My thoughts on RENT tonight (8/22)

[Parks]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 3:06am

I randomly decided to try the RENT lottery (not really caring if I won or not--but it was just to increase my chances of seeing a show tonight--I was going to try [tos] later if I didn't win RENT) and was one of the last names called! I had already seen RENT once back in July 2005.

This time, I was sitting in the front row on the far left. Unfortunately, Tracie Thoms was out. I really wanted to see her!

Mark-He was fine. Not incredible, but he did a good job. His voice was just like Anthony Rapp's.
Roger-I'm sorry, but I did not care for Will Chase. He looked WAY too old to be playing Roger, and he smiled way too much. I understand what he was trying to do (angry smiling, I guess I'd call it)--but it just looked kind of odd. His voice was ok. He was very flat at first, but about halfway into the first act, he finally got into it a little more.

Angel-I was really scared to see that Justin Johnston was still in the show. How long has he been with the production? I'm not gonna lie--he was one of my top 2 favorites in the cast tonight. He is STILL wonderful! Today 4 U is always such a high energy and fun performance when he's in :).

Mimi-I couldn't decide how I felt about her. Her performance seemed a little flat at first, but during Out Tonight, she got better. Her voice sounded too... whiney for me. She had vibratto, which sounded a little odd. I loved her in Act 2 though.

Maureen-Oh my god. Eden Espinosa was incredible. She was my favorite of the night. Absolutely hilarious and she was MADE for this show. Her voice is so perfect for rock--I'd love for her to release a rock CD. From the time the show started, she had a very excited look on her face. She was constantly in the story and she was giving it her all. I'm really glad she will be part of the final cast.

The show overall started off very sloppy, I thought. I think Will Chase kind of ruined the beginning for me... and almost every scene he was in. It got much better. Tonight was the first time RENT actually spoke to me--so much was going through my head. I almost cried a few times during the show (even though I've seen so many videos and the show before). It really is a great show, and after seeing it tonight, I will definitely be sad to see it go.

Updated On: 8/23/08 at 03:06 AM

[iamchanging9]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 3:16am

How was Tracie Thoms??

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 3:28am

lol can roger not smile ?

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 3:42am

Unfortunately, Tracie Thoms was out. I really wanted to see her!


That should answer your question IAM!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 4:16am

I don't understand why people can't portray a Roger that is complex. They always seem to pick one emotion and apply it throughout the entire show. And I'm saddened that this is the cast that will be taped and remembered by audiences to come. It's in such horrible shape. When I saw it in March it was awful. Michael Grief needs to come back and whip this show back into some sort of shape before it gets taped.

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 4:54am

I don't know... I actually really enjoyed Will Chase. He'd be third in my list of favorite Rogers I've seen. #1 Adam Pascal, #2 Jeremy Kushnier, #3 Will Chase.

As for Renee as Mimi. Just my opinion, but I really didn't care for her in the role. She had no edge to her, whatsoever which I feel is important to the role. If you're not bordering on insane, then I don't feel that you're understanding the role properly :)

Just my two cents though.

I will agree about Eden. I wasn't really a fan of hers before seeing the show last weekend, but she blew me away completely.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 8:02am

I thought that Will Chase's Roger was a LiL too angry. He looked like he was ready to choke Mimi at any point in the show. I saw Renee on her first night and thought she was excellent. Got a little out of breath in Out Tonight.

[lstbutifulgrl2]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 8:27am

I was also at the show last night...

I have to disagree with the comments about Will Chase. I have seen numerous actors portray Roger, and Will is my favorite. (Will Chase (1), Jay Wilkison (2), Adam Pascal (3) and that's just my top 3). Roger is my favorite character so I may over analyze, but I LOVE an angry Roger. I will agree that the first time I saw Will I thought to myself "he looks old", but having seen him since then, I think he looks like an ex-junkie, trying to get his life back together. For me, Will is the right mix of sarcastic anger. Will is probably the only Roger I have seen that makes me feel something EVERY time.

Renee IMO is also a fairly decent Mimi. Are there places she could be better, yes, for example the vibratto in Out Tonight. She could belt the crap out of it. I too was there her first night, and have seen growth in her portrayal of the character.

Last night was also one of the first times that I actually enjoyed Eden's performance. When she first started I felt she was dry and boring. (Having seen Caren Lyn Manuel as Maureen for the interim period.) But last night she really made me laugh.

And D'Monroe... I had forgotten how much I missed his Benny.

[Parks]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 10:10am

It's not that Roger can't smile--it's just... he smiled in the wrong places.

"Mark has got his work, they say Mark lives for his work..." <---that part, he was kind of smiling, which seemed a little odd.

I did kind of like the tension/anger between his Roger and Renee's Mimi towards the end of act 2. It was intense!

