Rent: 10/15, Long

[jewishboy]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:18am

Hey everyone,


So, I made my third visit to Rent tonight and I will post my first formal "review."

I do believe the show is in very good shape right now. I saw it 2 years ago and it was not so good (I did see it 2001 and it was very good then too). I brought my 62 year old father tonight and was pretty nervous he would hate it, he is very old school. He loved it and He loved the way the show is staged, I was very happy he thought so highly of it. All the musical numbers were done very well and Christopher J. Hanke was very crisp and clear. Almost everyone else, on the other hand, really have to take their time and try and work on their diction and pacing. Maybe Michael Greif should come in and clear some stuff up.

One thing that bothered me, besides for the teenage girls screaming their heads off after every number, was that one couple kept getting up from their seats, in the first row of the mezzanine and came back with drinks, I was appalled.
The actors;

Frenchie Davis (SOL soloist): The good, her voice. The very very bad, her disregard for Jonathan Larson’s material she is singing/ speaking. She did not finish her line at the end of Seasons of love and you could barely hear her during “Christmas Bells” and the bag lady scene. But she is a show stopper.

D'Monroe (Benny): The weakest person in the cast he is tying to make the role his own, but he takes too many liberties with the role.

Destan Owens (Collins): I think it was his last night tonight, he got the last bow. He was just OK until "I cover You (Reprise)." When he sang that he held the last note through the blackout, very thrilling.

Justin Johnston (Angel): his acting has grown a lot in the past two years but his singing in “Today 4 You” varied from excellent to ugly to silent. His “Contact” was very good.

Nicole Lewis (Joanne): Excellent. Not the best, but truly excellent. She went a little flat during her solo part in "Take Me or Leave Me" but held her own during the duet part.

Haven Burton (Maureen): The best Maureen I have seen. She made Maureen seem spacey and weird but not dumb. Her "Over the Moon” was a little too fast but her solo in "Take Me or Leave Me" was a true powerhouse and very different then Idina Menzel's version, which I thought everybody has tried too much to emulate. Brava!

Jamie Lee Kirchner (Mimi): Not the best, but still pretty good. Her best numbers were "Another Day" and "Light My Candle." She was a very fierce Mimi in Act One, but did not make the transformation that Daphne did so well (only based on recordings) so I never felt that much compassion for her. Krystal L. Washington is the best I have seen so far.

Tim Howar (Roger): I thought he was amazing. Very angry but still very composed during "Goodbye Love" which played excellently with Christopher's layered and subdued performance. He bordered over acting, but thought he didn't push it that much. His "One Song Glory" actually sent shivers down my back. I would definitely be on the pro side of Tim Howar as Roger, why do people dislike him?

Christopher J. Hanke (Mark): Each scene he’s in was a highlight. I finally got to see a Mark who was interesting, compelling, and one who did actually slip into the background and was always watching. His voice was excellent too. In “La Vie Boheme 2”, when he did the last line with the rest of the company, "Viva La Vie Boheme!" he was smiling and was so eager to put his hand up like a fist and make a difference that his hand grew further and further toward the ceiling after each word. Breathless after the last Boheme he seemed so glorious, truly a masterful job!

[mint0621]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:26am

One of my recent pet peeves about Rent: "Over the Moon" is performed faster and faster, every time I see Rent. I wonder if it's just cuz the actress has done it so many times that they want to zip through it?

When it's done fast, it's not as funny, the audience doesn't really have time to register what is being said.

Anyways, can't wait to see Chris Hanke as Mark....thanks for the detailed review!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 1:18am

Anyone know if Christopher J. Hanke is extending his contract now that he's not doing Cry Baby? I really want to see him in December.

Posted: 10/16/06 at 1:53am

I went to the show (with orangeskittles) tonight as well.

Honestly, both of us came to the conclusion that it was so much better than we were expecting, which is probably more of a backhanded compliment than anything, but we were truly expecting the worst after reading what some people have said about the show recently. It's possible that I just don't have very discerning taste, but I really didn't see too many weak links in the cast.

Considering it was Destan's last night, it seemed strange that he seemed to lack any real intensity. His rendition of the I'll Cover You reprise sounded awful to me as well. My only other real complaint lies with Tim Howar's acting. From what I hear, his acting of the role has changed considerably since he started as Roger, and I found it so completely over the top and generally unbelievable. Angst is one thing, but flailing around to the point where your shirt is almost falling off is another. There were moments where his acting seemed to fit, but more often than not, he seemed much too overaffected. I swear his eyes were either rolled back in their sockets or, at other moments, about to pop out of his skull, throughout the entire show. I was actually laughing at inappropriate moments because he was just so over. the. top.

