Snapshots in Time with Encore Tours

It’s a busy time of the year especially for ACIS and Encore Tours staff. However, we always make it a point to support the arts in our community. What better way to do it than to go out with fellow co-workers and friends and be transformed by some art and some drama?

Tuesday night, some of our staff braved the cold and attended Northeastern University’s production of The Last 5 Years. I had been familiar with Jason Robert Brown’s musical before so I walked into Northeastern’s Blackman Auditorium thinking I knew what was in store – a two person show for 2 hours. Those are certainly some big shoes to fill. A thought or two crossed my mind in hopes that these 2 actors would be good singers or else this could be a very long 2 hours! Luckily, the performance that unfolded was contrary to any uncertain expectations.

Director, Johnathan Carr cleverly turned a two person show into a six person show with 3 people playing each character throughout different stages of their life.  Everyone did a fantastic job and despite the number of people sharing the stage, there remained a connection to each of these characters. Multiple actors also aided in sending the universal message that breakups could happen to anyone.

The set was simple (unlike the complex relationship). It was a red box with two different levels and picture frames decorating the walls. As the relationship unraveled, picture frames were poignantly taken down and put up, as if the snap shots of moments both good and bad could not last forever.  The small chamber ensemble of musicians was fantastic and seeing them was not distracting by any means. We were enveloped in the music and I can safely say everyone left the theatre feeling changed.