RENT: Why so much hate? — Page 2

I think Alesandri was also totally [and this is a phrase I hate] spot on when he immediately followed "RANT" with an appearance by Anna from "The King & I" singing "Something Wonderful" as she looked at the characters who had just finished the RENT parody: "This is a show that stumbles and falls, but this is a show that tries." He was talking about the human heart that occasionally manages to beat beneath all the commerciality of mainstream corporate theatre production, and how so much of what succeeds doesn't even try. *That*, I thought, was a particularly insightful tip of the hat.

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No need for arguments, wise women and men. You've all helped me to understand the show's main downfall: too much hype! Thank you, feel free to keep it going...it's really so intriguing to me.

RENT is one of my favourite musicals and the thing about it for me (as cheesy as this sounds) is that it changes peoples lives. I went through my lower teenage years experiencing the effect that it had on other people my age. Something that no other show has really managed to do (except perhaps, in personal circumstances, Les Misérables).

In addition to this, I think the movie is great.

And THAT'S show business ^^

My dislike of the show has nothing to do with it being "popular" -- I saw it very early in its run with the OBC.

I didn't find any of the lead characters likeable. I didn't like what the show was glorifying (casual sex, sloth, being owed something). I'm not saying there aren't people like this, but what was worth exhaulting? I never bought the love story. Lust and love are different. And don't get me started on the whole 'back from the dead' thang.

I had always said it was obvious there was a whole lot of talent on the stage. But the production was indeed flawed. One thing I'll point out that I haven't seen mentioned yet....I was so tired of being YELLED during the show. No matter whether they were singing a ballad, an up tempo or anything else, the actors were yelling at me and I just wanted to tune them out.

I understand that quite a bit of that got worked out eventually, but I was so unhappy with my first experience, that I never wanted to see it again. In fact, a number of years later a group that I was with chose to see it -- I went elsewhere and met up with them later.

I also think some of the derision you might hear about within the business is much of the "of course you were in Rent, wasn't EVERY b'way performer?" Just like there is a running of joke of sorts that gads of bway performers have a Law & Order credit in their bios (I think its L&O). So much of a 'joke' that Chris Sieber specifically mentions he has NEVER appeared on any version of it.

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Updated On: 7/24/12 at 12:23 PM

It is true, when you think about it none of the characters, except for Angel are likeable. They are all lazy, selfish, and expect something for nothing. They have a sense of self entitlement. I think that is one of the many problems with the book, unfortunately that is something that would probably never have been fixed.

I think the reason I kept returning was because of the score, which I loved, and the high energy on stage. Sadly the film and the most resent tour lacked that energy and were less enjoyable.

"I thought you wanted to do a good show? If you wanted to do a bad show, why don't we just do ReNt?" - Peter Griffin, FAMILY GUY

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I think to people who don't think to much about it, it's a valid credit as any.

"For me, the pacing is really weird. The first act takes place in three hours, and then the second act jumps around for nine months."

And actually, it's one of the things that worked so well onstage, but fell so flat in the movie - urgency. The events of act one are a whirlwind onstage, but stretching it out over three days, like we're waiting for the Resurrection or something, in the movie is just just deadening.

And I love to criticize ReNt as much as the next, but I've never denied how much I got out of it when I was younger. As long as I don't have to pretend I like the movie (it hurts soooo much every time I try to give it another chance), seeing a great production of it onstage, warts and all, can be really thrilling.

The "so much hate" is so strawmanny, anyway. Because it has set up something that wasn't even there. I feel the every other thread about ReNt that we've had on this board alone has covered just about everything can be said about renT. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I feel myself typing the same things over and over. Play good, sometimes productions bad. Movie bad. Make Phyllis sad.

I think sometimes the majority of the youth - or population really - that has only seen or listened to a handful of musicals in general and therefore love the production's catchy tunes. The productions tunes, you see, are quite and indeed so lovable.

Marcy Harriell was the best Mimi ever. Can't wait to see her on stage and dvd... ReNt.... MarCy...

I suppose there's a little snob in me, since loud, obnoxious, poorly written rock shows like RENT and SPRING AWAKENING didn't affect me in my younger days. Instead, I found them shallow, loud, obnoxious and poorly written. I was singing along to the cast albums of GREY GARDENS and FOLLIES instead. Why did I like unhappy, middle aged people and not sexy, good-looking young people? God only knows.

I'm glad RENT brought some people to the theater and got some people interested in the theater. The problem is, most of them think RENT (and its kind) are the only things in the theater worth seeing and listening to.

JV92, I think one can like all four of the shows you mentioned. I know I do.

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I enjoy Rent. Is it the masterpiece some people consider it to be? Probably not.

The fans are my main issue with this show. I'm seeing a production in Seattle next week and the Rent-Heads are what I'm dreading.

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After seeing David Cromer's recent Chicago GREATEST PRODUCTION OF RENT THERE HAS BEEN OR EVER WILL BE I talked to an early 30 something friend who said you go through different Rent stages: loving Rent, Rent-heading Rent, tiring of Rent, hating Rent and then out of nowhere something reminds you of Rent and nostalgia and age put you back somewhere in the middle, but closer to loving it.