Why Buy When You Can Rent?
Written: Nov 09 '03 (Updated Nov 11 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great set and location, good music.
Cons: Broadway theater had acoustic problem, mediocre acting.
The Bottom Line: Rent was okay and worth seeing although I don't think it deserved the hype or the awards.
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| modernmarvel's Full Review: Rent |
I went to see Rent based on all the strong reviews I have read plus all the awards it has won. I was somewhat disappointed in the experience. Since Rent has been on Broadway for over 7 years, I suspect they are riding out their reputation rather than bring new life to the play.
THE LOCATION
Rent is playing at the Nederlander Theater in Times Square. To give you an idea of how entrenched Rent is, not only the stage but the entire theater have been converted into the set. The ceiling, light fixtures and balconies of the theater have been converted into the urban loft that is the main setting of the play.
My only gripe about the theater is that either the acoustics or the sound mixing were awful. Often, you couldn't hear the singers over the band which made it difficult to follow the plot. The music might seem loud to some.
THE PLOT
You will read that Rent is loosely based on the opera La Boheme. "Loose" is an understatement. In fact, the plot of Rent reminded me of the Seinfeld show, the self-described show about nothing. Rent is basically about a group of characters and two years in their lives. Things happen to them: a prior roommate buys the building and tries to evict them, there are affairs and the resulting hurts, there are a couple of minor triumphs and the drag queen with AIDs dies. Rent is definitely not plot-driven nor does it spend much time developing its characters. Instead, it is more of a mood play about a certain time and certain way of living.
The characters live in Alphabet City in Manhattan. They are living the Bohemian life in a loft without electricity or heat. Much of the play takes place during the winter and the characters wear dark colors and are shivering. Several characters, including the drag queen, have AIDS. One is also addicted to drugs. The girlfriend of one character, whom we don't meet, killed herself when she found out she was HIV positive and the character is still grieving. The healthy characters have no money and no jobs. Occasionally they fret because they have no heat or lights. While I had heard that Rent was about embracing life and love, I found the overall tone depressing rather than uplifting.
Look, I hate to sound old here, but there was a piece of me that said if all of the characters got jobs, they would be much better off. In one scene, a character almost dies because the group has determined not to take her to the emergency room, presumably because of finances. In America, anyone, including the indigent, can get medical care in circumstances where they could die. I found this scene overly dramatic and not accurate. I didn't feel particularly sympathetic to the financial circumstances of most of the characters because I felt they created their own circumstances. What ever happened to self-reliance and dignity? Even the characters with AIDs seemed to be living in despair rather than trying to find medical care and a better existance. In some cases, a part-time job could have solved their problems. (This concludes the old-timer rant.)
Rating: There are gay and lesbian relationships, swearing, a naked behind for one brief moment, drugs, AIDS and other miscellaneous situations that are not appropriate for younger kids. You have to judge for yourself but I would say this play is at least for high school ages and up.
THE ACTING
My biggest disappointment with Rent was the acting. Almost all of the actors were making Broadway debuts. Most came from the Rent touring companies. While some acting was fine, there were only a couple of standouts. In particular, I thought Christina L. Fadale did a fantastic job as Maureen. A couple of the actors were not quite up to the level you would expect on Broadway. Overall, the quality of the acting was what you would expect from a strong college play. The one exception is that I found all of the singing and most of the dancing to be very, very strong.
One surprise: Frenchie Davis, of American Idol notoriety, is featured in the ensemble cast. She has only a few lines and a couple of singing solos but other blends into the background.
THE MUSIC
Rent is not the typical musical and although most of the scenes are set to music and much of the dialog is sung, you won't hear anything that could remotely be called a showtune. Most of the music is rock and it was enjoyable but you won't be snapping your fingers and singing to yourself on the way home.
THE SET
The set is designed to look like a run down industrial loft with lots of scrap metal and staging. The sets and backdrops do not change although some props are moved around quite a bit. Interestingly, the band is located on the stage where they take up quite a bit of room and get quite a bit of attention.
INTERESTING NOTE
Jonathan Larson wrote the book, music and lyrics. He died just before the play opened.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
I thought Rent was just okay. I was disappointed with the lack of plot and the occasional overly-dramatic story twists. However, Rent has become a legend for a reason and if you can erase the hype and expectations from your mind, you might actually enjoy it.
MY MINI-GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY
Things to Do:
The Metropolitan Museum
Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty
Places to Eat:
Lucky Cheng’s has Chinese food for adults.
Ruby Foo’s has Chinese food for families.
Pipa is next to Manhattan Mecca ABC Carpet & Home.
Starlight Diner is where singing servers bring your burgers.
Rue 57 fuses French and Japanese cuisine in Midtown.
Places to Stay:
The Roosevelt Hotel
The Hudson
The W on Lexington
Sheraton Manhattan
Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers
New York Hilton
Broadway:
TKTS sells half-price tickets to Broadway shows.
Gypsy is Broadway at its best.
Wicked is a prequel to the Wizard of Oz.
Chicago is a classic.
Sweet Charity has a 60’s vibe.
Recommended:
Yes
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modernmarvel
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