NYTW Rent vs. Broadway Rent- Page 2

[joniray]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 10:29pm

cantthinkofanythinggood: I think it would be more accurate to call it the "1996 workshop draft" as opposed to the "NYTW version" or "Jonathan's original version of Rent." Larsen likely went through a few drafts before the workshop, so it's doubtful that it was his "original version."

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 10:33pm

I prefer the Broadway version. There are a few songs (Open Road, for example) that I really liked from the NYTW, but the Broadway version wasn't as dark and is much more put together.

And there are two things I can't stand about the NYTW version. The people playing Maureen and Roger... I can't listen to them without cringing.

[JadedBenevolence]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 10:34pm

Good point. That's just what I know it to be called. But thanks.

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 10:36pm

God, don't even get me STARTED on the awfullness that is Tony Hoylen (or whatever Rat Brain's name is). Although, I have to admit, between Right Brain and Do a Little Business, I've probably never laughed harder than on the phone imitating them.

And WHAT is up with Roger's fixation with the ocean? That's one thing we make fun of...

And I miss "He Says." I love that song. But I can understand why it was taken out. They originally had the M/R conflict in the beginning, but then moved it to the end so that all of Roger's work was crashing in at the same time, so it rather worked that way. But it's WEIRD to hear Anthony Rapp singing "Mark has got his work! They say Mark lives for his work, and Mark's in love with his work..."

[joniray]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 10:39pm

No problem. I realize I'm probably coming off as anal, but I just don't want people to be mislead into thinking that the demo recordings represent what actually opened to the public at NYTW. Thanks for being such a good sport about it

[ashley0139]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 10:40pm

Where can you get the album for this? I can't imagine it's just in stores.

[joniray]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 10:44pm

No, they are demos that were never intended for the public. I have a feeling that if Larsen were alive today, he would be mortified that they have circulated as much as they have.

[JadedBenevolence]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 10:47pm

More than likely. But how did the recording get out into the public in the first place is a curious thought.

And hey, I totally appreciate you telling me that. It's better that everyone know the truth than just assume it's the original. So thanks.

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 10:48pm

Yeah, but at the same time it's amazing to be able to hear the process the actors and writers went through to get to the stage we know them at...Eww, that sentence had awful grammar, but you get my point.

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 11:01pm

haha I've inspired something! :-P

And I like both, in the end I'd choose the current version but I certainly loved aspects from NYTW. The one thing I am truly glad they did away with however is Right Brain. That song just made me cringe a bit. But I loved Get Over It and how they played up on Maureen and Joanne's relationship as well as Maureen and Mark's so it didnt feel quite as much like it was all Mimi and Roger with the other couples in the background. I also thought it was interesting how Maureen and Mark were essentially singing the Tango:Maureen song in the NYTW version and I almost like that better. But some of the songs for the broadway version are just phenomenal and the overall setup for the 2nd version was better in my eyes.

[joniray]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 11:01pm

"More than likely. But how did the recording get out into the public in the first place is a curious thought."

Well...interesting you should have asked that. I'm afraid (but not positive mind you) that I might have unwittingly contributed to that. I had a friend that was working for a Broadway producer. After Rent opened, he was filing away unread submissions and came across an early version of Rent that had been submitted to the producer years earlier complete with demo recordings on two cassettes. My friend was never much of a fan and he knew I was obsessed with the show so he passed them on to me and I gave them to another friend to burn onto CDs for me. Now I have no idea if this person made CDs for others or not. But I wouldn't be surprised if other versions were discovered in other producers' offices as well. It probably started off with a couple of people finding them and giving copies to friends and then they made copies for friends, and so on and so on.

Maybe I feel a little guilty that I may have had a part in them getting "out there" and that's why I'm so anal about making sure they are not misrepresented as being anything more than early demos.

[JadedBenevolence]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 11:08pm

Yes you did Dreamcatcher!!

joniray: I understand. That's cool that you had the chance to be involved in some way with the earlier productions. Wow! To find such a thing. The cassettes. Many people would wonder what those are nowadays. I kid. I wouldn't. Okay, so it's the demo. Gotcha. Won't make that mistake again.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 11:13pm

Oh honey, there's a ton of stuff floating around from NYTW. Don't beat yourself up too much.

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 11:14pm

I was about to say, if you didn't give it out, a hundred other people did.

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 11:16pm

Yeah theres a full transcript that I have of the NYTW version and I think I have a link to a site with clips from the show (legal dont worry) if you want them. They are pretty interesting. The original, gory version of RENT (song) scared me just a tick though. :-P

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 11:18pm

LOL. I assume you meant "Glory", right? I hope so.

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 11:20pm

nope, the original RENT song from the transcript I read had Mark and Roger singing about how, if they jumped out the window their brains would be splattered on the sidewalk and their guts would be steaming in the snow so I meant gory. :-P

[Allie]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 11:21pm

Yeah, and I think it was actually entitled Splatter. It scares me.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 11:22pm

OH, okay. Gotcha. And Glory wasn't even a part of the show, then.

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 11:24pm

Yeah it was a bit random, them suddenly talking about blood and guts and splatter and crap. :-P But I actually have to say that I didn't mind Female to Female so much. I think it needs a different title but it went deeper into Joanne and Maureen's relationship then it did in the OBC version which I thought was cool. And Mimi's solos in Another Day were interesting.

[Allie]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 11:24pm

Glory's melody was there, but it was the Right Brain song.

[JadedBenevolence]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 11:25pm

Sure Dreamcatcher! I'd love them. Anything Rent for me.

And yeah, Rent (or Splatter) was a rather gory song. I'm actually glad that was changed.

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 11:26pm

Yeah I very much prefer the second version of RENT.

And no problem, cantthinkofanythinggood. I'll PM some stuff to ya.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 11:28pm

Allie, it's been SO long since I've heard anything from NYTW I can't remember much. It might be time to refresh my memory.

[JadedBenevolence]

Posted: 3/10/05 at 11:29pm

Thank you Dreamcatcher!!!

In all honesty, if it didn't say right brain, or was sung by Tony Hoylen, I think the song would've been okay. But I still hold true to He Says!