Rent Again and Wicked

[martinman]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 9:25pm

I'm going to see Rent again next week , and also Wicked..how is the current Rent cast? I haven't seen it since last April..Seeing Wicked for the first time..

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 9:26pm

Larson's rolling over in his grave. That's what I have to say about the current casts of Rent.

[misschung]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 9:34pm

really?

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 9:34pm

Go see some other shows...

[glimpseofstocking]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 9:35pm

Not sure about Rent, but the current Wicked cast is pretty good. I saw Julia Murney on tour and she's fantastic.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 9:36pm

Agreed. Julia and Kendra are both phenomenal in Wicked. I saw them when the tour came to Philly, and I loved them.

[jeremykushnier1fan]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 9:39pm

Kendra's still the Galinda?

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 9:41pm

She just joined the Broadway company in January...it's only been four months.

However, yes, she has been with the show for some time.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 9:44pm

Here's the deal with Kendra...
She was only okay on the tour (although, I really liked her, but most didn't)

On Broadway, though,
TOTAL 180. She's absolutely fantastic.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 9:45pm

The current Mark in Rent is wonderful, but the rest of the cast seems to be phoning in their performances, and none of them are really that strong to begin with. Definitely not worth seeing right now.

[Faigs]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:11pm

Larson's rolling over in his grave. That's what I have to say about the current casts of Rent.

You know what, you're an idiot to say that Jonathan Larson is "rolling in his grave". Simply having his show on Broadway was his dream. You think he'd be ANGRY at how successful his show has been and all it has done? It's been on Broadway for ELEVEN f*cking years - I don't think Larson's rolling in his grave. If anything, he's smiling.

You know what, don't listen to what they say. Everyone else who will post on this thread will trash Rent in any way possible. Clearly, you love it ('cause you're seeing it again) so have a good time. I completely disagree with your opinion on the cast. Yes, Chris Hanke (Mark) is amazing, but I saw some pretty damn good performances recently. No, they're not the OBC, but don't say that they're half-assing it. They're happy to have jobs, okay? And Rent is good no matter what. Believe it or not, people really do love this show and they don't care if they see miraculous performances or not - whoever they see, no matter what cast, they love it. And that's all there is it to it.

Have a good time. :]

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:16pm

See Drowsy Chaperone and Wicked. Or Spring Awakening and Drowsy.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:19pm

"You think he'd be ANGRY at how successful his show has been and all it has done?"

Hmm, I don't recall ever saying something about the sucess of the show.

Ssuccess and notoriety is what Larson wanted and got. It's a cryin' shame that it all happened posthumesly. He wrote a brilliant piece that has, through the years, deteriorated into a gigantic mess with no control. I've seen it numerous times through the years and it the quality just gets worse and worse.

The recent casts have turned his work into one big goofing-off free-for-all. If he were alive today, you can bet that he wouldn't be happy with the state of his show.

People being happy to have jobs has nothing to do with this discussion. If I were an actor who was cast in a show like Rent, I'd be thanking the higher powers every day. In fact, I'd be so happy that I'd treat the material with respect.

You're very correct, faigs, it's not the OBC. They took the show seriously.
Updated On: 4/3/07 at 11:19 PM

[misschung]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:25pm

I feel like what's happening to Rent is that its passing through that awkward phase where its no longer contemporary, but still not old enough to be a period piece (albeit of the early 90s). As a result, the casts seem to be taking their parts and turning them into caricatures of themselves rather than bringing out the genuine depth and heat thats under the surface. I think it's unfortunate - yet droves of people still see the show regularly who are longtime fans of the show, and have great things to say about the current cast - so obviously its not a total loss, and I am probably just being picky as usual, but yeah. I'd say go see something else for now.

[misschung]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:26pm

dp sorry

Updated On: 4/3/07 at 11:26 PM

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 12:10am

CHRIST angry people here! im sure the cast of Rent is fine... enjoy it... and you will love wicked if its your first time.

[winston89]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 12:17am

I have seen RENT 33 times with a majority of the cast that is on broadway. RENT is a show that still touches and moves me and the preformers are wonderful and enjoying the show so much. I disagre with you Yankeefan to say that because the show has been playing for 11 years that it is slowly fading away. It is true that the time that it was most relevant in was when it first oepnd up. But, there are still people finding more in it each and every time they go. If you want to bitch and moan because this show has been on broadway for 11 years then be my guest. If you want to bitch and moan because of the current state of the show that that is a different story. The show is still doing wonderfuly and it is still making me cry pulling me into the story line ect every time I see it. And comming from me that is saying something becuase usually when I see something dramatic and I re see it I know what is comming up and the whole sense of drama goes away for me and I see it again because of its entertainment value. Rent other then ACL is the only show that I can see time and time again and still have any interest in it.

OP, go see RENT you will love it and the current cast is great.

[fxy2003cmu]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 12:51am

K, I just saw Rent on broadway about a month ago and absolutely loved the cast, in lotto seats. I thought they were thoroughly fantastic. So there you go :)

And I also saw Julia Murney, Kendra Kassebaum and Sebastian Arcelus on tour and they were great the times that I saw them.
Updated On: 4/4/07 at 12:51 AM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 1:09am

Why not seeing shows you haven't seen yet?

[misschung]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 1:46am

what about Company?

[winston89]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 1:58am

Maybe the OP already bought tickets for RENT. Or maybe he/she will buy em day of? Is there a problem with seeing something again? No, there isn't sure its fun to go see something new but if they wanna re see something by all means let them.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 8:48am

Ignore all the people telling you to go and watch spring awakening(over rated) Company(an average revival of a great show) or Drowsy(no comment).

Go and see Rent and have a great time

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 8:50am

Winston - I never said that it was fading away, either.

[misschung]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 9:06am

"The show is still doing wonderfuly and it is still making me cry pulling me into the story line ect every time I see it. And comming from me that is saying something becuase usually when I see something dramatic and I re see it I know what is comming up and the whole sense of drama goes away for me and I see it again because of its entertainment value."

See, I think that one of the reasons why people see the show so many times is that its more powerful when you know what's coming - -the anticipation makes the story more bittersweet.

I shouldn't have said that the OP should or shouldn't go and see anything. If you're going to Rent, there will be good and bad points of the show, just like there is at any other time :)

[rentgal589]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 9:48am

I haven't seen Rent since last summer. If Christopher Hawnke (I think thatz how you spell it) as Mark, it'll be great.