RENT Question

[Em-LEE]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 5:56pm

I saw rent on 1/16 for the first time with my mom. My mom is now a complete Renthead. Well, a couple days ago we were in the car and we were listening to "Light My Candle" from the cast recording. At the end, Mimi says (referring to to Roger's hands), "Big. Like my father's." She then quickly changes the subject by asking Roger to dance.

Now, when we saw RENT Jeremy Kushnier, who was playing Roger, covered his....um....."crotch area" with his shirt, giving that line sexual meaning. My mom said that this led her to believe that Mimi's father had sexually abused her when she was a child, because of the way she softly says the line "Like my father's," and the way she quickly changes the subject.

When I first heard this song months before I saw the show, and when I heard the song live at the Nederlander, I didn't get this impression. But, now that I think about it, it's not completely impossible.

What do you guys think?

[Cassie2]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 5:59pm

I think you're reading into too much is what I think...

[Em-LEE]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 6:01pm

I think you're right. I was just wondering if anyone else got this impression. Like I said, I initially did not get this impression, my mom did. I thought it was interesting and wanted to know if anyone else got this impression, too.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 6:02pm

You can never read too much into anything, especially a show that's filled with so many things and ideas - like RENT. I think you and your mom have very good insight - I've never thought of it that way, but it makes complete sense. It doesn't matter whether Larson meant it to be that way or not - it's whatever the individual takes away from the show - that's what art is all about. There isn't a right or wrong answer and you should never discourage anyone for wanting to look deeper into something.

Updated On: 2/5/05 at 06:02 PM

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 6:04pm

Disagree. I don't think it makes any sense at all. Never got that impression. If you watch Mimi when she says that, she's smiling and flirting with Roger. That's hardly something someone who was sexually abused would joke about. She's talking about his hands. A few Rogers have done that thing Jeremy did but it really makes no sense in the context of the show, unless, of course, it's done simply because Mimi is getting him all hot and bothered.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 6:05pm

I saw Cary Shields last week, and he did that with his shirt. I don't remember if Jeremy did, but you're not the first person to say yes, so I guess I just missed it. I don't think Adam did it, but just because he originated the role doesn't mean there aren't different takes on it; that said, I sensed a little bit more of a sense of humour hiding in Cary's Roger than I did some of the others. It obviously varies with the interpretation, but it probably doesn't matter that much.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 6:10pm

The whole possibility that Mimi was abused by her father (or anyone) when she was younger is more than likely. As I said, even if Larson didn't mean that when we wrote "like my father," it doesn't matter - any good performer brings something new and fresh to the role. It's up to the audience member to decide what to take away from it.

[Em-LEE]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 6:13pm

I think you're right. When I saw the show, the line had a comedic feel to it. However, when thinking it over, it did make some sense to me. According to the RENT bible, Mimi left home at 15, and her character is a little damaged. I wasn't sure if this was something that Jonathon Larson had been implying in that line or if it was strictly interpretaion on my mom's part.

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 6:15pm

Another vote for "yes, she's talking about Roger's package". I've only seen a few Rogers do the shirt thing (and I think Cary's the only one who looks down while he pulls the shirt), but the line has always come across as very sexual to me. It doesn't really make any sense without the innuendo.

[zippyjen]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 6:17pm

I never got the sense that she was abused. I always though roger covered his crotch for a different reason which i don't think i am allowed to say!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 6:18pm

boner

[Allie]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 6:21pm

I remember Dan doing that with his shirt when I saw the tour. I do think that Mimi's flirting, and what? "Talking about Roger's package"? I remember Tallia also slipped her leg between his when she says, "I like it between my..." and he jumps away at "fingers". I don't neccessarily think she's joking about being abused, though. She's getting him 'hot and bothered'.

[Adamaddict]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 6:22pm

Has anyone ever realized that in "West Side Story" during that dance, Maria says "My hands are cold!" and then she takes Tony's hands and says "Yours too." And that was their first meeting before they knew eachother's names. Just like Roger and Mimi!

[Em-LEE]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 6:25pm

Adamaddict, that makes sense. Didn't Stephen Sondheim write the lyrics for West Side Story? Sondheim was pretty much Jonathon Larson's hero which I think everyone probably knows by now........

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 6:29pm

Could be!

[loudasthehelliwant]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 6:59pm

A LITTLE damaged? I would say Mimi's quite bruised and broken, way beyond a "little" damaged. But we have no idea what the heck happened to her- she's definately been through a lot though. She's "older for her age", remember.

Ah, I LOVE Tallia! When she slips her leg between his, she's most DEFINATELY flirting. (And it works so perfectly...) THERE she is getting him all "hot and bothered". I would definately say there are no abuse references there.

However, I could definately see that OTHER line much later in the song ("big... like my father's") as being interpreted in a sexual way (as if her father abused her). And, being an avid over-analyzer, I actually like that interpretation A LOT (that is a very sexual song, and it makes the line more meaningful and less random... it makes a lot of sense). Whether or not Jonathon meant it that way, its a very interesting and valid interpretation. Each to their own. Every line has an infinite amount of possible meanings. *overanalyzes like hell*

Updated On: 2/5/05 at 06:59 PM

[Becky]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 7:01pm

Well you know the saying, "Big hands, big........gloves"

[Adamaddict]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 7:02pm

Oh Roger!....OH, Adam!!

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 7:38pm

hahahaha Adamaddict.

I, myself, never got the impression of abuse. I always thought it was just a large attraction on both their parts and Mimi playfully flirting. Though the concept is an interesting one to think about. Its great in the sense that you can never look too much into the lyrics of RENT. They all have so many meanings and each is left to each individual person to interperet how they please.

[Adamaddict]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 7:52pm

true that

[loudasthehelliwant]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 8:09pm

BTW, I just want to add that my mother is also a total renthead. I'm not sure who likes it. I think it might actually be her. It kind of scares me... LOL. But I love it. I wouldn't trade her rentheadness for the world.

But, I would also like to add that it depends on how the actors play it. Some actors, it could be interpreted that way. Other actors, I would say no way. (Just me.) It depends. But its interesting.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 9:12pm

I thought she was just doing that so she could distract him and then ask him to dance so she could get her 'stash' out of his pocket.

[BEKA531]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 11:11pm

actually, many people do believe that mimi was sexually abused by her father. (my friend is currently writing a fanfiction beginning when mimi is 16 until the end of rent, and she is sexually abused by her father.)

it's not bad to read to far into something like rent, i've been listening to the OBCR for years, and i'm still noticing stuff. everyone has different opinions on what all of the symbolism means.

[LightMyCandle125]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 12:43am

whoah, i love reading different people's interpretations. i never picked up on the abuse thing, although i can see how it could make sense. i actually thought it was the opposite. that mimi's father loved and protected of her daughter, and those are the qualities that mimi is looking for in her man, roger. but it's all up for interpretation.

[In Cyper Land We Only Drink Di]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 2:18am

People say that the size of a guy's hands is supposed to be porportinate to...well, what roger covers during Light My Candle.