[PlayhouseBeauty]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 10:41am

I have to agree that Will is an "angry" Roger so to speak. I saw him back in June and thought he was really good though. I liked how he played the character. At one point during Goodbye Love he ran towards Mimi and almost knocked over the metal table. You could tell he was surprised by that action and he kind of toned his Roger down alittle after that. But I do have to say that he is not the most "angry" Roger I have ever seen. That recognition would have to go to Tim Howar. My God!! There were times during the show where I was scared for my own life...lol :)

[winter_sky]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 1:02pm

Rentboy86,

It's not the same cast as the one in March. The Maureen, Mark, Joanne, Roger, Mimi, and Mark's Mom are different. I think they definitely improved the cast since the announcement was made. Still wish Christopher Hanke could have been the final Mark but what can you do?

[JP2]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 1:10pm

RentBoy86, I have to completely disagree with you. I saw the show last week and the cast (sans Will Chase) was amazing.

[Parks]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 11:40pm

Will Chase was definitely the weak link in the cast. Is he the final Roger or are Anthony and Adam coming back? I can't remember...

It seemed like a very different show than any other time I've seen or "seen" the show last night.

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 12:06am

He is sadly the final. Adam and Anthony are doing the tour.

[Broadway212]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 12:13am

Great review I did not like Will Chase either I think the best roger was Tim Hower. I saw the show a few weeks ago and I felt like it was my first time seeing it all over again. The cast was so on. Too bad you missed Tracie Thoms She was great in the role really stood out. I thought that Renee who plays mimi had a kind of opera voice. But she was great in the role. Justin is the best angel. Also Eden was really good reminded me of Idina a little.The whole cast in my opinion is top notch this time around.

[MyLife]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 12:35am

I saw the show tonight, first time in about a year, and it was great!

It took me awhile to warm up to Renee's Mimi, but during Act II I thought she nailed it. Her posture and walk was perfect for a druggie, a small detail I've never noticed in a Mimi before.

Eden was perfect! She made me laugh at parts I have been bored at for awhile. I loved her Over the moon and her part in La Vie Boheme when she "gives birth".

Tracie Thoms was just there. She didn't stand out, and I was disappointed because I was expecting a lot since I had heard great things about her. Her voice was good but I don't think she translated the part from screen to stage well. I wish I had seen Merle again instead of waiting to see Tracie.

I loved Michael McElroy. He was my first Collins back in 1999 and my last nearly 10 years later. Great way to end my RENT experience.

Justin Johnston was great as always. He keeps the part fresh and new, and electrifies the audience.

Rodney Hicks was not good. I miss D'Monroe (even though he was Mr. Jefferson). Still cool to see an original cast member though.

Speaking of, Gwen Stewart is fantastic. I'm glad they got her back.

Adam Kantor does sound a lot like Anthony Rapp. All around, however, he was one of the weaker Mark's I've seen.

Lastly, I like angry Rogers, especially when they seem like they are going to smack Mimi during the Goodbye Love fight. It makes the extremes of Roger and his transformation that much more visible. Thus, I liked Will Chase.

The show was still in great shape despite some weak links, and the ensemble was incredible. I'm sad to see it go, but I know It'll be back on in around 20 years (or maybe 3...who knows)

[winter_sky]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 12:41am

Wow, I can not believe you think that Justin keeps things "fresh and new". I understand that he isn't trying to change it up so often that the "regulars" are still surprised but he's doing the exact same gimmicks he has been doing at least for the past 2 years. My friend sees the show once a year and honestly, it was the same performance the past 3 times she has seen the show.

I love Will Chase so I'm surprised so many people are having such virulent oppositions to him. I personally believe that the weak link is Renee. Unfortunately she doesn't really have a lot of time to really develop and change her character but I found Tracie to be adorable especially with Tracy McDowell as Maureen.

I'm sad I didn't get to see D'Monroe on this week. He's lovely.

[Ole Chum]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 4:09am

When I saw Renee she started off a lil shaky, but TORE UP Act 2 (and i actually loved her Out Tonight/Another day). i recognize she has her weak spots, but shes pretty damn good. i, too, wish she was a lil more EDGY but shes leagues better than your average mimi, and i could listen to her sing forever.

who is covering for tracie when shes out doing cold case? gwen or trisha? i think Gwen and Eden singing TMOLM would interrupt the lion king across the street.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 7:51am

i think Gwen and Eden singing TMOLM would interrupt the lion king across the street.
---------------------------------------------------------

LOL. I agree with you.

Updated On: 8/24/08 at 07:51 AM

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 8:07am

Except Mary Poppins is across the street, not TLK.

[MyLife]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 12:31pm

True, but it would disrupt the Lion King four blocks away too :)

I agree Renee got better in Act 2, her Without You was stunning and very emotional. And her (SPOILER HAHA) death scene was spot on. She played the druggy vulnerable Mimi well, but she isn't the best in the sexy stripper department (that award goes to Karmine, Yasmin, or Antnique)

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 3:22pm

Saw the show two weeks ago and liked both Will and Eden.

[Glory]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 4:14pm

i'm glad the show is still holding a strong meaning and giving people the message it is supposed to. it makes me so much more excited to see it on the 6th. I'm dying to see Adam as Mark, after playing him last month in the school edition, i'm dyingto see his portrayal on Mark compared to mine and others. I also am so excited to see Eden and this cast. I've heard mixed things on Renee, thanks for the review guys!