NYTW Rent vs. Broadway Rent

[JadedBenevolence]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 8:17pm

Which do you prefer? (Inspired by the threadjacking on the Anthony Rapp thread)

[ShuQ]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 8:20pm

Maybe I'm an idiot...what's NYTW?

[jjdude2000]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 8:21pm

You're not an idiot . New York Theater Workshop.

[ShuQ]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 8:22pm

Oooh! Thanks. Well...I have only seen the Broadway version (National Tour) but loved it..do I'd say Broadway. Isn't that the point...don't you do the workshop to make it better?

[JadedBenevolence]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 8:24pm

That's where it started. It opened originally at the New York Theater Workshop.

[zippyjen]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 8:25pm

as i said on the other thread, i like aspects from both but i prefer the bway version. :)

[ShuQ]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 8:27pm

Okay. (Yes..I am an idiot)

[JadedBenevolence]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 8:28pm

You're not an idiot.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 8:30pm

I loved the show at NYTW. I feel the same about it for it's first two years on Broadway. After that it became something completely different, lacking in everything that made it work originally. It's now just a sad impression of what was once a truly special musical.

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 8:56pm

I feel like the NYTW was pretty awful and preachy, and then all of the sudden, poof, RENT is a well put together, smart show.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 9:00pm

NYTW is a fun listening experience, hearing what Larson changed and all, except (and please forgive me if this is too rude) the guy who played Roger is so grating on the ears

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 9:02pm

No, I agree with you on that! I could definately do without hearing him sing those songs.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 9:04pm

Ok good
I was hoping it wasn't just because I love Adam so much

[JadedBenevolence]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 9:05pm

Yes, I agree too. He's horrible. Lael and I have nicknamed him Rat Brain, cuz when he sings that song, it sounds like he says rat instead of right. It's horrible.

Added: And yes, Adam is teh best!

Updated On: 3/10/05 at 09:05 PM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 9:09pm

It is VERY weird to listen to the NYTW version because I am so used to the recent version. Daphne still rocks the house even though I don't particulary like the NYTW version of "Take Me Out." I have to admit that "Do a Little Business" is a fun little song.

[JadedBenevolence]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 9:11pm

Don't even get me started on Do A Little Business. That song just irks me. I love He Says though. I think that's one of the best songs on NYTW.

[TGIF]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 9:16pm

Two words for you...

Right.Brain.

*cries*

[JadedBenevolence]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 9:21pm

lmao. Right Brain.............................

All I have to say to that is... BAH!

Thankfully Jonathan changed those lyrics (and the singer) of that song.

[TGIF]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 9:22pm

Oh, it was just terrible. He sounded like he was on heavy sedatives.

[JadedBenevolence]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 9:25pm

It was as if Roger never got off the drugs. And in Light My Candle, he sounds stoned. Thank goodness for Adam Pascal. Made Roger so much better.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 10:07pm

Wait- this is interesting! Could someone please explain this whole thing to me? I didn't know rent was playing at another theatre too. Is it different? Is it Larson's original version. Will someone start from the beginning and explain please!

[joniray]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 10:15pm

I think the title of this thread is confusing. I think what you meant to ask was whether people on here prefer the version of the show that was presented to an invited audience of a workshop in 1994 to the version that opened at NYTW in 1996 (and soon after went on to Broadway). Calling the version used in the workshop during the development process, one that was seen only by industry and friends of the creators and cast the "NYTW Version" is akin to me calling a cast recording a soundtrack. It's simply incorrect. The NYTW version that opened to the public was (with the exception of two minor changes to the material) the same version that opened on Broadway. Since I think it’s unlikely that many on this board saw the original workshop and can only compare what they have heard in rough early demos to the experience of both seeing and hearing what ended up being the final version, I don’t think a fair comparison of the two versions, or even the performers can be made (even Rubin-Vega sounded less than wonderful on the earlier amateur demo recordings).

Having said that, I much preferred the show when it played at NYTW. The intimacy of the space coupled with the immediacy of the emotion of the cast (I saw it a little over a week after Larsen's death) made for a very personal and intense emotional experience. Although the material was strong enough to still be powerful in the Nederlander, it never was quite as powerful an experience on Broadway as it was at NYTW. The space has deluded it. I look forward to seeing future productions in intimate spaces that might try to capture the original raw, uninhibited and personal emotion the show had at NYTW.

[JadedBenevolence]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 10:15pm

Well... NYTW is Jonathan's original version of Rent yes. It was done at NYTW in 1994 with a completely different cast except for Anthony Rapp and Daphne Rubin-Vega. It's quite different than the Broadway version. It's darker.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 10:22pm

Oh ok thanks for clearing that up! And it's almost hard to imagine the show being darker... it's not exactly happy. But maybe I'm just naive.

[JadedBenevolence]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 10:25pm

I wish I had the priviledge to see the original. And yes joniray, I was prefering to the recordings for the most part since not many people have had the chance to see the original, but have had a chance to hear the recording of it.