Matt Caplan - Current Mark in Rent- Page 2

[alphieboy]

Posted: 7/2/05 at 2:34pm

I personally am a fan of Mr. Caplan. I saw him back as Mark and he was very good. I very much liked his take on Mark, and he was not the weakest link whatsoever.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 7/2/05 at 4:11pm

Emcee, I agree with you. He take on the role was different, but I don't feel it quite worked for the role, and for me, it threw me off. I did not care about the character of Mark nearly as much with Matt playing him. It bored me. It simply was not the character to me.

Of course, Anthony's Mark is commonly accepted as the definitive Mark, but there are always ways for new actors to bring their own flavor to the role without losing sight of who Mark is...and I think Matt did that. In fact, to me, it seemed almost as if he had no sense of a character, but he was just putting on a performance.

Not that he isn't talented. He just wasn't using that talent in a way that really worked for the character, IMO.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 7/2/05 at 6:19pm

Just wondering, how many different Marks have all of you seen?

I know Matt's been there for forever, but I just think it's really odd the huge disparity between those that love him and those that hate him, and was wondering if the lack of exposure to other portrayals (other than Anthony on the CD) might have something to do with it.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/2/05 at 7:03pm

Exactly, BroadwayGirl. There are certainly other ways to do it, but Matt's way just rubs me the wrong way. It's a shame, because he IS a talented guy.

I've seen... four - Joey Fatone, Chad Richardson, Drew Lachey and Matt Caplan.

[jczelyph]

Posted: 7/2/05 at 7:08pm

Anyone able to tell me who was playing Mark around June-July of 2001? And which dates did Jai Rodriguez play Angel. I'm trying to work out which casts I have seen. I have seen Joey Fat One and he was awful.

[jczelyph]

Posted: 7/2/05 at 7:08pm

Anyone able to tell me who was playing Mark around June-July of 2001? And which dates did Jai Rodriguez play Angel. I'm trying to work out which casts I have seen. I have seen Joey Fat One and he was awful.

[staticradar]

Posted: 7/2/05 at 9:20pm

iluvtheatertrash,

it's Trey Ellett and it's so rare to find other fans of him! Welcome to the Club...he's my 3rd favorite Mark :) Also loved his Jonathan in TTB

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 7/2/05 at 9:24pm

I saw Matt. I thought he was great!

[Footlooser]

Posted: 7/2/05 at 9:35pm

My favorite Mark was from the most recent national tour, Andy Meeks. He brought something to the role i hadn't seen before.

[Yankgrl46]

Posted: 7/2/05 at 11:01pm

I personally think that Matt is fabulous as Mark. Different, but in a very good way. Joey Fatone was by far the worst. I was worried about him making it through certain songs. Always seemed out of breath to me. Drew was better than I expected. Matt is very comical in his delivery. I saw it again with my sister today, (I seem to keep dragging people who haven't seen it!)and I think the current cast is simply brilliant.

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 7/2/05 at 11:14pm

Matt is the only Mark I really had a chance to *SEE.*

... But to tell you the truth, I really don't know if I can call HIS Mark... "Mark Cohen." He was funny, yes, and he was very amusing to watch on stage, but something about him felt so completely different than the Mark I had read about and heard about and discussed. I wasn't really sure if he was ACTING or putting on a comedy routine. All he really seemed to care about was making the audience (and, at some moments, Cary Shields) laugh.

So where was the substance? The character? How could you really feel emotion for such a goof-off? I feel as if my experience of the show was missing something (although I completely loved Cary Shields and Karmine Alers), like I could have had more of an emotional involvement.

I think Mark Cohen was lost in Matt's take on him. And it really is a shame.

I wish I was able to see him a few years ago, before he got so bored with the part.

Updated On: 7/2/05 at 11:14 PM

[Eliza0114]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 9:34am

I did like Matt Caplan...I just thought he was hilarious.

during the Tango Maureen: ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooookaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyy...wellllllll...*looks around* nice to have...*walks away* met...youuuuuuuuu...

during What You Own: ohhhhhhhhh myyyyyy Gahhhhhhhhd.

too adorable.

[bella cantato]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 9:59am

I liked Matt... I thought he was cute and his chemistry w/ Merle was really good during Tango.

And if he's dating Karen that makes me happy bc I love her too :) She's very sweet & down to earth but gorgeous and extremely talented nonetheless. Awwe I bet they are cute together!! *g*

Posted: 8/24/05 at 2:42pm

sry to bring this back...

i LOVED his performance. i thought he was absolutely hilarious... sure maybe it wasn't as amazing as anthony's, but i still love matt's portrayal.
and does anyone know if he is still dating karen? cuz... i want him. (:

[*ClassicVintage*]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 2:59pm

I absolutely could not have less respect for a person then I have for Caplan. I have seen him twice, the first time he was ok. Now, it's just a job to him. It seems he could care less about anything having to do with the show. With his new shaved head, he looks nothing close to the age that Mark is supposed to be; he could maybe pass for 31-32. The point that I lost all respect for him however was during Christmas Bells when he was bored so he balanced a water bottle on top of his head. What complete disrespect for the show and to Jonathan.

Now Andy Meeks on the other hand, I thought was the most amazing Mark I had ever seen. Passion, wonderful acting and singing, AND he has hair.

Posted: 8/24/05 at 3:04pm

wow, i didn't realize that hair can overshadow talent.

[*ClassicVintage*]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 3:11pm

Hair does not overshadow talent. A lack of professionalism definately can.

If you have ever been to a casting call, the first thing that they cut people for is looks. I could promise you that if Caplan were to go into a casting call this year for the first time, he could be sent away, he looks too old. Certainly, he has talent. So, try it somewhere else that is more suitable, and where he himself would be having fun, without creating it for himself-- as he did with the water bottle.

Updated On: 8/24/05 at 03:11 PM

[xrent_headx]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 3:13pm

he has a very very good voice for a Mark Cohen but he wasnt as much of a character as Andy Meeks( my first mark)

[LuvBroadwayHugs]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 3:23pm

Matt was my first Mark. I adored him! I'm going to see the show again the 27th (Oh God. That's this saturday! Time really flys.)and I'm looking forward to seeing him. My problem is that he and Cary didn't have the chemistry I was looking for. But hey, they're both great. As for Caplan goofing off, I think it kind of enhances the show and makes Mark even more loveable!

Posted: 8/24/05 at 4:06pm

well i have to compare to the next mark.
does anyone know when the next tour is?

[AnotherDay46]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 4:08pm

I really enjoyed Matt's performance, it was different, but interesting.

Does anyone know when his last night is?

Posted: 8/24/05 at 4:11pm

hopefully not soon.
oh god tell me not soon.

[*ClassicVintage*]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 4:49pm

I believe that the next tour begins in January, and in Flordia.

Posted: 8/24/05 at 4:57pm

ooooooooh! i'm so excited!!!!!

[MiMi_08]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 5:04pm

He was okay, not the best I've seen.

He was a little too....funny? For the part. I don't know what the right word would be. I guess he just goofed off too much. As many times as I've seen it I always took Mark to not be a total goof-off.