Okay kids, I saw the infamous 'Rent in Chicago' last night, and it wasn't as bad as I expected - in fact, I really enjoyed it. I know everyones been calling it 'American Idol Rents Rent' etc.. but that wasn't the show I saw. Yes, these were young performers with big poppy belt-to-the-rafters-voices. Yes, there were clearly moments (and performers) who valued big singing over acting, but as a whole - I saw a mostly energetic and passionate group of performers telling a now-classic (in the American musical theatre sense) story - and as always, the show and its music got to me.
Which is not to say there weren't BIG flaws. The major fault in this production in my opinion was with Roger, played by Bryce Ryness. Mr. Ryness is hot. He sings well. He really does. He has all the pieces to be a successful Roger. But he's clearly not singing correctly - or his voice wouldn't have caught of 75% of his big power notes. His renditions of "One Song Glory" and "Your Eyes" were... bland, to say the least. Even Manley Pope, my first Roger whom I loathed (LOATHED) made something magical out of "Glory." If you can't sing that song and make it matter, you shouldn't be playing Roger. I also heard a lot of ripping on Ariadna Fernandez as Mimi, and I can understand it - though I really did like her and appreciated a lot of her choices, her voice caught just as many times as Mr. Ryness's did, and she clearly didn't have the notes to sing her part of "Another Day." However, if she IS suffering throat problems (which is the rumor on BWW) she covered it well, by ACTING the role. She used the roughness of her voice and turned it into a lot of crying, which led to an emotional Mimi, which was really cool actually - but still, someone needs to teach these kids how to sing correctly, or they won't be able to talk in five years. My last other complaints are with Ano Okera as Angel, who is ADORABLE but hard to understand a lot of the time (and his "Take me" bit was dreadful) and whoever the ensemble girl in the pink shirt was - trying to steal the show isn't what Johnathan Larson had in mind for that role, I betcha. TOTAL Rachelle Rak performance (which is what my friends and I call ensemble/chorus performers who sing a little louder, kick a little higher, and all in all try to stand out as much as they can, even if its not an appropriate time to do so.)
But out with the bad and in with the VERY good - because there was no middle ground, really. Jed Renick as Mark was awesome, enough of an Anthony Rapp clone to make the show work, but not so much you accuse him of being a clone. Im just sad, for his sake, that the role of Mark doesn't really get to shine vocally until "What you own." He was really a wonderful guide through the show - Marks function in the piece. Warren G. Nolan, Jr. was outstanding as Tom Collins. His flawless deep voice was gorgeous to listen to, and his "I'll cover you reprise" was heart-breaking. Chante Carmel Frierson as Joanne was astonishing, an Joanne is usually a fairly forgettable role. Ms. Frierson's voice is breathtaking, and I'd say its quite a credit to her that "Tango: Maureen" and "Take me or leave me" (sung with Tracy McDowell) were two of the mega highlights of the night. Ms. McDowell, since she's been mentioned, seemed a little miscast (one of my friends called her a "little too much sunshine.") but she's a firecracker, truly funny, and girl can SAAAANG, so all is forgiven. Michael Ifill as Benny had a nice voice, but I mantain its going to take a Taye Diggs comparable actor to make me pay attention to Benny in this piece. The ensemble members (even Ms. Pink shirt) were passionate, the band sounded great, and they told the story really well. The songs were pitched at the levels needed to make them feel special - "Seasons of Love" was really, really great, and the title song still gives me chills after all these years.
But can I just say I hate the Cadillac Palace. They seated people during "Rent" - and kept seating people into "Another Day." It's like going to a White Sox game, with the people circulating selling twizzlers and water. I miss theatre etiquette, I really do.
There's always room for pathos - and jazz hands.
However, this production did not meet the standards that I would expect from a Rent tour in a major Chicago loop theatre and does not stand up to the others that I have seen here in the past. 
