Rent Tour New Haven 3-11 mat. Review

[CrAzIaBoUtReNt]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 1:32pm

Well I saw Rent on tour at the Shubert yesterday and it was....interesting. You could tell that it was a work in progress. Some people were great, and some need a lot of work.

Roger---Bryce Ryness---He was really good. His voice rocked, his acting was pretty good, but his appearance didn't scream "Roger".

Mark---Jed Resnick---I really enjoyed his performance. He brought out the more emotional side of Mark. His "Halloween" was great.

Angel---Ano Okera---He was so cute! Fun, energetic, and sweet. Vocals were great. Unlike any other Angels I have heard. He reminded me a lot of Justin Johnston and Sean Earl.

Collins---Warren G. Nolan, Jr.---The best Collins I have ever seen. His I'll Cover You reprise was so emotional I just broke out crying. His acting during that scene was the best I have ever seen. I want him on broadway...NOW!

Maureen---Tracy McDowell---She was awsome. I loved her TMOLM. A lot like Maggie Benjemin, but she didn't have to try to be good. But she brought a new image to Maureen, which was good. I am sick on the stupid, comedic character that Maureen has become lately.

Joanne---Chante Carmel Frierson---One fo the best Joanne's vocally. I could defenetly see her in the broadway company. I really liked her. She looked the part, acted the part, and sung the part.

Benny---Michael Ifill---I don't really know what to say but good. He didn't stand out, but he was better than D. Monroe.

And finally, Mimi---Arianda Fernandez---Acting wonderful, physically awsome, vocals...just no. I tried to love her, but it was just embarrasing. She couldn't control her voice at all. Out Tonight was all over the place. Another Day was worse. When she sang "no day but today" on "day" she lost it and did this wierd "d-u-u-u-u-u-ay"...sort of like Stewart's mom on Mad TV. Without you and Light My Candle were just okay. But the fact that she is only 18 and she has only been doing the show for a few weeks saves her.

All in all I think the whole cast will only improve. But one thing really bothered me was not about the show, but about the nerve of some people. Two rows infront of me was a mother and her 8 year old duaghter who came like half-way through the first act. Then, I looked during Seasons of Love at the duaghter and she was READING A BOOK! First of all, how the hell can you read a book in the pitch black when a broadway show is going on? And second, that is just disrespectful, period. If your daughter doesn't want to see the show, spend the 67 bucks on a freakin baby-sitter. I hope that woman had a good reason for bringing her daughter. Some people might think I am over-reacting a bit, but seriously, wtf?

But to get back on topic, if the show comes near your town, see it. It's worth it.

[JustChillin8908]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 2:04pm

I'm seeing it for the first time in Chicago in April. I was hoping Chante Carmel Frierson was good since Joanne is my favorite character and didn't want to be dissapointed my first time seeing it live.

[JSousa]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 10:44pm

Ok, MIMI... I REALLY REALLY REALLY hope she was sick. Because that was painful. I laughed. I truely did. She ruined alot of moments were Im normly sobing. Collins, I have never heard the Ill cover you reprise done better. It was breath taking. Him and Angel had a great connection. They just worked so well. Angel was interesting at times. Not the best, but good. I LOVE MAUREEN! She brings something new to the roll. I was dieing laughing. Joanne was good also. She was the roll. Roger and Mark were roger and mark. Nothing amazing. Both very good. But Again, they were the same as always. Exept Roger got REALLY angry at times and it was weird. I liked this benny more than I have others. I dont know why, he was just, beter then the others.

Like CrAzIaBoUtReNt said, its a work in progress. It will only get better. But its deff. worth it to see it.

PS, The music director. BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

[heat]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 2:08pm

I saw the both shows in Atlanta on Saturday (6/3/06) and I have to say that I totally agree with every aspect of your review. Jed has to be the best Mark that I've ever seen, vocally and all around! His La Vie Bohem was hilarious and I like the more "hip" edge on Mark.

I loved Tracy and Chante also and Bryce really sang the part well and made it look so effortlessly natural. I loved the way he would decrescendo during certain parts of his songs to emphasize the emotion and then instantly crescendo to make a strong statement! Flawless! I tried hard to fall in love with Arianda, but vocally, she has a hard part to sing and tough shoes to fill, but I agree that she will only get better. For the afternoon show understudy Jahmal Adderley went on as Angel and he was much better than Ano, although Ano was great too.

I can't leave out Altamiece Ballard, "Seasons of Love" soloist/Mrs. Jefferson. She was amazing and such a nice person too!
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[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 2:22pm

My boss' daughter is friends with Jed Resnick. They are seeing him in Boston when the show is there. Glad to hear he is doing well in the role!

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 2:25pm

There weren't any programs when I went, so I'm sorry that I have to say "the guy/girl that played so and so...".