Jamie was so completely sexy and embodied the role perfectly. I actually thought she made Mimi into quite a compassionate character while still maintaining her fiery spirit. The first way I described Chris's performance to someone else was just that he was "so Mark," for the lack of a better term; I felt he was everything the character should be while still adding in a few extra surprises here and there. I'm so glad I saw Haven as Maureen - like jewishboy mentioned, she was quirky without being a total ditz, and I absolutely loved her voice.

For as much as I wasn't a fan of Tim's acting, I have to say that his vocal performance completely blew me away. I loved his voice in every single song in which he appears; it fits absolutely perfectly. His One Song Glory was angry, passionate, raw - everything that song should be, and one of the few moments where I felt he both acted and sang wonderfully. Definite highlight of the night. I'd definitely jump at the chance to see any solo shows of his - not sure if he still does that, but he definitely had my favorite voice of the cast.

Lastly, for as many times as this has been said... nothing rivals seeing this show live. Even if many feel this cast is mediocre, the movie is still a shoddy replacement for seeing Rent live. I enjoyed the movie, but it's no comparison to the intensity of the live show when you have even a decent cast. I saw Rent last summer with Shields and Caplan and found it... well, awful, but I found this cast more than competent and would definitely recommend the show to others while Howar, Hanke, and Kirchner are in the leading roles.

ETA: RentBoy86, I overheard some girls asking Chris after the show if he was going to stay with Rent, and he said that he doesn't know. For the record, those girls were scary - one of them was smelling his scarf and rubbing it against her face. Yeah, I don't know...

Updated On: 10/16/06 at 01:53 AM

[jewishboy]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 2:04am

Yup, I agree with a lot of what you said. I think Tim Howar started off pretty amazing but, when he got to Goodbye Love/ What you Own, he kind of lost it. When he was singing What you Own his face was pretty scary. I never saw Cary Sheilds, and thank god. Matt Caplan was pathetic.

Yes, you have to see the show live. My biggest complaint about the movie is the lack of intensity. Take Me Or Leave Me for example, was done as this big sweeping number in the movie with Idina and Tracie running around the country club wiht everyone watching them. On stage it is just the two of them on a black stage in very simple outfits and is always breathtakingly chilling, the movie could not do the number justice. Updated On: 10/16/06 at 02:04 AM

Posted: 10/16/06 at 2:20am

Really, I'm surprised I gave Rent a second try and bought the OBCR after seeing the pathetic display I witnessed last summer. Caplan and Shields had absolutely no energy at all and actually seemed bored, except for What You Own. I have no idea how Cary has the number of fans he does - granted, the guy is gorgeous, but I honestly don't know how you can defend what I saw last summer. It could have been an "off night," but that's no real excuse. I was actually more interested in the Yankees game I could see on TV in the tech box (?, not sure of the actual term) from the rear mezz than the show itself. I love baseball, but that's saying something.

Agreed with what you said about the movie - this is cliche by now, but it didn't capture the spirit of what you see at the Nederlander. It's the difference between good (the movie) and great (the show).
Updated On: 10/16/06 at 02:20 AM

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:02pm

Thank you for these reviews and the insight! I got my tickets to the tour for Nov 7th

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 8:09pm

I'm glad someone posted a thread about last night.

First of all, congratulations to the Nederlander to being the first place to thoroughly card me since I turned 21 6 months ago. BTW- to the bartender: when someone hands you a driver's license, a credit card and a medical insurance card all that have the same name on them, that's usually a good indication that it's legit.

Considering all the "Jonathan Larson would roll in his grave if he saw this!" posts that have been made on the boards lately, I was honestly *scared* to see it again. The last time I had seen Rent performed was Rent 10, so to say that this cast had some big shoes to fill is a massive understatement. I told siamese dream beforehand that I wished that the show were in a state where I didn't have to worry about whether or not it would be good, but I had been listening to Rent obsessively the past few weeks, however, so I just had this gut feeling that it was "time" for me to see it again, whether the cast was ready or not.

Now, I feel bad I was in that mindset. I *really* liked it. I feel bad just pointing up and agreeing with siamese dream's post, but they really were the same reactions. Chris was definitely great as Mark; he did lots of little things to make the role his own and different from his predecessors, without letting the little things completely overtake the character. Tim has an amazing voice, but his acting got a bit telenovela-esque in Goodbye Love. I loved Jamie when I saw her on tour a few years ago. I do agree that she's not the best, but I don't intend it as an insult; there have been some amazing Mimis in the past, so she has a lot to contend with.

