Rent-Us Tour Review (character and songs, sorry it's so long...)

[oxdreaminxo]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 6:40pm

This is going to be super long...
I saw Rent March 3rd, and omg- it was amazing. Here is my song and character evaluations (some things about the plot too). Yeah, I know I have too much time on my hands.

Cast and my two sense on them-

Roger Davis: Dan Rosenbaum: I loved him to death! He is so sexy! *drools and regains composure* he sounded a bit weak at times, not that he was bad, he just sounded tired...like his voice was strained a bit. I love him when he gets angry though- it makes him even sexier. Acting and singing was great, as was emotion.

Mark Cohen: Andy Meeks: I loved him as well. He needs to learn how to dance...but I'll get into that later. I loved his cameraness though, it was funny. He had a great voice too. Good acting!

Tom Collins: Marcus Paul James: As much as I love my Roger *hugs Roger*, this guy kicked ass. He had an outstanding voice and his talent was just amazing. His emotion was so awesome, his "I'll Cover You Reprise" was just sooo amazing. I cryed. lol. Awesome, just awesome.

Benjamin Coffin III: Mario Ferrell: Ehh. I hate Benny as a character so this guy was perfect. I didn't like him, his notes were a bit...strange. His acting was okay. He played Benny really well though.

Joanne Jefferson: Adrienne Fishe: Wow. I loved her as well. Amazing voice, just amazing. She was a perfect Joanne. Wow is all I can really say.

Angel Dumott Schunard: Damien DeShaun Smith: *claps* Another wow. He was awesome as Angel, I loved his flirtiness with Collins, it was so cute. However, I really think he was gay. He skipped off stage during the curtain call...but I loved his voice. It was very funny. I loved loved loved him in Contact when he is dieing, wow, I cryed then too.

Mimi Marquez: Tallia Brinson: I loved her a lot. I loved her voice and her emotion and everything. She had great chemistry with Dan (Roger) and was just...amazing. Definately my favorite character in the whole play, and one of my favorite actresses. This is my dream part.

Maureen Johnson: Ava: Wow, this girl can sing. As much as I love hearing Idina Menzel as Maureen, it was nice to hear SINGING instead of SCREAMING (just my opinion, don't kill me). Her "Over The Moon" was so amazing. And I want her pants and cat ears. I loved her, very dramatic *claps* And if I can't be Mimi, I would love to be Maureen.

Mark's mom and others: Lindsey Lake: I would love to be Mark's mom too! lol. I liked her a lot.

Christmas caroler, Mr. Jefferson, pastor and others: Aswad: I liked him well enough, but he didn't really grab my attention. If he would have gotten more stage time I woulda liked him better.

Mrs. Jefferson, woman with bags and others: LaDonna Burns: Same thing as Aswad. She was funny in her Voicemail though.

Gordon, the man, Mr. Grey and others: Jonathan Tisevich: I always get Steve and Gordon mixed up...*checks lyrics* Ah-ha! Same thing with Aswad and LaDonna. I do, however, love him in "La Vie Boheme" and as 'the man'.

Steve, man with squeegee, a waiter and others: Aaron Tveit: I loved him in "Will I?". Amazing. Yay squeegee!

Paul and others: Danny Calvert: Same thing as Aswad, LaDonna, and Jonathan.

Alexi Darling, Roger's mom and others: Christina Hernandez: I love Alexi! lol. Another part I'd like to play. (ehh- any character in Rent is fine, actually) =P

I must say, sets, lights, etc. were great! One thing I am MAD about is the mics were waaay messed up in Act One. It got better though in Act Two. Onto the songs...oh, for people who have never seen the show I have who sings it, aren't I nice? lol.

Act One
"Tune Up #1" (Mark, Roger)/"Voice Mail #1"(Mrs. Cohen *Mark's mom*)/"Tune Up #2"(Roger, mark, Collins, Benny): It was very cool. I loved the sets...I loved where the band was, like, on the stage. I loved the illegal wood burning stove, lol. And Mark's mom rocks, as always. I love when we first meet Collins. It's kinda weird watching him get mugged...the muggers aren't like, near him, lol. And Benny is a nut but he has cool sun glasses.

