Rent tour critique and bloopers

[erikrokks]

Posted: 3/20/04 at 12:23am

Hey all...I saw the tour of Rent on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was pretty disappointing for the most part. The cast really didn't do anything for me as a whole. Mostly because my favorite character (Roger) was TERRIBLE! Constantine Maroulis could not have been further from what Roger represents. Don't you think that Roger's voice should have a little bit of an edge to it? This guy sounded like Chris Kirkpatrick from 'NSYNC. His voice was WAY too high-pitched and soft. The same goes for the guy performing as Angel. He did not have a good voice at all. He kept getting winded, especially during "Today 4 U". The only spot that I enjoyed his voice was during "Contact". That was the only time in the show when he really used his full voice. I think Shaun Earl has spoiled me with his version of Angel...
On the other hand, I felt that Mimi was really good for once. I've had a bad run of bad Mimis, with the exception of Karen Olivo and this young lady, Jaime Lee Kirchner. Also, Benny has always been a character I could take or leave, but this Benny had a really good voice. Lastly, Maureen and Joanne were just ok separately, but when they joined for "Take Me or Leave Me", the totally rocked out!
There were 2 bloopers, one each night. On Tuesday night during "What You Own", when Mark finishes telling Lexi that he quits and he's supposed to slam the pay phone down on the receiver, right? Well, he totally missed and had to do it again, but he missed the second time also. He kept it together for the most part, but you could see him smile and try to keep from laughing. Then on Wednesday night, during "Goodbye, Love" a random rope (forgive me for not knowing the appropriate term) came loose from offstage where I'm assuming it was tied up or something. It was just swinging around on stage near "the phone booth where Angel set up his drums".
All of this is IMHO, of course!

[swingshift_42]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 8:42pm

I once saw Rent on B'way (maybe 4-5 years ago now) in which the entire cast got the giggles mid-way through "La Vie" and couldn't make it to the end of the act. It happens to the best...

[starlight2]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 9:12pm

ok, i LOVE "'RENT", have seen the Angel, Benny and Collins Tours, and the OBC, twice, but at some point, take it home. Let it be quiet for awhile. They are into asking people that they shelved to "never call back", asking college people to fly in and audition or send tapes,calling "friends of friends" and this is great for awhile, to do what Jonathan wanted for talented unknowns, but it has been taken too far in my humble opinion. "Rent" and it's message will live forever!!! Keep it on Broadway as long as possible with new, or proven talent that fit the roles and personalities of the characters, but let the Tour go for now. The reviews from critics, many "rentheads" and others, have said it is time to let go of it for awhile. It has been on Tour for about 8 years. Begin it again in a couple of years or so, meanwhile, let Broadway draw the crowds, they need it!!Keep the publicity going on it and Tick Tick ...Boom! and let the new "generation" seek it out, want to see it, and then, launch a new Tour in 2006, with new "talented" people who have earned the right to a tour of this caliber and who will do it and Jonathan and his dream justice. Again, just my opinion, but my friends who have seen it the past several months in several cities say, it is time, they will not go back, except the "diehards" and even they need a break or need to go and see it in NYC in the next year or so.

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 9:12pm

I have to disagree about Constantine, though reviews on him seem to be hot or cold. I really enjoyed him and thought he was a great Roger. Maybe because I've seen his band play and I know that he really has that pretty-boy frontman rock star thing down. I loved his acting choices, and I thought he sounded great. But this is why opinions exist, so they can differ!

[erikrokks]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 10:07pm

Thanks for the response...
I do have to agree with you that although I didn't care for his voice, I did appreciate Constatine's acting. Even though I've seen the show tons of times, he was probably the most effective in making me feel what his character is feeling, especially toward the end of the second act.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 10:16pm

I liked the way Constantine sung the songs...it was different, but he is not my favorite. I LOVED Jaime as Mimi! She was great! I also enjoyed Rebecca as Joanne and Damien as Angel. I feel Leslie could have slowed down Over The Moon. Sara Schatz was hilarious in Over The Moon! Jeannette blew the house off with the Seaons of Love solo.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 4:29pm