Some cynics will claim that since I'm already a longtime Rent fan, I'm not subjective enough to know what's actually "good", which I think is BS. Shouldn't a fan be even more critical of what they're seeing than someone going in with a blank slate? I went in there with strong opinions what Rent should be and how certain characters should be played and found myself pleasantly surprised. Not good just because it's Rent (I've seen Rent when it's not good), but legitimately enjoying individual performances from actors that I hadn't seen before.

I rarely review shows, and never when it's a show that's been running for so long and have had hundreds of reviews posted in the past, but considering some of the crap that's been posted lately, I had to post some of my own reflections to disagree with the naysayers. Rent isn't dying. They don't need to wipe out the entire cast and start over from scratch. It is still possible to enjoy the show and see a good performance after all these years. And nothing will ever compare with seeing it performed live onstage.


P.S. If anything in that theater were going to make Jonathan Larson roll in his grave, it would have been the behavior of a certain group of fans sitting in the lotto seats, not what was going on onstage.

P.P.S. Maybe if you edit your thread title to something more inflammatory, people will read.

Updated On: 10/17/06 at 08:09 PM

Posted: 10/17/06 at 4:31pm

I saw that part in the movie recently. I wasn't impressed. Not to mention I had no idea that she was homosexual. . But than again, it delt with New York, figures. Right after the restarant scene song, I turned it off.

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/17/06 at 4:37pm

By the way, Richard Thomas played a bisexual in "A Naked Girl on Appian Way" last season.

Posted: 10/17/06 at 4:53pm

If there is any truth to that, that's him. Than that's one play I'm glad I missed. I'd rather see him play a real nutcase (like in the made for t.v. movie 'To Save The Children') than someone who's 'that way'.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 10/17/06 at 5:19pm

RTFan, this isn't a board to complain about homosexuals and how awful New York is. Like I've said before, you obviously don't know much about Rent.

[mijofly19]

Posted: 10/17/06 at 6:00pm

Does anybody know who replaced Destan?

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 10/17/06 at 6:14pm

i also noticed "over the moon" is performed very fast, a lot faster than the way idina did it
but i like it faster, i thought it is kind of boring too slow, and all
:)
just me

but glad to hear the current cast is not as bad as everyone has been saying!

[Maggie_May]

Posted: 10/17/06 at 9:14pm

Mark Richard Ford is back! His I'll Cover You Reprise is the most amazing thing I've ever heard. Can't wait to head back and see him.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 10/17/06 at 9:21pm

Over the Moon is supposed to be performance art. If it is rushed then the comedy does not come through. Haven Burton did very original movements, but I got absolutely nothing from her line readings in that scene.

And RTfan, can we please keep hurtful comments off this board and particularly this thread. Why bother reading if you detest the message and personality of the show. Thank you.

Posted: 10/18/06 at 9:29am

To Alliez: I have seen enough of that play/movie to know that I don't care for it. Everyone has the right to his/her own opinion.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:01am

Mark is back for a limited run until the actor they've hired to play Collins is finished a current gig.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:21am

"Rent" was never as good as it was at the new york theater workshop. The original cast was incredible!

[avab802]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 1:35pm

Thanks for the review! I saw RENT a few weeks ago and felt much the same way you did. The last time I'd seen it was almost 4 years ago, and I think it's in great shape currently. The only person I didn't really care for was Tim Howar. I also thought Ava Guadet's "Take Me Or Leave Me" was weak, but her "Over the Moon" was very good. I LOVED Jamie Kirchner's Mimi, one of the best I've seen and I think I saw one of her first performances.

Does anyone know if Haven is going to be playing Maureen for a while now? I know Maggie Benjamin is coming back to fill in also. Does anyone know when she starts? I'd love to see them both.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 1:45pm

I REALLY want to see Hanke.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 2:02pm

Haven was just on as the understudy. Maggie is already back.

BSo, you really should. Such huge change from Matt Caplan.

[avab802]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 2:23pm

Thanks orangeskittles. Oh well, there goes my hope of finally seeing Haven as Maureen.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 5:21pm

RTfan, I agree, but don't come on here and complain about homosexuals.

Posted: 10/18/06 at 6:50pm

Yea ok. That's just like telling the democrats not to complain about President Bush.