"Rent"--two questions

[karen24]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 12:29pm

Hi,
I saw "Rent" a couple of summers ago. At the time I wasn't familiar with the music at all, and I found it almost impossible to understand the lyrics. It was really frustrating because I fell in love with the music immediately, but I couldn't understand what was going on! It seemed to me that it was either a problem with the sound system overall, or the miking, or...some combination of those? I was just wondering if anyone else has had that experience.
I imagine that so many people go to "Rent" now after already having seen the movie or heard the cast albums, that they are thoroughly familiar with the lyrics and music and don't have the problem I had. Still, it would be a shame if those who are new to the show have this experience. (I went with my cousins from out of town and their teenage daughters--my cousins had the same problem I did, while their daughters, who knew the show already, were fine.)

My second question is just one that has been bugging me for a long time--in "We're OK," when Joanne is talking to Maureen on the phone, and she says "No you cut the paper plate"--what does that mean?!
Thanks!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 12:31pm

I guess a lot goes over people's heads the first time if they're unfamilar; I mean, who's going to catch ALL of the lyrics in La Vie Boheme on the first pass? It happened to me; I went into the show cold. They did some work on the sound systems at the Nederlander recently, though, so that could've been a factor.

In an earlier version of the show, the paper plate was a prop in Over The Moon, and it was cut from the performance. The line in "We're Okay" that refers to the paper plate stayed, but the plate obviously did not.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 12:33pm

1. I've seen it once, and thought the sound was awful.

2. She's talking about Maureen's "Over the Moon" performance. "Cut" as in cut the paper plate bit from her perfromance piece.

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 12:37pm

My first experience with Rent was seeing the national tour. The sound was awful there too. I had no idea what was being sung and it made the show rather unenjoyable. I am glad that I eventually bought the CD or I probably would have always thought the show was awful based on that one viewing. I enjoyed the show much more after that as well as the movie.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 12:48pm

I'm seeing it in March (tour, Cashman Theatre, Las Vegas) and now I'm kinda scared.. especially if the sound is bad.

[karen24]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 12:54pm

Wow, thanks for the rapid answers and for clearing up the "paper plate" mystery!
I forgot to say in my initial post that I am brand-new to these boards and am happy to find so many other theater lovers. I hope I didn't commit any board faux-pas by posting so quickly.
I would suggest to Capt. Oblivious, why not get the cast album ahead of time and listen to it before you see the show? The music is wonderful and you'll definitely be ahead of the game if the sound is, in fact, problematic.
Karen

[OasisBroadway]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 2:49pm

Welcome Karen!

Two pieces of advice:
1.) Don't start any Wicked threads.
2.) Always search before you post something.

Follow those and you will be fine.