I saw it on Saturday night and thought it was the most mediocre "professional theatre" I have ever seen. However, I LOVED Jed(he is my FAVORITE Mark now and was an absolute pleasure to meet after the show) and REALLY liked the guy who played Roger, dont know his name. Arianda Fernandez was HORRENDUS. The entire time I sat there cringing and thought, "There is now way in hell that this is the best girl they had audition for this." The girls that played Maureen and Joann were good, as was the guy that played Collins. There just wasnt anything special about them. I wont even start on the guy that played Angel...

[jaybrrd]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 3:28pm

Please tell me you're all kidding about how good the tour was. I saw the Sunday matinee in Atlanta.

Granted, I've seen the show a lot more than most people in general, and I guess as a first exposure to it, its not bad. A good cast makes the audience understand the hype. A bland cast makes the audience appreciate the writing but not understand why it was pumped up as much as it was.

I didn't get a program, so forgive the lack of names.

Not neccesarily the fault of the cast, but they were constantly off rhythm. Coming in far too early or just unable to keep a consistent beat. The monitors must not have been set up properly -- and I noticed they didn't have a conductor video screen to take his cues. So I won't fault them too much (but if you're on the beat for 3/4s of the song, why fall off in the last quarter? keep the tempo).

Mimi made all the wrong acting choices and could not sing. She looked the part, but that's about all she had going.

Roger was about six inches taller than everyone, and made the bold choice of keeping his knees bent through the entire show to stay on the same level, thereby always looking like he was about to take a big dump. He'll be on vocal rest in three months, he's ripping it to shreds. Looked to be fighting the giggles through the entire show -- even during Glory.

Mark was understudied and whoa, was he bad. Wore a perpetual smirk throughout, placed awkward inflection on his words, and just didn't get it. Also was a good foot shorter than Roger. Looked weird.

Collins was apparently pulled from a middle-school production of South Pacific. Lots of BIG arm movements, clipped delivery without much insight to what he was saying. OK voice.

Maureen was nailed by Idina in the OBC, no one's even come close since... more the fault of subsequent direction than any particular actress. Over the Moon was a travesty. No one even mooed at first. This gal played too cutesy -- Maureen should be irresistably HOT. She was NOT.

Angel -- bleh.

Joanne -- Is this role still in the show?

Benny -- nice abs.

The ensemble was, for the most part, quite good. Bag Lady/Soloist was the only one of the whole batch who really seemed 'in the moment' but neglected to hit the Gwen note. Not neccesary, of course... but sorely missed.

And the band kicked major ass.

When the band is the saving grace of the show, something's very, very wrong.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 3:32pm

I've never read a good review of Arianda Fernandez's Mimi. I wonder how long she'll last.

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 3:34pm

jaybrrd, I agree mostly with what you said. And thank you SO MUCH for reminding me about the band! As you said, they were GREAT!

[ashley0139]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 4:55pm

Jaybrrd- wow, my thoughts were so different. I saw it last night, and thought it was great. The cast had so much energy that it was so much fun to watch. I only agree that Mimi was awful. I cringed many times at her voice. I thought the understudy Mark was GREAT. Ten times better than Matt Caplan, who I hated. And I thought Joanne and Maureen were both great. The audience was totally into Over the Moon, and there was no hesitation with the mooing. Angel wasn't great with his singing, but his personality was great. And I loved Collins. The entire audience was just so into the show, which was so much fun. I really thought it was a great show... except I had the exact same thought: that Mimi could not have been the best one to try out.

[heat]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:12pm

I agree with you Ashley, my thoughts were (obviously) way different from Jaybrrds. I will agree that Jared Stein was an awesome musical director and the drummer was outstanding, (as were the entire band), but you have to give the cast a little more credit.

I didn't see it on Sunday, and maybe the cast was tired, (not using that as excuse) but the beauty of Live Theater is that not every performance is going to be blocked or performed the same way in the same respect that no performer is going to be as good or even the same as another. If you expect a perfect performance, watch the movie or an edited version of the show that will forever be the same.

That's what makes musical theater ART and there's no denying that each of those performers have major talent. Some have just been more developed than others. Is Arianda the best Mimi, no. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion of what they like, but there's a difference in critiquing a performance and being obsessively negative and critical. I've seen the show many-many times with 6 different casts on tour and on Broadway, and this bunch was far from bland! It has nothing to do with exposure of the play or it's hype.

I'm not trying to argue with you Jaybrrd because I respect your opinion. If you are referring to the tour cast in general, I can only speak from my experiences with them, and I can not speak for the Sunday performances because I did not see them. Saturday's were awesome though! I just hate that you didn't have the same great experience that I did. Updated On: 6/5/06 at 05:12 PM

[faithanytwo]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 8:18pm

Just saw the show on Saturday night in Boston, the audience was very much into it, and was pretty pleased by the cast in general. Jed particularly stood out, Bryce and Arianda, not so much.