RENT World Tour review!!!!!!!!!!

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 12:40pm

Just came back from RENT. Very tired and its Christmas. I never really liked the set of the show and thought the music was overall only alright. I was QUITE excited about this show because this is the last performance of the tour in Hong Kong and also there's Asian pop star Karen Mok as Mimi, Jeremy Kushnier AND AND AND Caren Lyn Manuel as Maureen!!!
Well... we went there early so we just hanged around stagedoor. And we saw Dominique Roy (standby and dance captain of the tour). I went up to her and asked for her autograph and a picture with her. I asked her whether she's gone on as Mimi on the tour yet. And she said no sounding quite disappointed. And then she told me that she's not scheduled to be on any day yet, she'll only be on when Karen is ill. And she's gonna be outside watching the show in the auditorium and make notes tonight. She's REAL sweet and when I asked her whether she's got anything planned yet after the tour, she said that she doesnt have any plans yet.
Then we went to see the show. Just as Charles told me... there was no programme or brochure on sale... due to the change of sponsorship! I REALLY want a programme to keep!!!
Well.... the show started... and I THOUGHT that the show started dark and then a spot light on Mark when he makes his opening speech. But here the house lights are on and then you can see the cast run onstage... Anyway, the show went well.
Jeremy Kushnier (Roger): I think he's great. Got a GREAT voice and at times he sounds like Adam which was fabulous! But he is quite fat !!! but of course still very cool! His 'One Song Glory' wasn't the best version I have heard (the best is Norbert's) but his is still very good. His acting is superb and at the end when he screams 'Miiimiiii ~' ... that was AMAZING! I actually REALLY liked him as Roger and just couldnt express how much I appreciate him touring and to let all the ppl in Asia see what a Broadway standard performer is!
Trey Ellet (Mark): He didn't do too much for me... dunno whether it's him or just the role. I didn't take too much attention to him. He's fab and his singing was good and his acting was good.... but just didnt got my attention... sorry! But I realise that he's got short hair now... but at the end where they show the film.... they showed clips of him when he's still got long hair D!!!!
Karen Mok (Mimi): I think 80% of the audiences went in to see her. She was good. Not great... would rather have seen Dominique instead! Don't get me wrong... she's VERY pretty as Mimi... nice legs! But she just lacked the energy. And she tends to mumble softly and quietly and then suddenly loudly belt! Her singing was alright... BETTER than I expected her to be and could actually see a VERY VERY VERY weak Mimi, she's actually VERY thin! But her acting was not good. I would give her acting a 6/10! Good effort though and I don't think it's bad casting because they HAVE to have someone to boost the box office and I think she really did help.
Caren Lyn Manuel (Maureen): I went to see the show MOSTLY to see her! I have heard clips and videos of her doing RENT and BROOKLYN and yet to hear her Evita CD! But when she entered the stage with the motorcycle entrance... WOW! She totally stole the show! Her 'Over The Moon' is the funniest ever! And she's got such an AMAZING voice! Her 'Take Me Or Leave Me' was just pure amazing! She reminds me of Idina and Eden! She's abit short I think... but that's only VERY minor! She's sexy, she's pretty and her voice... WOW! I just could NOT express how GREAT she was!!!!
Danielle Lee Gravis (Joanne): Her voice is amazing too! GREAT and solid performance!
Daryl C. Brown (Benny): He was SO cool onstage! The coolest figure I have seen onstage!
John Eric Parker (Collins): This man could sing! When he sand 'I'll Cover You' after Angel died... MAN!!!! It's SO touching! I mean... I don't find any of the material touching, but his voice made my eyes watery!
Andy Senior (Angel): He was ok... singing was definitely not his best... sounded weak and quiet... but sweet. He was camp but not gay enough. And I dont really get anything from him that I think I ought to get from the role.
Ensemble: GREAT performance! And HAVE to mention Jeff Scot Carey as Gordon, Tye Blue as Steve and Rebecca Naomi Jones who did the high note in SoL. They're on FIRE! What GREAT performers and WHAT voices!!!!
Overall... I didn't really like the book. It was bad to me... especially the ending... too ridiculous! I'd much rather Mimi died. The light were great, costumes were alright, the set... can't stand it. But the band and the music director was great!
I went to stagedoor afterwards! And I got some pictures with the cast and their autographs. I gave Jeremy his card with his cartoon on and he was like o_O and then said 'so you're Felix... nice to meet you!'. He was REAL nice and cool too! LOVE him! Then I gave Caren hers and she nearly burst into tears! She was jumpin up and down with joy when she saw my cartoon card of her! hehe! She hugged me and said 'I will keep this card forever!' She then said 'since you gave me something, I'll give you sth back... if I can find it!' she then dived into her bag and got her CD for me! I was SO SO SO happy! We then took a pic with my card! :P Then got the others and then waited for awhile for Karen Mok. Then HK stars Fung Duc Lun and Ho Chiu Yee were there!!!! I gave Karen her card which she didnt read and got a pic and autograph with her. Then after she left we left.
RENT world tour offical site

[alli2]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 12:45pm

where is the tour schedule?!

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 12:52pm

I duno why the link did not work, but the offical site is www.rentworldtour.com and it's goin to Beijing in 2 days I think! then Shanghai and Singapore and WuHan and Seoul and Taipei and Bangkok and Amsterdam and Rotterdam and Brussels and Barcelona and Madrid and Oslo...etc

[TennesseeTwang]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 12:59pm

Jeremy Kushnier is fat???!!!!

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 1:03pm

well... he looked abit chubby! not really fat fat, chubby it is.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 1:13pm

PICTURES:
Me and Dominique:

Dominique, Tye, John and Trey:


Daryl, Frank, Jeff and Rebecca:

Me and Jeremy:

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 3:16pm

he looks really old in that picture too. And I think they did the same thing when the tour came to Alabama when they left the house lights on during the opening, which it being my first time seeing it, caught me off guard cause I didn't realize it was starting. So, do they sing in English, i'm guessing they do, but then how do ppl understand it? or are there subtitles somewhere like they do in Operas or how does that all work. Sorry for sounding so nieve (sp?)

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 3:25pm

They sing in English, and there are supertitles.

There's a lot more info at CompulsiveBowlers.org.

Updated On: 12/25/05 at 03:25 PM

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 10:24pm

They DO have subtitles at the sides which the translation is weird... but it does have the English lyrics too, so I do look at it at times. But to be honest... most people who are interested to watch musicals and actually go to one in Hong Kong can probably speak or listen a good amount of English.
Here are MORE pictures from last night:
Caren and my card and me:

Charles and Jeremy with Dominique sticking her fingers up haha:

Me and Danielle:

Me and Karen: