macon as part of its Stage 2 Series, uses that feeling to tell of lovers who meet, marry then divorce in a matter of five years.
One tells the story from beginning to end — the other from end to beginning. The two only meet together in the flow of time on stage during their wedding.
Sound intriguing? Confusing? Director Iona Holder said not to worry and Theatre Macon’s artistic director, Richard Frazier, said the play — a musical actually — does just what the Stage 2 Series was created to do.
And more.
But back to Holder’s take on the story.
“At the end of the strange back and forth telling of it, you’re left with a moving, realistic picture of a complete relationship,” she said. “The way it’s told shows how relationships build up and can wind down. There are good lessons about pitfalls.”
Holder said she believes the music is gorgeous even though she’s never been the biggest fan of musicals herself.
“I’m really more interested in drama than musicals but when two actors brought me ‘Five Yeas’ I saw such a great story and knew they would do well with the roles and the very difficult music,” she said. “I couldn’t resist.”
The musical’s only two actors are Amanda Boundy and Tim Hinojosa with musical direction by McKinley Starks. Holder said Boundy teaches voice and was recently Mary Poppins in the Theatre Macon production. Hinojosa is an Air Force pilot at Robins Air Force Base. The two, along with Holder and Stark, have done a version of “Five Years” before in Milledgeville, where Holder and Boundy live and Holder is part-owner and operator of Blackbird Coffee and Bird House Theatre on West Hancock St. (www.birdhousetheatre.com). It was seen and suggested for Stage 2 by Theatre Macon founder Jim Crisp.
Holder said Theatre Macon’s stage offers room to expand the show’s orchestra which is onstage. It’s grown from a single keyboard to keyboard, guitar, bass, violin and cello. And at every mention of music, Holder again goes on about how “beautiful” the show’s is.
For Frazier, it’s all evidence of the need and success of the Stage 2 idea.
“By creating the Stage 2 Series we opened the door for others to bring new ideas, direct, explore different ways of storytelling and showcase great talent,” he said. “It expands the number of plays we can make available and still keep at the quality we expect. It lets talented people explore and tell good stories and also is letting us step outside the box and further build relationships in Middle Georgia’s theatre community.
“It’s been a pleasure providing an opportunity for the cast and crew of “The Last Five Years” to remount it on our stage. I was busy running our own show when it was in Middleville but I won’t miss it here.”
The production is the fourth and next-to-last in the Stage 2 Series’ first year with the last play, “Love, Loss, and What I Wore,” coming in May. Frazier said 18 applications have been submitted for possible selection for Season 2.
Frazier and Holder noted “Five Years” is not part of Theatre Macon’s regular subscription season and said it contains moderate profanity and adult situations.
If you go
What: ‘The Last Five Years’
Where: Theatre Macon Stage 2 Series, 438 Cherry St.
When: 8 p.m. Jan. 31 & Feb. 1, 2:30 p.m. Feb. 2
Cost: $15
Information: www.theatremacon.com
Out and About
Here’s a sampling of other events coming in the next few days. For more, check www.macon365.com.
▪ Lyle Lovett and His Acoustic Group – 7:30 p.m. Jan 31, Macon City Auditorium, 415 First St., www.maconcentreplex.org/auditorium. $20-$100+
▪ The Gregg Allman Laid Back Legacy – 8 p.m. Jan 31, Hargray Capitol Theatre, 382 2nd St., www.hargraycapitoltheatre.com. $25 - $400
▪ Friends Night Out Ceramics – 6:30 p.m. Jan 31, all level ceramic creation experience offered by Yen-Ting Chiu Ceramics at Startup Studios, 1055 Riverside Dr., https://startupstudios.weebly.com. Starts at $80 for three friends
▪ -Festival of Camellias Kick-Off – 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Feb 1, opening events at Massee Lane Gardens hosted by American Camellia Society, 100 Massee Lane Rd., Fort Valley, www.americancamellias.com. Free
▪ The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess - 12:55 p.m. Feb 1, The Met Opera Live in HD presented at the Douglass Theatre, 355 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., (478) 742-2000, www.douglasstheatre.org. $24/$20/$15
▪ Black History Month Ranger Programs at Ocmulgee – 2 p.m. Feb 1 and following Saturdays, Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, 1207 Emery Highway, www.nps.gov/ocmu, (478) 752-8257. Free
Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.
This story was originally published January 31, 2020 at 6:00 AM.