"Rent"(The Company): I love this song. It has so much energy and I love the frustration of Roger and Mark. It was really chaotic in an organized way. Wow. Organized chaos...that's an oxymoron. But yeah, I loved all the power to it. We meet Joanne here and see more of Benny. Also- there is a MAJOR height difference between Mark and Roger. Dan has to be at least 6'2 and Andy is about...5'6. lol. So when Mark and Roger are getting in each others faces Dan hasta been down, it's hysterical!

"You Okay Honey?" (Angel, Collins): Alright, lets make this clear. Angel and Collins are the best gay couple ever. Angel as a man is pretty interesting. He talks like a girl and he had on like, jeans but they were girly (hard to explain) and I loved the tree!

"Tune Up #3"(Mark, Roger) "One Song Glory": The tune up is pretty short, just describes about April, Roger gets a bit angry. I love love love "One Song Glory". It's one of my favorites. I love the frustration you get from Roger and Dan plays him amazingly *claps*

"Light My Candle"(Roger, Mimi): I love this song! Amazing, I loved the flirting between Mimi and Roger, it was too cute! I also loved when Mimi drops her stash and then grabs it, and I love the whole part about the dripping wax. Too cute!

"Voice Mail #2" (Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson *Joanne's parents*): I like this voicemail. It was kinda comical with Mrs. Jefferson butting in on the conversation.

"Today 4 U"(Angel, Collins, Roger, Mark): We see Angel in drag clothing. I liked his(her) zebra tights! Vey good song, nice emotion. Very awesome dancing on Angel's part.

"You'll See"(Benny, Mark, Collins, Roger, Angel): Benny's song, as I call it. It was good. Didn't blow me away, but I liked it. The end was funny with Collins- "I like boys." Angel- "Boys like me!" haha.

"Tango: Maureen"(Mark, Joanne): Hah! Mark can't dance...it was hysterical. Amazing display of voices by Andy and Adrienne. Another great song.

"Life Support"(Paul, Gordon, the company): I love it when Mark finally says his name! He looks so proud of himself!

"Out Tonight"(Mimi): DAMN! It was amazing! One of the best performed songs of the night. Tallia was amazing! She is an amazing dancer! And her pants were so blue! I loved the flirtiness with Roger! Awesome song! *claps*

"Another Day"(Roger, Mimi, the company): This is my favorite song on the OBCR. It was performed very well. Roger was so angry and very sexy here.

"Will I?"(Steve, the company): I love this song. Plain and simple.

"On the Street"(the company)/Santa Fe(Collins): I don't really like "On the Street" that much, too much bad language, lol. "Santa Fe", however, is a great song. "Ya know, tumble weeds, prairie dogs...yeah..." lol.

"I'll Cover You"(Angels, Collins): Beautiful. Absolutly beautiful.

"We're Okay"(Joanne): Amazing. I love Adrienne, amazing voice.

"Christmas Bells"(the company): Chaotic if you don't know what's going on. I love how everyone sings at once.

"Over the Moon"(Maureen): I absolutly loooooove this song! And I want her pants!!! They were regular jeans with yellow fabric shapes, a star, a heart, and something else, I want them! Ava is amazing in this song! It's so funny! I loved her movments to go through everything. It rocked! And everyone mooed. "Moo with me!"

"La Vie Boheme"(the company)/"I Should Tell You"(Roger, Mimi)/La Vie Boheme B(the company): Wow. I <3 this song! It has sooo much energy and I wanted to start dancing during it. It has that effect on you. I loved all the actions and such. It was just hysterical.

"I Should Tell You" is also very sweet. Go Roger and Mimi! La Vie Boheme B- I love it!

Act Two

"Seasons of Love"(the company)- A very popular song. The 525,600 minutes one. It's just awesome, I loved everyone in a straight line and the soloist was great.

