THEATRE REVIEW: "Rent" at Various Venues

     

     Late in 2006, I went to see the Broadway production of "Rent" at the Nederlander Theatre in Manhattan.  I was late coming to the show, so I missed the beginning of the show and the title song.  I was seated during the first "Christmas Bells" song.  Not only did I miss the beginning, but I left the show during intermission.  I was living in New York at the time and going to art school.  One would think I would have enjoyed seeing "Rent."   Not this time I guess.

     At the time I saw the Broadway Production of "Rent," the cast included Christopher J. Hanke (Mark Cohen), Jamie Lee Kirchner (Mimi Marquez), Mark Richard Ford (Tom Collins), Nicole Lewis (Joanne Jefferson), and Maggie Benjamin (Maureen Johnson).  I'm not sure who else was in the cast at the time.  They all did a good job.  I wasn't doing very well at the time, which is why I left during intermission.  But, if I have to offer a criticism, I suppose I would say the cast seemed a bit burnt out.  The production had just celebrated its Tenth Anniversary on Broadway, and when I saw if later the same year, the thrill seemed to be gone.

     It is quite possible that I was projecting when I said that the Broadway cast of "Rent" was burnt-out.  I was probably the one who was burnt-out at the time.  I later saw YouTube videos of some of the cast members performing in the musical, and I thought they were really good.  I might have not wanted to be at the theatre that night.  Also, I think I was annoyed that I missed the beginning of the show.  That sort of ruined it for me.   I bought a ticket for the National Tour engagement of "Rent" that performed at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago during February of 2008, but I ended up not going.  I would see the full musical the following year.

Jamie Lee Kirchner in "Rent" (photo possibly taken by Joan Marcus).

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      On April 12th, 2009,  my dad and I saw the Jonathan  Larson musical "Rent" at the Oriental Theatre (now called the Nederlander Theatre) in Chicago, IL.  This was after we met Katie for lunch at a Harry Caray's Restaurant and Bar within walking distance from the theatre district.  My dad and I had both seen the film version of "Rent," but neither of us had seen it on stage yet.  In my case, I hadn't seen the stage version of "Rent" in its entirety yet.  

     On the afternoon we saw "RENT,"  Adam Pascal (Roger Davis) Anthony Rapp (Mark Cohen) , Gwen Stewart (Various Roles), Lexi Lawson (Mimi Marquez),  Michael McElroy (Tom Collins), Justin Johnston (Angel Dumott Schunard), Nicolette Hart (Maureen Johnson), Haneefah Wood (Joanne Jefferson), and Jacques C. Smith (Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III) starred in the production.  This production was advertised as the final time "Rent" would be on tour.  That's what I remember, at least.  However, the musical would embark on a "farewell tour" about ten years later--that time without three Original Broadway Cast members starring in the production.

    Around 2007,  I was obsessed with "Rent."  I liked the movie a lot, but once I listened to the Original Cast Recording, I liked that even more.  My "Rent Head" phase carried over into part of 2008 as well.  By 2009, I wasn't as much of a fan as I used to be.  But once I found out the tour was coming to Chicago with three Original Broadway Cast members,  my obsession was revived.  I wasn't as interested in the show as I used to be, but was still very happy I got to see the show finally.  This time, I was determined to see the entire musical.

Adam Pascal (Roger) and Lexi Lawson (Mimi) in "Rent."  Photo by Joan Marcus.

    

      The production featured scenic design by Paul Clay (like the Broadway production),  with slight adaptations to the design for the tour by Matthew E. Marathi.    I don't recall the differences between the Broadway and tour set, but I enjoyed the 2009 Touring production more than the Broadway Production (plus I stayed until the end).  Not long after my dad and I saw this show, I found out the final Broadway performance was recorded on video and available to rent or purchase on DVD.  I made this discovery while browsing at Borders Bookstore.  I watched the DVD and discovered that Gwen Stewart, Michael McElroy, and Justin Johnston were in the final Broadway performance, prior to joining the tour the following year (the Broadway production of "Rent" closed in 2008).

     Around the time I saw "Rent" in 2009," I listened to Anthony Rapp's memoir "Without You" on my iPop Shuffle.  Upon writing this, I believe "Without You" is now an off-Broadway show.  I'm not sure if it consists of Anthony Rapp reading his book to the audience, or if he sings songs from shows he has been in.  He was great in the Broadway Tour of "Rent."  I thought his scenes with Haneefah Wood were funny.  But there's nothing funny about the relentless march of time, which we all know waits for no one.  

 

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     On May 12th, 2019, I saw an evening performance of "Rent" when the 20th Anniversary Tour made a return stop in  Chicago.  I could have sworn I read somewhere that it was the "farewell tour" of the show, but the production has since made a third stop in Chicago.  The first time the 20th Anniversary came to Chicago was in 2017.  That is by no means the first time "Rent" ever performed in Chicago.  The Chicago Premiere of "Rent" ran from November 5th, 1997 through April 5th, 1998.  That was when the First National Tour was still running.  

     The 20th Anniversary Tour cast, at the time I saw the show in 2019, included Joshua Bess (Roger Davis), Logan Marks (Mark Cohen), Marcus John (Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III), Deri'Andra Tucker (Mimi Marquez), Lyndie Moe (Maureen Johnson), Lencia Kebede (Joanne Jefferson),  Devinre Adams (Tom Collins), Javon King (Angel Dumott Schunard), and Jasmine Lawrence (Various Roles).  The only reason I saw "Rent" again was because I won the ticket lottery for this show. It was worth it.  I got a great seat in the back of the orchestra level (center section).  

    

     I saw "Rent" ten years before at the same theatre, before it was renamed Nederlander Theatre.   Around the time I saw "Rent" again, there were a handful of shows I went to see but left halfway through.  Seeing "Rent" was a break in the pattern.  I knew every line, every lyric, and that made it easier to stay for the entire show for some reason.  

     

     For many, it is common knowledge that "Rent" was a modern re-telling of Giacomo Puccini's opera "La Bohème."  I've never been to the opera myself.  The only time I've been exposed to "La Bohème" was when I listened to a record album of the Opera, and when I watched a video recording of the opera.  If I remember correctly, there were subtitles in English.  However, I was still completely lost.  The opera was different enough from Jonathan Larson's rock opera for me to be confused and to wish I understood Italian. 

Logan Marks, Marcus John, and Joshua Bess in "Rent" (photo by Carol Rosegg).