RENT review 8/29

[timrobb]

Posted: 8/31/08 at 1:07pm

Okay, I know many people on this board cannot stand RENT - but, just leave me be and let me post my review. I have seen the show many, many times (too many to list). I have seen it with almost every cast. The last time I saw the show was last August with Anthony/Adam/Tamyra. I thought that would be it for me, but I felt it was important to see it one last time before it closed. With that said, here is my review (be warned, it ain't pretty).

It is TIME for the show to close; I never thought those words would come out of my mouth. It just seemed so dated and the cast seemed soooo old. I think Adam Kantor as Mark was the only one close to being the right age.

The cast:
Will Chase as Roger was outstanding. Although he looks way too old, he sang the sh*T out of the songs. He brought such energy to the role and I really liked his performance.

Adam Cantor as Mark. Yikes! He was really, really bad. I actually cringed a few times during his performance. He was okay with the acting, but his singing was terrible. I was really, really upset with the performance. Mark is the glue that holds the show together and well, let's just say, things were falling apart.

Michael Mc Elroy as Collins. I had seen Michael many times as Collins back in the day ('97-99) and I always thought he was good. However, he is too old for the part. By the middle of "Santa Fe," he was out of breath. He also just "phoned" in the performance. I always get emotional during the "I'll Cover You' reprise and it didn't happen for me. He sang it with no emotion.

Eden Espinosa as Maureen. I really loved her. I am not an Eden fan but I really thought she was great. Great job with the acting and awesome job with the singing. She was probably my favorite member of the cast.

Tracie Thoms as Joanne. No feeling either way. She wasn't bad and she wasn't good. She was "just" okay. I thought she would have been better then she was - but she wasn't horrible.

Justin Johnston as Angel was fine. I have seen him play the role several times and he is always consistent. He has good comic timing but I always feel that his singing is all over the place. But, I did find myself feeling for the character during the show.

Rodney Hicks as Benny was HORRIBLE! He cannot sing the role and he looked terrible. I LOVED him in the OBC and was really excited to see him play Benny - YIKES - it was SOOO painful to watch.

Renee Goldsberry as Mimi was boring. She was an over-the-top actress during all of her scenes. She was TERRIBLE in "Out Tonight." She never sang the "t" in OUT during the whole song, it was odd. She was very good during "Without You" and "Light My Candle". She also had ZERO chemistry with Will.

Gwen Stewart as soloist #1. She sang the "CR*P" out of Seasons of Love. I LOVE HER. I loved her when she played Joanne in '97-98. I was lucky enough to win a silent auction and dined with Gwen and Kristen Lee Kelly (she was Maureen). Gwen is down to earth and a really nice person. Her performance in RENT was great - although she is clearly too old to be part of the cast, she was still amazing.

The rest of the group was fine. There just seemed to be no energy from anybody. It was a bit depressing at times.

Am I glad I went to see the show? No, not really. I had better memories last August. I am sad that the show has taken such a turn and I am upset that this cast will be the one millions of people will see perform Mr. Larson's amazing piece for the last time.

Again, this is just my opinion and I am sure I will get a lot of grief for writing this.





Updated On: 8/31/08 at 01:07 PM

[futurenala]

Posted: 8/31/08 at 1:57pm

Mark is Adam Kantor.

[stupidbeans]

Posted: 8/31/08 at 1:59pm

why!? WHY!!!!

Why couldn't you just lie and say it was a terrible show so coolkid would decide he hates the show and stop being annoying about final show tickets

[timrobb]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 8:06am

Uhm, did you read what I wrote? I pretty much tore the actors apart - it was a terrible night at the Nederlander.

[JK0504]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 12:57pm

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, I just don't get what satisfaction you derive out of tearing people to shreds with less than one week to go. These people get up there night after night and give it their best for people like you to tear them down. Everyone has a bad night but personal attacks on the actors and actresses in the show are uncalled for and unnecessary. Sounds like sour grapes and you're just jealous of their success. Until you get up in front of thousands of people and make yourself that vulnerable, maybe you should think before you drag people down. The current cast of RENT is one of the most professional, dedicated and hardworking that I've seen. Not just that, but night after night they take time out to interact with the legions of fans waiting for them. I think the true RENT fans will be able to disregard your post like other flames with a grain of salt.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 1:01pm

So, who do you play?

