The Official Adam Pascal Love Thread, part nine- Page 174

[CanadianSnowbird]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 9:28pm

My electronics are themed, I'm thinking that makes my stereo and speakers Lovely Ladies.
Updated On: 4/25/06 at 09:28 PM

[Bohemian1232]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 9:28pm

Hee. That's cute.

[xM3L24x]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 9:46pm

I think there's going to be something on CBS soon, I just heard SOL from the other room. I'm not sure if it's now or something for tomorrow morning.
-nevermind, my mom was watching something taped from this morning. Updated On: 4/25/06 at 09:46 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 11:20pm

Here we go; I was doing homework and other things as well as writing this at the same time -- I didn't *actually* spend over an hour writing it.

I was saying yesterday, multiple times, that I can't claim to be one of those people who has some identifying experience which dictates the reasoning behind my love for Rent. I can't say "Rent impacts me because," or "___ happened to me, and that's why I love Rent." I can't claim to relate on a specific level to the things that go on in the show; I can only claim to relate to the very universal -- and still important -- things about it. There are often times when I find myself unable to say why it effects me, and that's frustrating sometimes. But it just does, on a very viscerally emotional level. And, it's just good theatre -- in many ways, by virtue of that.

I remember the moment at which I fell in love; watching Seasons of Love from the dead center of the orchestra, back in December of 2002. I had heard the song, but I never really paid attention to what it was saying -- it was that song from that show I wasn't allowed to see. The fact that I wasn't allowed to see it didn't really make me expect for it to be about love and community, even in its dealings with sex, drugs, poverty, and death. From there, it was a fairly gradual (yet somehow fast-paced) path to recognizing who the OBC was, and just what the big deal with Rent and everything it stands for are; I had exposed myself to Tick, Tick...BOOM! and to Jonathan's story, and the background to and realities (and sometimes unrealities) of Rent. Meaning grew.

I remember the first time I heard a cast member sing something from Rent live -- the first time I saw it in person. Fittingly enough, it was Adam singing Glory. And even though I loved the show, I didn't expect to have an emotional reaction, other than "wow, that was so cool." I cried. And I still have never figured out why, other than that it was beautiful, and the song meant something far more than it meant even in the two or three times by then that I had seen it performed at the Nederlander.

I remember the first time I saw an OBC member perform something from the show in character -- I was freezing my ass off last March watching Anthony sing What You Own in the middle of the East Village. I remember coming home and losing myself to all resignation of emotions -- again, not really knowing why.

So without delving into the entire whirlwind year that the movie brought, suffice it to say that that was huge and emotional, too. All of the above and then some combined just makes for a huge connection to this piece, often with little regard to who's in it, but in this case, the original cast is something so precious.

Last night, then, was a celebration of Jonathan's legacy, of Rent; of those who devote themselves to it, and those who love it. It was a celebration of success, hard work, life, and love -- and moreover, things that bring people together. In the speeches beforehand, someone said it was a celebration, through the organizations benefitting, of three things Jonathan held very close to his heart: community, creativity and culture. They raised in excess of 2 million dollars last night.

I keep telling people that it was like walking into a dream. After watching these performances on a crappy bootleg for years, they were happening right in front of my eyes, on that stage. And today after stepping back into very harsh reality, I feel like it almost was a dream; I wonder if yesterday even happened. So much of my personal experience with Rent has been about surrealism, which last night was absolutely dripping in.

It was the most beautiful thing -- simplistic and perfect. Semi-staged, partial costume, and what I think was fully-lit. Lots of original choreography. They started with Seasons of Love, did a bit of Halloween: "how did we get here, how the hell..." -- then one of Mark's mom's voicemails and launched right into the title song -- they sang through the show with minimal dialogue, clocking in at around two hours.

Even though the performances were re-created in the movie, there were so many small moments that weren't in the movie that sent chills down my spine to see: musically, one of my favorite parts of the show is the Mark/Roger exchange that goes "she said 'would you light my candle,' and she wanted you to take her out tonight?" "Right...." "she got you out..." -- etc. And I saw Adam and Anthony do that. Daphne can *still* do the original Out Tonight choreography, in those boots. And she still does it with a fiery passion and seductiveness. All of the names in Life Support were removed, except for Pam, Gordon and Ally; Jonathan's friends -- and Angel. I'll never forget so many small moments; seeing Adam and Anthony do the ending of Goodbye Love, live in person; seeing Wilson strut out from the bright red lights in full drag; seeing La Vie Boheme finally be energized and amped up again... and not feeling robotic. It was like magic; and Rent the way it was meant to be.

The performance, while also a celebration of the resiliance and resonance of the piece, was also one of the beautiful bond between the cast members; the performances were not all completely in character, but it gave a lot of glimpses into the incredibly tight-knit community they've become. They have striking chemistry both as themselves, and as they characters they played. And ten years later, it looked as though returning to those characters was like slipping into a custom glove. The performance had line flubs, missed cues and jokes, but it also had affection and tears.

I was ten years old when Rent opened on Broadway, so this wasn't full-circle for me. It was the pinnacle of a beautiful continuum. But it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see something that I had only known description of, really, and something of which I never could have imagined the level of emotional, cathartic power behind -- not only power in the way the OBC interprets the show, but power in all connection and love that's there because of their commitment to it, and in the sentiment of seeing the people who created the parts as they are. Now I understand why people who saw them in the show originally often took so long to return after they left. It's very strange, after years of hearing the OBC on the CD, but picturing other actors' bodies and mannerisms, to be able to hear the CD and very vividly turn on a picture in my own mind, of my own memory, of the OBC.