Ok i saw the Rent tour last night in Chicago..
This was my first time seeing a performance of Rent and i couldn't wait because i have always loved the music and the story. Ok constantine maroulis *Roger* didn't really do it for me. He didn't really look the part of what i thought roger should look like and his singing wasnt that strong. His voice was kind of high and didnt have umf! When he sang One Song Glory, i didnt feel anything. I thought Brian Gligor *mark* was really good in the role. His singing was awesome and i couldnt ask for a better Mark. Rebecca jones *joanne* had a great voice but seemed too young for the role. It sometimes felt like she was a teenager playing a harvard graduate. Jaime Lee Kirchuner *mimi* was OUTSTANDING!!!!! her voice was awesome and her energy was infectious. When she sang Out Tonight she blew it out of the park. Her dancing was great and you could tell she was having fun. Leslie Diamond *maureen* was pretty good. Her Over the Moon was great and very funny. And her Take me or Leave Me part was awesome. Damien Smith *angel* had a good voice and his Contact and Ill cover You was great! I thought the performance was great and it made me want to see Rent again in the future.
You could tell there were a lot of rentheads in the audience, sometimes it felt like i was in a rock concert. When a character would maker her/his appearance, there would be clapping and whistling. I found that energy great!! There was a same type of blooper erikrokks had. A rope from the wings kept swinging on and off the stage from the wings...it wasnt that bad but it was noticiable. Well, i had a great afternoon at the theatre yesterday, and i cant wait to revisit the show!! I think i am becoming part Renthead now!! =D

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 5:49pm

I think whoever plays Roger needs to have a good voice, but not necessarily sound edgy like Adam Pascal. Sometimes it's nice to have someone completely different play the character rather than someone identical to the original. I saw the national tour years ago (I don't remember which cast, maybe Mark's Mom or Mimi's Dealer tour, whatever) and the Roger didn't have an edgy voice. He looked somewhat Euro-Asian and had a crystal clear voice. I'd seen the original cast three times and was quite pleasantly surprised. He had a blooper as well. During La Vie Boheme, when he was supposed to play his guitar solo, he screwed up and played a bunch of random notes and Mark said, "...that doesn't sound like anything." Also, it was the only time I saw a white Collins. His voice was a little weak, but I was happy to see casting out of the norm.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 8:38pm

I couldn't agree less with you in terms of Constantine Maroulis, erikrokks. I loved him because his voice was unlike anyone I have ever heard before in that role. In regards to his acting, when he and Brian Gligor (who was freaking amazing in all aspects) were onstage, they looked uncomfortable together. Jamie Lee Kirchner was SOOOO fabulous! I loved everything about her. Awesome. Marcus Paul James as Collins was probably my favorite, his voice was the most beautiful I have heard in such a long time. The weakest performances IMHO were Leslie Diamond as Maureen (SO SO SO disapointing) and Daryl C. Brown as Benny (SO SO SO boring.) Overall, it was probably the best I've seen it. Hooray! Sidenote, the only glitch during the show that I saw was Angel's mike going out during Contact.

[vjRichie]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 10:26pm

I've seen two tours 1999 and 2002, the latter was horrid...bad singers and too many mistakes...like the payphone ringing as Mark is talking on it.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 10:08pm

Sorry to drudge this back up, but I just found out today that the Rent tour is hitting Seattle in August. Does anyone know if there's going to be a cast change before that, and even if there isn't, what's the general consensus of the tour? I just saw the show finally for the first time last week (re: my thread "I'm ba-ack") and wasn't thrilled with the lack of energy in the cast. Will I be just as disappointed if I drive the few hours to watch this production too?

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 11:41pm

If you go to www.compulsivebowlers.com, there are a lot of reviews of the cast in the tour forum.

I believe that the actual "closing" of the current cast is this June. It is yet to be determined who will be staying with the tour and who will be replaced. Usually a few stick around, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a few go. They have a pretty rough schedule.

I really like this cast. They are definitely the most energetic cast I've ever seen, so that shouldn't be a worry. There are a few weak links, but a lot of strong performers and some great character interpretations. So long as you go into it with an open mind, you'll really enjoy it. I thought they were great and I've seen the Broadway cast more than I care to admit.