[timrobb]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 1:08pm

THanks for your post JK - I see that you joined today - with that being said, I have posted many, many positive things about RENT. I have also defended the show many, many times.
I have seen the show 41 times - yes, that is correct, 41 times. So, since I have paid close to $4,000 over the last 12 years to see RENT, I think I am allowed to give my opinion.

I also think I clearly wrote that it was just that - "my opinion". What I wrote is my feeling and I own that. The cast was flat and too old - period, end of story. I stand by my opinion and of course, you can stand by yours.

Thanks for joining the board today JK - I am sure you will have a lot of valuable input over the years.

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 2:48pm

I saw the show on 8/17 and basically agree with everything you had to say about the show. Also like you, I'm from the old school having first saw the show back in 97 with every OBC member with the exception of Daphne.

Adam Kantor wasn't really awful.. but I thought he was completely flat. And you're right about Mark being the glue that holds the show together. Bad Mark, the show is lost.

Eden really shocked me/blew me away. I really didn't care for her in Wicked, but her voice really shined in this show.

It was still nice to know that I got to see Rent one last time at the Nederlender. However, like you, I wish that it had a stronger overall cast to close out with.

[renthead1981]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 2:55pm

I am glad you have seen the show so many times, so you know the show is closing, which makes me feel that there is no need to say anything negative about anyone at this time or any time. I know everyone has their own opinions but to be so harsh towards the members of the cast who pour their hearts out every night, is just wrong. The cast as a whole is probably one of the best casts over the past 12 years put together of very talented people.

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 3:03pm

Honestly though, I felt more connected to the show when I saw the tour of the most recent non-equity cast. I think that's saying something.

Just because the show is closing doesn't mean everyone has to forfeit their opinion. If anything true fans of the show should be more critical about the cast the show closes with. However, as is the case with a lot of shows *i.e. Mario Lopez in the closing cast of A Chorus Line* you tend not to have as strong of a cast as you would like.

[renthead1981]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 4:16pm

I just feel this cast is one of the best I have seen. Maybe when you saw it they were having an off night, but overall they are more powerful than any other cast I have seen.

[winter_sky]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 4:28pm

Or maybe this person has seen better casts than you or has a different opinion?

I've seen this cast a few times and I have been underwhelmed by most of them. I loved Tracy, Eden, Gwen and Will but everyone else kinda fell flat for me.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 5:02pm

So is the "taped Final Performance" going to cement RENT in history as a bad show? As if the movie didn't do it well enough?

Michael Greif: get your ass in the theater and whip these actors into shape, whip the show into shape, so that there will, hopefully, be a more-than-decent recording out there.

[fanadu1996]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 5:35pm

i agree.
great review.
i saw it last week as well.
and you said exactly what i was thinking.
renee was a great 2nd act mimi, her vibrato in OT was kinda of distracting!
but i love her none the less (from one life to live, yes i said it)

eden was a stand out performer and will chase was too, other than that everyone was kinda.......boring.

[alfgiotir]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 6:13pm

wow. two ppl signed up today and just posted on this thread. what does that lead me to believe? are you in the show? hmmm...

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 6:31pm

SAD TO SAY:
But its to late for MG to whip the show into shape for the movie theatre release...specifically because they FILMED the one being shown in theatre about 10 days ago.

They are only using highlights from the final performance in theatres, but the complete show that they will be screening was indeed filmed already.

[renthead1981]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 6:37pm

No I'm not in the show. I am just giving my opinion just like everyone else.

[bwayfascination]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 7:23pm

I saw the show the night before, and I agree that it feels like it's time for the show to close - but maybe for a different reason. I saw the show 3 times in the late 90's, and each time there was an amazing energy that came from a story that was new and hit home with so many people. At this point, it felt like everyone in the audience knew the story - really well. You aren't wondering whether Angel will get better - you are wondering if the actor changed the fourth word in the third line as an intentional choice or because he forgot the words. Plus, so much has changed about the disease. Most people living with HIV don't have a timer to remind them it's their AZT break, and the disease itself has lost some of the fear it had when the show started. The combination of the two made it so the audience was "watching" the show as opposed to "feeling" the show. There just wasn't the same energy created like when the show was new. That's why I feel it's time to say goodbye - until the revival.

[johnsons]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 7:45pm

Wow- I saw it a few weeks ago and thought it was great. And I am not by any means a carried away rent-head. Maybe it was an off night- because Adam Kantor's voice was great when I saw him. The problem with theatre reviews is nobody ever sees the exact same performance- so it's all subjective. Thanks for the review.

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 7:52pm

Adam is a HORRIBLE Mark. The worst I've seen.