Theatre: RENT

RENT                      

Book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson

Director Shaun Rennie

Joan Sutherland Theatre Sydney Opera House

Reviewed by Ron Lee, CSP

Many plays, films, television series and musicals have been inspired by the classics. From Shakespeare’s The Tempest came the films, Forbidden Planet, The Journey to Melonia and Prospero’s Books. The musical My Fair Lady is based on Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw and Romeo and Juliet is the play behind the musical, West Side Story and the musical, Kiss Me Kate was inspired by The Taming of the Shrew.

Rent is derived from La Bohème, the opera by Giacomo Puccini. 1800s Paris has moved to New York’s East Side in 1989.

For those who are familiar with the storyline and characters in La Bohème, Rodolfo the poet is Roger Davis (Harry Targett), a songwriter-musician who is HIV positive.

Mimi the seamstress with tuberculosis is Mimi Márquez (Kristin Paulse), an erotic dancer who has and is Roger's girlfriend.

Alcindoro, a state counsellor, is Joanne Jefferson (Imani Williams), a lesbian lawyer.

Musetta, a singer, is Maureen Johnson (Calista Nelmes), a bisexual performance artist and Joanne's girlfriend.

Marcello the painter is Mark Cohen (Henry Rollo), an independent filmmaker and Roger's roommate.

Schaunard the musician is now Angel Dumott Schunard (Jesse Dutlow), a drag queen and percussionist with AIDS, and is Collins' partner.

Colline the philosopher is Tom Collins (Googoorewon Knox), a gay philosophy professor with AIDS and is Angel's partner.

Benoît the landlord has become Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III (Tana Laga’aia), the local landlord and former roommate of Roger, Mark, Collins, and Maureen.

For the 42 songs in this production, the the six-piece band appropriately allows the singing to do the heavy lifting, and when the eighteen person cast lets loose at the same time, the power and volume are impressive. 

RENT also includes influences from works other than La Bohème. The 12 Step Programme gets a nod. With a group of young people feeling both hopeless and hopeful, there were shades of the musical, Hair, and when they become defiant, Les Miz comes into play. There are moments when, as Mimi, Kristin Paulse is reminiscent of Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar. Her vocals are powerful, moving and compelling. There’s even an obvious recreation of The Last Supper.

I certainly didn’t walk out of the theatre humming a tune as I did after Annie with “Tomorrow” or Cats with “Memory”, Nine to Five with “Nine to Five”, “Jolene” from Here You Come Again and multiple songs from Jersey Boys, Dusty and Beautiful. 

However, RENT does have an audience that appreciates depth and the exploration of the human condition with feelings of hope and love.