Caution: The first few rows may get wet! (RENT- 4/15)

[bwaylover86]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 10:21am

Just wanted to share because I thought it was kind of funny- I saw RENT yesterday- the matinee- with Matt, Karmine (yay! she was amazing) and Tim as Roger. We were sitting in the second row on the asile to the right and basically every time Tim came on to the edge of the stage, which he does frequently, the first couple rows in the center (thank god we were to the right) were getting soaked with a mixture of sweat and spit.

AND during "Your Eyes" (which in my opinion was the only song he could do justice to) he dropped a huge gob of spit right on poor Karmine who had to sit there dying so couldn't wipe it off for a good few minutes and then had to wipe her face off a few times when she 'came back to life'. Say it don't spray it much.

Other than that- the show was a bit of a disappoint- maybe because it was a saturday matinee but still. I don't think I really like Tim's version of Roger- just too angry! And he really didn't hit a lot of the notes in the songs, although Justin (Angel) was having a hard time of doing that as well- maybe they were both sick? The usual chemistry between Mark (Matt was amazing by the way) and Roger just wasn't there- Tim seemed more mad at him the whole time then being his friend.

Anyway, just thought Karmine getting spitted on was kinda funny- beware if you go see RENT with Tim and are sitting in the first couple of rows to bring a spit guard lol.

Updated On: 4/16/06 at 10:21 AM

[timote316]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 10:24am

Karmine is indeed amazing... but I can't disagree with you more about Matt, though. I thought he was awful (not to mention unprofessional) when I saw him.

[willact4food]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 10:31am

I do agree that Karmine is indeed amazing. But I disagree with you as well about Matt. Like timote said, he's highly unprofessional. It's just another show to him.

And when I saw it, I thought Tim was wonderful. It takes some tiem to get use to his voice because it's soooo different from anything I've ever heard before. But other than that, I thought he was fantastic.

But I am glad you went to see the show! Sorry it was a bit of a disappointment.

[bwaylover86]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 10:39am

Actually I saw Matt last July and I hated him then so I totally see your point- he was TOTALLY unprofessional, but I have a feeling that had to do with who was playing Roger (why can't I remember his name?!) and the rest of the cast at the time- they had much more chemistry and I was very disappointed then too lol- but yesterday he was very funny and put on a great show so I was happy. He actually reminded me of Anthony's Mark a bit.


Oh yeah this was too funny- the two girls sitting behind us had absolutly no idea what the show was like and were gushing over the movie and saw Tim's picture in the program and were like "this is so wrong he was blonde and had long hair" and were just all upset about it it was pretty funny- they just had no clue... and kept talking about every little difference between the movie and the show the wholllee time.... "this song wasn't in it and this was different" ugh drove me nuts.

aside from that- I was shocked to see a lot of kids under ten... like they could really understand what was going on?? Definitly more teenage girls than usual too- I haven't been to the show since last July- (pre-movie craze) so I was pretty shocked at all the younger kids- I don't understand that one at all... could most of them really know what was going on or enjoy it at all? Maybe I am totally off on this but I was surprised none the less.

Updated On: 4/16/06 at 10:39 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 10:44am

You're probably referring to Cary Shields. Matt was definitely much more goofy with Cary than he has been with Tim, or than he was with Will.

I like Tim. I love angry Rogers.

[NJRae]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 11:42am

Jen you beat me to it! Well now instead of writing my own "review" I will just add to yours!

First, when we saw Matt last July, as others have said, he was much more "goofy" and "unprofessional" however this time around I felt that he did a very good job.

Personally I did not love Tim's Roger. I don't mind an angry Roger (although I think his anger was over the top at times) and I actually found his voice interesting but I think that his songs were hit or miss. My problem with him was more that I didn't feel any chemistry between him and anyone else on that stage.

Justin was good but lacked the energy I remember him having last time I saw him. Perhaps he was having an off night, I don't know. Still think he was good in the role and I loved the chemistry between him and Destan.

I was a little shocked to see Karmine in for Antonique, only because we didn't get one of those little papers saying that she was going to be in. That said, I think she is amazing and was very glad to see her. In my opinion she was one of the very few people who looked like she was "on" and in character throughout the entire performance.

Destan and D'Monroe were good as Collins and Benny I just didn't see anything fantastic about either of them but, again, it did seem as if there was some chemistry or energy or something lacking on that stage.

Ava was a good, funny Maureen and I was very impressed with her vocals during "Take Me or Leave Me."

Frenchie blew us away with her solo during "Seasons of Love". Jen actually whispered to me, "talk about a set of pipes!"

And, as Jen (bwaylover86) said, those first few rows may get wet! That Tim spits A LOT! lol When he dropped that one "goober" on Karmine (with a K, Jen! 0k, you fixed it!) we both looked at each other like, "eww!" You had to feel for her. The poor girl is sitting there dying and can't wipe the spit off! But when she got up you can bet she was wiping at her face! lol

Updated On: 4/16/06 at 11:42 AM

[ElphabaRose]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 11:48am

I just have to say, I love the subject line! And I agree with the majority on Matt. He stopped playing the character of Mark and phones in every performance.

