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#1

IS Rent a Musical?

Or is it a play?

Or is it a play with music?

Or is it an opera?

Or is it the first half of an annoying poster's screenname?

YOU BE THE JUDGE!



Updated On: 6/5/06 at 04:53 PM

#2

re: IS Rent a Musical?

It depends. Which poster are you referring to? re: IS Rent a Musical?
Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never knowing how
#4

re: IS Rent a Musical?

Then yes, I completely agree.

As for your original question, it's complicated. A musical is a play, but a play is not necessarily a musical, and an opera is a form of musical. So technically, it could be all of the above.
Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never knowing how
#5

re: IS Rent a Musical?

What's that rule again about squares and rectangles?...
"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too." - Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck
#6

re: IS Rent a Musical?

A square is always a rectangle, but a rectange isn't always a square.
Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never knowing how
#8

re: IS Rent a Musical?

I've always thought of Rent as a rock opera. Wasn't that what the posters originally said?
#9

re: IS Rent a Musical?

When I go to the playground
And a triangle says "How do you do"
Then comes in a circle
And a rectangle shows up too
Well I play with the triangle
And the circle can join the game
I play with the rectangle
Who cares that we're not all the same
'Cause no matter where I am
No matter where I go

It's hip to be a square (hip, hip, so hip to be)
It's hip to be a square (hip, hip, so hip to be a square)
It's hip to be a square (hip, hip, so hip to be)
So hip to be a square (hip, hip, so hip to be a square)
No matter who I'm with I know

So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life.~Office Space
#10

re: IS Rent a Musical?

It's a screetch fest.
"It does what a musical is supposed to do; it takes you to another world. And it gives you a little tune to carry in your head. Something to take you away from the dreary horrors of the real world. A little something for when you're feeling blue. You know?"
#11

re: IS Rent a Musical?

re: IS Rent a Musical?
So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life.~Office Space
#12

re: IS Rent a Musical?

I've always considered Rent to be a rock opera.
"You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!" - Betty Parris to Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible
#13

re: IS Rent a Musical?

It is an opera turned on its head
Poster Emeritus
#14

re: IS Rent a Musical?

See, 'rock opera' immediately popped into my head, but the term really skeeves me out because Andrew Lloyd Webber is supposed to have origanted the style of 'rock opera'. So I prefer to call Rent a 'modern musical', plus there's a scant amount of dialougue so really it's not an opera.......*sigh*
#15

re: IS Rent a Musical?

RENT is a Broadway musical based on LA BOHEME, an opera.
"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES--- "THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS
#16

re: IS Rent a Musical?

Musical. It has book / music/lyrics. It CAN be classified as a rock opera, though not a true opera.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
#17

re: IS Rent a Musical?

I think it's a water ballet.

Without the water...or the ballet...or the senior citizens.
So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life.~Office Space
#18

re: IS Rent a Musical?

Aren't rock operas considered musicals anyway? It falls under a big category..all musicals.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#19

re: IS Rent a Musical?

Musical. It has book / music/lyric

Some traditional operas have a dialogue scenes.
"How do you like THAT 'misanthropic panache,' Mr. Goldstone?" - PalJoey
#20

re: IS Rent a Musical?

I like the idea of a water ballet...
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
#21

re: IS Rent a Musical?

Rent was written as a rock opera, so it may not be considered as a musical.
Just because I got the lead doesn't mean you can't be my understudy!:)
#22

re: IS Rent a Musical?

It's been written as a rock opera. I think it is considered as a musical, i'm not sure.
#23

re: IS Rent a Musical?

sorry this is a little off topic but... is it wrong to correct to someone who calls a musical like "gyspy" or like "godspell" a play?
#24

re: IS Rent a Musical?

How exactly would you define "rock opera"? How is a rock opera different from another musical??
<---Adopt a shelter pet!
#25

re: IS Rent a Musical?

It isn't. Maybe technically speaking there can be a difference, but not in today Broadway's business world.
The Tony's are good examples of experts categorizing stage productions, therefore RENT = Musical! (I didn't see anyone complaining when it won the award : "I'm sorry, we can't accept the Best Musical award for this Rock Opera.." :S )

Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE

Updated On: 6/5/06 at 10:14 PM

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