"Happy New Year"(the company)/"Voice Mail #3"(Mrs. Cohen, Alexi Darling): I love Maureens cat suit! I WANT IT! I want those cat ears badly! I will find a pair. Anyway, I love this song. And instead of "You can take the girl outta Hicksville, but you can't take the Hicksville outta the girl" part, they changed Hicksville to Jersey! The entire audience went crazy! *I saw the play/live in Jersey, that's why it was so funny*

"Take Me Or Leave Me"(Joanne, Maureen): Energy. Chemistry. Whatever the hell it was, it was amazing *claps*

"Without You"(Mimi, Roger): *claps yet again* This is prolly my 2nd favorite song in the CD and the play. I just love it.

"Voice Mail #4" (Alexi Darling): I love Alexi! Well done!

"Contact": Wow. I used to not like this song but now I like it. I started crying right about here when *SPOILER* Angel died. I was hysterical, actually.

"I'll Cover You: Reprise"(Collins, the company): Amazing. Absolutly beautiful. Wow. This was one of the best songs in the play. The emotion was outstanding. I was still crying so I cried even harder...

"Halloween"(Mark): I love this song. *claps for Andy*

"Goodbye Love"(Mimi, Roger, Mark, Collins, Joanne, Maureen, Benny): Gut wrenching. Outstanding, I loved it. Mad props! lol. *claps*

"What You Own"(Roger, Mark): My drama song! *I sang this song for my drama audition and made the play* I actually sang during it, quietly, though, no one could hear me, I swear!. *claps again* It was perfect.

"Voice Mail# 5" (Mimi,Roger,Mark's moms and Joanne's dad) I love how it all blends together.

"Finale"(the company)"Your Eyes"(Roger)"Finale B"(the company): Finale isn't too important but I loved it. "Your Eyes" made me cry some more, it was so sweet. "Finale B" was my favorite part of the show though. It was just- nice. It made me cry. I loved it so much.

^^ wow, that took forever. I give Rent an A+. God- it is just so moving. I recomend it to everyone. It toched me more then I thought it would. I am still on my Rent high. Hope you enjoyed the review! Sorry it was so long...
oxdreaminxo

[EverythingIsRENT]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 7:40pm

awwww HORRAY for RENT! awesome review!!! Dammit, it's been almost 525,600 minutes since I last saw RENT! I miss it!! Good to hear the tour is going so well

[renthead2005z]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 12:40am

I saw the show and i have to say that really sums it up! I loved it! It was amazing, and it is going to be sad that a cast that good for rent is going to be leaving soon *tear*, anyway, Danny Calvert was simply a nice person, and Andy Meeks is the same. He actually stopped and talked to us for a long time, it was like 45 mins after the show the first time i saw it with this cast. The whole cast is amazing and is second best-if not tied with the original cast! SIMPLY AMAZING!

[oxdreaminxo]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 8:48pm

Haha, glad you guys liked my review. It took forever to write! =P

[ShuQ]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 9:07pm

LOL!

"Angel Dumott Schunard: Damien DeShaun Smith: *claps* Another wow. He was awesome as Angel, I loved his flirtiness with Collins, it was so cute. However, I really think he was gay"

Uhhh...YA THINK? He's dressed up as a woman in heels...

[oxdreaminxo]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 7:15pm

Ehh, I guess so. lol. But yeah- in order to wear those zebra tights...

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 8:25pm

Awsome review! I might just have to fly myself out to the nearest state its coming to and go see it!

[ikmbway]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 8:48pm

gr8 review! wish i could of seen it i wanna wait til drew leaves so i can maybe get tix for bway or i would lyk to see this cast

[BEKA531]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 9:06pm

haha... you're as bad as i am. every time i see a show i review it by character and song. i thought i was the only one.

[EVIE]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 11:08pm

I LOOOOVE this cast, Dan and Ava were my favorites. They kicked ass!!!

[oxdreaminxo]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 5:34pm

lol BEKA. glad you guys like my review so much, it makes me feel special...lol. Everytime I re-read it it makes me wanna see it again. =P