RENT: Student Edition- Page 2

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:15pm

So the people who did the edits think high school actors will be okay with actually kissing, but that they and the audiences might be uncomfortable with a line that goes, "kiss me, it's beginning to snow"? I'm not trying to be averse to all changes and blanketly assume this is ridiculous, but what sense does that make? Where is the logic?

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:18pm

Thats Hysterical , a show that so many young people should see etc and they cut out bits(wow talk about missing the point)

One thing that always struck me about Rent was tolerance and acceptance, Dumping the gay kiss etc is doing the opposite

If schools etc don't want to do the full show they shouldn't do it at all

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:18pm

......

That change makes no sense.

So they kiss later in the show, but there it is deemed inappropriate?

And if there is a school that believes their audience/community would be uncomfortable with homosexual kissing then they simply SHOULDN'T DO THE DAMN SHOW.

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:19pm

All I know is Jonathon Larson's father contributed to the editing.


As for the set, its similiar in someways and different. It never changes in the sense huge set pieces being moved on and offstage. It is also being used for the production of Cabaret that is happening right after our production of RENT so it is very bare bones.

[TWSFan4Ever]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:20pm

Thanks.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:21pm

Well, I hope his contributions didn't make that decision. If they must edit it, I just feel like the changes should be in a similar vein across the board. They should be level with each other.

I'm inclined to agree with songanddanceman; it's about promoting acceptance, and yet it's being edited to accomodate non-acceptance with removal of "taboos. Granted, the excuse there is that material is probably deemed "inappropriate for a" school," and not generally inappropriate, or something.

High schools have even less business touching Cabaret than they do Rent.

Updated On: 6/23/07 at 08:21 PM

[misschung]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:21pm

In our version Maureen and Joanne are still kissing and Maureen kisses another girl during La Vie Boheme. We were all a little annoyed when we read that Angel and Collins aren't supposed to kiss

so the lesbians can kiss, but not the gay couples? Why do I have a feeling that decision was made by a male...

Updated On: 6/23/07 at 08:21 PM

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:25pm

Cabaret is being done by adults. This production of RENT is not affiliated with a High school, but a Young Adult theatre company. We're splitting set costs with another adult theatre company by sharing a set. Unfortunately we aren't allowed to override cuts. They're really stict about them.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:27pm

Good.

[broadwayboy1017]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:29pm

not doing the kiss is going against the whole show

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:36pm

That's putting a whole lot on one little kiss. I mean the relationship between Collins and Angel is a little more "family friendly" now but is still the purest love story in the show. I agree that its important to keep the integrity of the show alive but cutting one kiss doesn't ruin the rest of the show or its message. The cast is phenomenal and last time I checked it was "No day but today" not "No day but today and gay kissing" The message of the show is still going to be alive no matter what. Now, if you want to talk about ruining the show, anyone remember that video from awhile back of RENT done illegally in which Maureen and Joanne were sisters? THAT'S just unacceptable.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:38pm

Dramadork you are missing the point of the kiss

The whole thing of cutting things out of a show about Tolerance and acceptance is an oxymoron

[Glory]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:41pm

i want to come but you arent accepting PMs? so can you post the info where and when and how much and what time?

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:45pm

The total double standard takes a show that was built on love and acceptance and colors it with homophobia. It's disgusting.

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:46pm

I understand the point of the kiss but its not like its a make or break moment in the show... Unfortunately homosexuality is STILL taboo in our society and I dislike just as much as anyone else but this is a school edition and we are required to used the cuts MTI gave us so they can see how they work. Our Collins and Angel have been doing fantastic jobs creating an intimacy between the two of them that doesn't need kissing. When they are performing there is absolutely no doubt that they are in love. I was really annoyed myself when I saw that cut but what can you do? Lose our licensing over it?

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:53pm

no just pick to do a show that doesn't have to be cut, The kiss was always a big deal for me in the sense of how it was done , You could see their relationship growing and when the kiss came you were so wrapped up in them to that it played so Natural and thats what the show did so well.

