Playing at the State Theatre, Arts Centre, Melbourne until March 7. Touring Newcastle in March, Perth in May and Canberra in June. Tickets and further info can be found at rentmusical.au.
Jonathan Larson’s iconic musical RENT was an instant hit when it first hit the Broadway stage in 1996, and remains just as powerful and relevant today, if not more so, as it charts the impoverished lives of a group of young creative types, all living in Manhattan’s East Village, who live life to the fullest despite often not having two coins to rub together, and are at constant risk of eviction or having their power and heating shut off.
A talented young cast brings Larson’s gritty, but ultimately life-affirming semi-autobiographical tale, led by a passionate protagonist – Mark Cohen (Noah Mullins) – who serves as narrator and introduces us to the denizens of a rundown building and the surrounding neighbourhood, with the industrial set design serving as an effective backdrop for their struggles.
Aside from Mark, we are also introduced to his best friend – musician Roger (Jerrod Smith), affable teacher Tom Collins (Nick Afoa), Collins’ kind-hearted drag queen girlfriend Angel (Carl De Villa), powerhouse performance artist Maureen (Calista Nelmes) and ill-fated dancer Mimi (Martha Berhane), who Roger is pursuing a relationship with.
With the spectre of HIV and AIDS hanging over the characters, the backdrop of real-life riots and police brutality also play an important part in the show, painting a vivid picture of New York in 1991, which is shown to be both a ruthless and inspiring place.
Mullins’ Mark is an enthusiastic presence as he bounds across the stage with infectious energy, but he is matched by many of his co-stars, with Smith’s Roger being a great foil for him and the two sharing many heartfelt scenes together.
Roger’s tragic love story with Mimi is the emotional crux of the story, with Berhane’s incredible vocals and equally impressive dramatic work completely selling her sad plight in every scene. Her acting especially towards the show’s conclusion is truly tour-de-force work.
Acclaimed local singer Thndo is also a welcome addition to the cast, delivering a fine performance as empathetic lawyer Joanne. While Thndo doesn’t get quite as much time in the spotlight as some other characters, she makes every moment she appears a memorable one.
The episodic nature of RENT allows us to drift in and out of the lives of the cast of 18 players, giving every character the spotlight at various points of the show and allowing the audience to get a glimpse into the lives of this disparate group. There are probably close to 50 different characters over the play’s duration, with many of the cast portraying multiple New York residents.
But despite the inclusion of some dark and depressing subject matter, RENT is a mostly joyous experience, with a couple of show-stopping moments that are worth the price of admission alone.
The first is an unforgettable performance art sequence in which Nelmes (as Maureen) commands the stage, with her bizarre, surreal rendition of the number Over the Moon, which is truly astounding. While this sequence has proved divisive for audiences over the years – some love it, some hate it – I personally found it to be the highlight of the show.
The second is the opening number of Act II and the song that even those who have never seen RENT would be familiar with – Seasons of Love, a song which has definitely had a life of its own outside of the show. Fortunately, the talented cast assembled here absolutely nail this number and do justice to Larson’s memorable music and lyrics.
There are some minor criticisms of the show though. The ramshackle sets are perfect for setting the mood for the show, but perhaps aren’t utilized to the fullest extent as the show progresses, and the sets as a whole are on the minimalist side of things. And while the show’s hard rock score is expertly realised by a talented team of musicians, the loud rock guitar often drowns out the actors’ vocals at times, meaning that for some of the louder songs we can barely make out what the talented cast is saying.
It is unfortunate as for those seeing it for the film time, it might mean missing important plot and character details, lessening the emotional connection. I attended the opening night performance and it was still early in the run, so it’s possible this will be re-visited as the show’s run goes on. Here is hoping the levels might be a bit more even so the music and vocals can find a happy medium.
All in all, this latest production of RENT is a remarkable achievement and easily proves that this story can still tug at the heartstrings and have something relevant to say for the younger generation. A beautiful celebration of community, love, creativity and hope – RENT continues to speak to audiences and will no doubt keep doing so for years to come.
Images by Pia Johnson Photography (used with permission)
TINSEL and TAP SHOES 