There may be some of you who hear the title King Lear and, knowing only of the play’s reputation as the mack daddy of all Shakespeare tragedies, immediately presume that any evening production of the piece will last well into the next morning. Allow me, then, to quell your fears: Saturday’s Genesius Guild staging of the Bard’s opus began promptly at eight o’clock, and after the night’s presentation had concluded, I was back in my car by 10:55.

I will admit that I had serious reservations prior to Wednesday night's performance of the Harrison Hilltop Theatre's The Last Five Years. As much as I enjoy Cari Downing's comedic stage work – I described how sensational she was in the Hilltop's I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change earlier this year, and it's worth repeating – I wasn’t so sure she was up to composer Jason Robert Brown’s romantic musical. And the same went for Tristan Layne Tapscott, who I think is fantastically funny in comedy roles, but hit-or-miss in his more serious efforts. Under the direction of David Turley, though, they present a unique take on this criss-crossed storyline that has its own sweetness.