[SirLiir]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 11:53am

I am in the minority here and actually like Matt's take on Mark. He breathes a different kind of life into the character and makes him more interesting (and a bit more realistic). He plays it up for laughs a bit more than he should but overall he does a good job. I liken him to a more loosened version of Jim Poulas, who is one of my personal favorite Marks. Basically, hes not my favorite Mark but he is more memorable than others (*CoughDrewLachney*)

Tim, for me, is a very solid Roger who does a great job. He's not the best Roger but he captures the character well enough. Though thanks for the warning! I wonder if he spits on the level of John Lithow.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 12:52pm

Shaun was on yesterday for both shows as Angel, not Justin

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 12:55pm

Spitting can be a good thing while performing, you spit when you are speaking clearly.

[FabalaYero85]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 1:04pm

hehe I went to the mat yesterday. great show. crazy crowd.

I must say I've sat in every lotto seat and never gotten spit on once. interestinggg.

Matt is one of my most favoritest performers. he is like the biggest loser ever so it just makes it all good. Tango is love.

He does have his moments but overall he is an amazing performer and very saddened that he's leaving in 2 months, BUT he has a great job lined up and we're all very excited for him and can't wait to hear about it soon.

yes his goofing off with Shields was a little much, but it showed that they were really the best of friends and the friendship showed both on and off the stage. and their chemistry...damn they were my fav Mark/Roger pair. but I did love Matt and Will and Matt and Jay. Matt and Tim...beginning to rub off on my. yesterday was my third time seeing Tim.

and my Karmine!Mimi. I live to see her Out Tonight. she is amazing and glad to know her and just gah.

glad all enjoyed :)

[SirLiir]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 2:20pm

Is Karmine now Mimi full time? I love her when she goes on as Mimi. She does a fantastic job.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 3:22pm

Karmine is a swing. Antonique Smith is Mimi.

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 3:24pm

Outta curiosity, what makes Matt so "unprofessional"? Did he break character a lot? (I've not seen him, I'm just curious as to what the fuss is about.)

~Sam

[SirLiir]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 3:29pm

He plays it very different from Anthony. He seems to spend alot of his time laughing at himself and being happy outside yet miserable inside. Also, he really hams up the sexual jokes, which I think work okay but I can see why some find it offensive or needless. His Tango Maureen though is fantastic.

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 3:31pm

Gotcha. Well, sometimes people make a role too much their own; and it's insanely "high school" to ad lib to such a point.

~Sam

[bwaylover86]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 5:01pm

Yeah last time I saw him it was VERY high school- I mean I did high school theater so I should know right?

I had NO idea that it wasn't Justin yesterday- We had no slip in our programs about Karmine either... wow well then he really couldn't hit those notes! Good to know though, thanks!

[NJRae]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 5:06pm

Benzy:

Ah-ha! You know, we didn't get one of those papers saying that anyone was out and we didn't see any signs but I knew that it was Karmine, not Antonique. Now it makes more sense. Both Jen and I remembered Justin having more energy and a higher voice last time we saw him and this Angel seemed to have a deeper voice and just not quiet the same level of energy . . . guess now we know why! It is so hard to tell from the pics who is who sometimes! Now that I looked back and it I feel kind of dumb though . . . lol

[NJRae]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 5:11pm

Fabala . . . I love Karmine! Of course she is the only Mimi I have seen but . . .

I was actually hoping that she would be in yesterday but when we didn't get one of those little papers I assumed it would be Antonique. I was pleasantly surprised to see Karmine (nothing against Antonique--I haven't seen her!).

Nothing against Rosario but I would have loved to see Karmine in the film version of RENT!

I also kind of enjoyed Matt's goofing off with Cary. Personally I thought it was funny and showed that they had a good relationship. Besides, they are human! I like it when they step out of character to laugh at something the other did. When we saw them one of them said something during "Rent" so emphatically he spit all over the other. They had to take a minute to laught at each other as they wiped their faces. They missed the next line or so but I thought it was funny. My sister (eh-hem!) thought it was unprofessional. I guess it was but . . .

[bwaylover86]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 5:12pm

Yeah I didn't even question that it wouldn't be him- for some reason I didn't think about the dreds- now looking in the program I can definitly see the difference... oops lol. Well I like Justin MUCH better than Shaun and it says that he was Angel back in 1998.. maybe he has just gotten too old for the role?

[broadwaybaby221]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 5:30pm

I really like Matt's Mark. When I saw him (in August) he didn't seem unprofessional at all. I think that his Mark is very different from everyone else's but he does a good job playing Mark.

I love Karmine as well. Too bad she's swing. That girl is amazing. I have her solo cd (I highly suggest it) and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about her.

I haven't seen Tim but I heard he's a very angry Roger. Just like Jeremy Kushnier.

[NJRae]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 5:54pm

broadwaybaby--Karmine's solo cd is good? I've been debating buying it . . . I've listened to parts of it on her website and just never took the next step. I think I even looked for it on iTunes once but don't think it was on there. Will have to look again.

[SirLiir]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 6:52pm

Oh and Shaun, the Angel you saw, played the waiter at the Life Cafe in the movie. Fun fact.

[bwaylover86]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 7:19pm

wow i knew he looked familiar!! I just assumed it was because he was the angel I saw last time! thats so funny!

btw Benzy- both me and NJRae wanted to thank you for correcting our mistake so nicely- a lot of other people on the board would have not been as nice!

[broadwaybaby221]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 7:22pm

NJRae- Karmine's solo cd is fantastic. It only has 8 songs but it has Out Tonight and I really love Sister Sister, Burn and I Survived You. But I would suggest getting it. I listen to it all the time.