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| I had known RENT existed for a long time...ever since I'd become interested in musical theatre. But I never paid it much attention. Just judging from the advertisements and what I'd seen discussed about it, the truth was that it looked like the kind of musical I'd want to avoid (something like Rocky Horror...yuck!). Plus I never liked rock'n'roll type music all that much. But one day, nothing particularly special about it, a friend recommended the soundtrack so I said "what the hey?" and bought it. Now I can't get enough! |
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| RENT is a musical that hits very close to home. Telling the story of a few poor, starving artists in modern day New York City, RENT sends a strong message about life and how to live it with love, not regret, and to never give up on your passion or deny how you really feel. I love it. Based on Puccini's opera La Boheme, the plot centers around two roommates in a poor New York loft, Mark Cohen and Roger Davis, who are threatened with eviction by their fellow-turned-yuppie landlord Benny. Hardly taking the threat seriously until their power is cut off, Roger stays home that Christmas Eve only to meet a new and great romance in Mimi Marquez, who manages to get him out of the apartment after a seven-month stay because of his girlfriend's suicide when she found out they had AIDS. Mark, on the other hand, is called upon by his old girlfriend-turned-homosexual Maureen Johnson to help with a protest performance she is staging against Benny's eviction of some homeless people on a nearby lot. This is just the beginning in a set of events that covers an entire year, filled with ups, downs, and everything in between. Other characters include Joanne Jefferson, Maureen's new lover; Tom Collins, a college professor and anarchist; and probably the most memorable of all: Angel Schunard, a drag queen and Collins' new romance, who really embodies the story's ideals and message, trying to convey them to the other characters. As for the ending, well, as sad and as humorous as it can be made out to be, check it out for yourself! |
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| Admittedly my first impression of the musical was one that could have been expected: AIDS, drugs, profanity, homosexuals? Not quite the stuff I wanted to hang around. But once...not to say getting "used" to it...but being mature and looking past all the material stuff, it's a fantastic show. It has a positive message to send to the world, and the rock'n'roll and gospel style music I found to be surprisingly moving and dripping with that emotion that I look for first and foremost in any kind of music. I would definately suggest this musical to anyone with an open mind. |
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| As far as characters go Mark would definately be my favorite, though Roger is a close runner for second. I don't know why yet that narrators are so appealing, but Mark is indeed the narrator of the show for the most part and thus adds another narrator to my favorite character list, and also because of what an animated character he is. The big ugly scarf, the glasses, the way he totes his camera everywhere with him, and the high-pitched-almost-geeky voice that Anthony Rapp portrays him with on the Original Broadway Cast CD are perfect for such a character. (Don't even get me started on Joey Fatone!) And as for Roger I don't know why I like him...probably just because he's such an emotional character (that I wouldn't mind playing...heheh) and has a lot of great songs to sing. From the short clips that I've heard I have found Gilles Chaisson (Original Broadway Armand St. Just) was also quite good as both of them, and also that Tony Vincent played Roger at one point. Woohoo! |
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