This post didn't really turn out how I wanted it to be, but as I'm rambling on and on, I'm realizing that it's because I simply don't know what to say yet. I can sit here and say it was amazing, or list reasons why it was such and why it was meaningful, but I don't think those clichés will really do justice to how powerful it was. You could feel the energy just take over that theatre. It was absolutely outside of my wildest dreams (look, a cliché! heh). I'm so, so glad I was lucky enough to be able to make the decision to go. I never thought it would become a possibility.

So... er, yeah. There you have it.

Updated On: 4/29/06 at 11:20 PM

[Chloe]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 11:20pm

I just found this article which I assume will be in tomorrow's NY Times. Very positive, warm reminiscence and semi-review by Anthony Tommasini.

ETA: Thank you very much, Emcee.
Times article Updated On: 4/25/06 at 11:20 PM

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 11:28pm

Very nice. Thanks Chloe.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 11:33pm

Thanks, Em.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 11:36pm

Thanks for sharing that link Chloe!

[gertrudejessalynn]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 11:38pm

Thanks, Em!

I really like this picture...


It's cute.

Updated On: 4/25/06 at 11:38 PM

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 11:40pm

I love love love that Anthony Tommasini from the Times was the one who got that last interview with Jonathan, and he's the one who wrote this article. It's all so perfectly fitting.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 11:44pm

Lovely. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Em. I'm glad that everyone who went was so thoroughly thrilled with the performance.

[Bohemian1232]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 11:59pm

Great write up.

Fantab, I love that too.

[opiv]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 12:14am

Thanks Em.

[DancNdaMoonlite]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 12:23am

I need a hug..


Thanks for the review Em.

[xoxRogue]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 12:29am

Aw, thanks Em.

*collapses*

I just got back from the Nederlander before catching up. It was terrific tonight.

*sleep*

[Katt]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 3:47am

I'm so tired, but I wanted to post a little bit also. This has been so surreal, it's almost as if I can't believe it happened. It was incredible. I never have, and never will again, hear so much emotion put into Goodbye Love. I couldn't look at anyone else but Jesse during that scene.

It amazes me that with only 5 hours of rehearsal, and doing it for the first time in 7 years, Daphne still blows any other Mimi away. When she strutted out in the kimono, she got the biggest cheer of the night, even over Wilson's appearance in full costume. If you've seen Rent a few times, you obviously come to expect that Angel will be wearing the Santa suit, and Mimi will be wearing the blue pants. But last night, no one had any idea what would happen, so even seeing Daphne wearing the boots was special. She still has that unique riff on the line "When the Spanish babies cry". Even now, she is more daring on the bars than most of the other Mimis are. It has been said already, but Daphne definitely set out to prove that Mimi is HER character, and no one is going to change that. And she definitely proved it.

Just seeing how much fun the cast was having was infectious. Kristen was bouncing around the stage and laughing, Jesse was having SO much fun during Santa Fe, and twirling around and everything. Daphne ran over to high five Idina after Light My Candle. Kristen and Wilson were grinding together during Rent. Adam and Daphne were so cute during I Should Tell You. The cast members would whisper to each other when sitting off to the sides. Just the little things they did to show how close they are.

Byron and Gwen's voices haven't changed a bit, and their solos were wonderful. Anthony was spot on for everything, except when he couldn't get the projector to work at first, which was kind of amusing.

Daphne and Adam had so much chemistry, it was amazing. During Another Day, Adam shoved away from her, and she was flung backwards on the table. They were really getting into it, and it was really intense. In addition, Wilson and Jesse had great chemistry also.

I was also so impressed with Wilson. He jumped around like the high heels were nothing, and jumped from the floor to the table two or three times. On his last jump, he barely made it onto the table, and kind of hopped to the middle.

Sorry if some of these things have been said...I can't remember what's been said in the reviews, but I just wanted to list some of the things that I remember.
Updated On: 4/26/06 at 03:47 AM

[Jyn326]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 5:22am

thanks for all the reviews!

[To The Stage!]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 6:52am

Em, I loved your review. It was very beautifully written.


Thanks everyone for the reviews!

That picture is so cute.

Updated On: 4/26/06 at 06:52 AM

[JLSatUD]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 6:57am

That's a fantastic article. I'm so glad he got to write it.

Out of curiosity, do you think Rosario and Tracie are considered alumni? I know they weren't in the stage show but they are definitely going to be the faces that people 20 years in the future associate with the show. I didn't see them in any pictures so I'm pretty sure they were not there. It was nice to not have any controversy and just have Daphne go out there and kick some butt! I love all four of the ladies in their roles for all they brought to the show.

Thanks for all the write ups...somehow I feel like I was almost there. :)

[JLSatUD]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 8:30am

Hi, me again.

Link with video! Click on the Daphne picture. :)

[Allie]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 8:34am

THANK YOU FOR THAT LINK!!

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 9:16am

I really liked that NYT article, but I was sad Fredi didn't get a little mention. Everyone else did.

[opiv]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 9:46am

My god, Anthony looked like he was going crazy durning LVB

[Tanssia]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 9:52am

More great reviews! Fantastic!

Loved loved loved the Times article, so fitting that the original reviewer got to write it. I enjoyed reading every part - even when he took some hits at the lacking performances its been known to drift into as of late. Fredi deserved a sentence at least!

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:30am

Rosario and Tracie were not there. I talked to some people that said Tracie really wanted to be there, but she was working in LA and couldn't make it.

*kicks LA*