It presented things that in every day life certain people would pull there faces but when presented in the way that it was it was completely normal and expected.

It just pisses me of a little thats all, I have seen a few productions (amateur ) of this here in the UK with a teenage cast and nothing was cut,.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:56pm

"Not doing the kiss is going against the whole show."

I think you are missing the point. Yes, the kiss is a lovely moment in Rent. However, it is by far from the only point made in the show. Cutting does not ruin the show, though it might take away the beauty of the moment after "I'll Cover You" . I really think there are many other valid points that high schoolers could take from the show other than a kiss.

[misschung]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:57pm

I'm just confused because the lesbian kiss is ok, but not the gay's kiss...

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:58pm

Then you don't do it. It shouldn't be cut in the first place. I know there's that whole "but people who love the show should be able to do it, and it should reach lots of demographics," argument, but I'm sorry, I think if it's deemed inappropriate for a high school as is, then it should not be performed.

Dramadork, I realize that your production is not being done in a high school, so presumably the material isn't being deemed inappropriate for the community viewing it, but rather maybe "uncomfortable" for the performers, but that's just how I feel in general.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 9:01pm

"I'm just confused because the lesbian kiss is ok, but not the gay's kiss..."

That's the biggest problem with this cut. If all the kisses were cut (including the hetero kisses) I would find it to be less problematic, but cutting the male/male kiss and leaving in the others just reinforces the perception that boys kissing is "yucky" and thereby undermines one of the major messages of the production!

Updated On: 6/23/07 at 09:01 PM

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 9:01pm

I understand the frustrations and I agree with them but its more of an MTI issue than an issue with my production. It's not our faults we can't do that and the licensing was so limited and it was such an honor to get to do it why would we turn it down? We originally set out to do the normal version of RENT but they asked us to do the Student Version so they could see how it works out. I know if I say trust me the message isn't lost and the power of Angel and Collins' relationship isn't lost but I know a lot of people won't believe me. The director could make Annie into a powerful piece of theatre. I hate to take the "can't fight the system" mentality but this is too much of a good thing despite its faults. I mean, if you can, see the show and how we do it, then judge it being "disgusting" Jonathon Larson's father OK'd every change made and he is potentially going to come see the production so I'm going to trust him to fulfil his son's vision as well as he can.

And those amateur versions were illegal and didn't have to answer to a "higher power" like we do.

Updated On: 6/23/07 at 09:01 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 9:15pm

I can't comprehend why people would find a gay kiss more taboo than a lesbian kiss.


What a messed up world.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 9:16pm

DramaDork,

I am a huge RENT fan, and I am glad that the younger set has the opportunity to see the show locally. The final cuts might change or not. However, there are so many messages in this show. I am sure you are putting on a beautiful production within the limitations of the student version.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 9:30pm

I'm certainly not blaming you or anyone invovled in your production, DramaDork. A lot of us are voicing general frustration -- you don't need to be so defensive. I agree that it's an MTI issue; if there are productions occuring in places that "can't handle it," then they shouldn't. be. doing. it. There shouldn't be a watered-down option for such places, they should be required to choose something else. MTI has no business accomodating this kind of thing at the sacrifice of the material. You do it as is, or not at all, and if something is not appropriate, the powers that be in schools should accept that, rather than trying to find ways to alter the material. I don't really care about the notion that it should be available to lots of different production channels. I know people disagree because they think Rent should be reaching all kinds of communities and that it's got good messages for high schools, which is a fine thing to think, but at what cost? It's not about losing the message of the relationship with Angel and Collins; it's about the messages put forth and perpetuated BY the cut.

Updated On: 6/23/07 at 09:30 PM

[RevolutionaryCostume]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 9:32pm

Ugggh, there shouldn't even be a student version of RENT.

It's one of those shows, like "Hair" or "Spring Awakening" that just shouldn't be done by schools, period.

I'm not a prude, btw, I just it's stupid to butcher the show to make it "family-friendly" when the whole point of the show is flipping a bird to societal norms.

~Jacob.