RENT - PLOT HOLE? — Page 2

As Phyllis mentioned, most of Act I takes place within 3 hours. Just the main couple goes through so much in 3 hours than a lot of people throughout their whole marriage, not to mention the rest of the cast. The characters must also run very fast from one place to the other.

These comments are absurd. Everything that happens in Act I is possible and probable.
This is what happens to Roger and Mimi in the act. 1. She comes to his apartment and asks him to light her candle. 2. She goes back to her apartment in the same building.
3. Mark, Collins and Angel come to the apartment. Then Benny shows up. 4. The next time we see Mimi, she is dressing to go out. 5. Mimi goes to Roger's apartment and tries to get him to go out. He refuses. 6. Roger leaves the apartment and goes to St. Mark's Place where he meets up with Mark. Mimi shows up. Roger invites her to go to Maureen's performance. 7. Roger and Mimi go the performance. 8. Roger and Mimi go to the Life Cafe.

Yep. What a lifetime experience.

I always thought that Maureen knew Angel from being performance artists who probably ran in similar circles.

I suppose, but to me that makes it even less likely that Angel and Collins wouldn't have already met. I don't know. I guess there's a lot within that can be assumed, like how suddenly everyone talked about how Mimi and Angel were supposed to know each other before the show starts, even though there's nothing in the book to indicate that.

I've always maintained that if you start to tug too hard at the the thread of ReNt that it all unravels anyway. To me, it's always been something that was greater than the sum of its parts. A good production makes me forget any flaws. A bad one (or a bad movie) just magnifies them.

The actors or director can do more non-textually to clarify their relationship early on, but it IS supported by the text.

Where?

HEY! IF I can't be snarky and sarcastic I want no part of your message board!

I guess it doesn't, really, but I always thought they were friends before. Maybe there is something else I'm forgetting right now, or maybe I just assumed it. Also, they both have AIDS and go to the same support group (which we know because Mimi sings the affirmation to Roger), so I figured they could have met there.

Anyway, while it can be fun to nitpick these little things, I 100% agree with what you said earlier, that the show is greater than the sum of its parts and that all these little holes and inconsistencies don't really matter in the end.

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Updated On: 2/23/12 at 03:55 PM

These comments are absurd. Everything that happens in Act I is possible and probable.

Totally. I mean the only place I've seen people meet each other in the dark, get out their insecurities, try support each other, get crazy mad at each other, try to educate one of them regarding the value of life with a mantra, attempt to make up while looking for a dealer and then declare their love for each other in less than three hours was at a bar in Chelsea - there it only took 2.5 hours.

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J's Hangout...summer of 1996.

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I think we need to emphasize the difference between unaccounted character time and a plot hole.

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I disagree that Rent's Act I spans 3 hours of real time. I think it's about 2 days or perhaps even a week. (Or perhaps the specifics of the time aren't even important) I see Mimi's "Out Tonight as happening right before midnight, and then the Life Support meeting happening the next day. Also, during "Will I?", Mimi comes out in her bathrobe, clearly messed up from a night of partying in the clubs the night before.

That would be great if the show didn't start with Mark saying it's 9pm and Maureen mentioning her performance is at midnight.

9pm to 12am = 3 hours

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Updated On: 2/23/12 at 07:05 PM

Wow Phyllis I think you should do some breathing exercises or something if this is stressing you out so much you have to yell.

I see what Blaxx is saying though and yeah I agree it was all on the same night: Christmas Eve. But that line about not being back before Christmas Day, I feel that could have been hyperbole on Mimi's part. Also, as she sings that line, she mimics Jesus dying on the cross, which didn't happen on Christmas anyway. So she's not exactly being super accurate : )

Pookie, all caps implies yelling. It's been years since I've been involved in a drama queen conflict on this board. So nice to re-live the glory days. I await your snarky/rude/offensive/mean-spirited/condescending response : )

I already said that.

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