#1
Posted: 10/9/06 at 12:58am
At least I don't think so.
I saw RENT tonight for the first time ever (live). I did see the film several times.
Well where to begin? It was more of an event than it was a show. The story wasn't told AT ALL. It was basically the cast having fun on stage singing these songs.
1) The energy from the actors was great, however that's no excuse for the rest:
2) The acting was pushed all around, except for Jaime Lee Kirchner as Mimi and Justin Johnson as Angel.
3) Did they ever sing the notes as Larson had written them? I totally get interpreting a song and making it your own - and there have been so many actors in these roles - and I understand them wanting to make them different - but COME ON! They've been re-written! If I had never of heard the music before, I wouldn't have known Larson's brilliance.
4) Tim Howar was GOD AWFUL as Roger!! His acting and ESPECIALLY his voice was pushed so much it fell off the roof! And his "One Song Glory" wasn't even in tune! It just SOUNDED awful!
5) It was all about the songs and not about the story. All the obvious Rent Heads in the audience would applaud for the songs because "they were sung well" but who cares? That's an expectation - these are Broadway performers! Where's the story?? If I just wanted to listen to the songs I'd put on the CD or go to a high school cabaret concert.
6) I think it's disgusting that there is no cell phone announcement, that they allow pictures to be taken and do nothing about it except say "don't take pictures", and sell food and beverages in the lobby. However, these are issues not just with RENT but other theatres as well.
The show is just old. It's tired out. It needs to close. It'd be better off now being licensed to regional theatres and schools. I'm sure many of these productions will be better than what I just saw tonight. I want my $65 back!
I saw RENT tonight for the first time ever (live). I did see the film several times.
Well where to begin? It was more of an event than it was a show. The story wasn't told AT ALL. It was basically the cast having fun on stage singing these songs.
1) The energy from the actors was great, however that's no excuse for the rest:
2) The acting was pushed all around, except for Jaime Lee Kirchner as Mimi and Justin Johnson as Angel.
3) Did they ever sing the notes as Larson had written them? I totally get interpreting a song and making it your own - and there have been so many actors in these roles - and I understand them wanting to make them different - but COME ON! They've been re-written! If I had never of heard the music before, I wouldn't have known Larson's brilliance.
4) Tim Howar was GOD AWFUL as Roger!! His acting and ESPECIALLY his voice was pushed so much it fell off the roof! And his "One Song Glory" wasn't even in tune! It just SOUNDED awful!
5) It was all about the songs and not about the story. All the obvious Rent Heads in the audience would applaud for the songs because "they were sung well" but who cares? That's an expectation - these are Broadway performers! Where's the story?? If I just wanted to listen to the songs I'd put on the CD or go to a high school cabaret concert.
6) I think it's disgusting that there is no cell phone announcement, that they allow pictures to be taken and do nothing about it except say "don't take pictures", and sell food and beverages in the lobby. However, these are issues not just with RENT but other theatres as well.
The show is just old. It's tired out. It needs to close. It'd be better off now being licensed to regional theatres and schools. I'm sure many of these productions will be better than what I just saw tonight. I want my $65 back!
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
