Rent: Overrated or Revolutionary?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 12:12pm

State your opinions here.

When I was 17, the score really spoke to me. Now, after listening, most of it leaves me cold, and I find myself finding more fault in the show than anything else. I know there are a lot of Rent lovers on this board, but just wanted to open up a discussion for all opinions of this show.

SO the question is:Is Rent Revolutionary or is Rent Overrated?
Updated On: 8/27/05 at 12:12 PM

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 12:18pm

I say it is a little of both. The show is sort of like the Hair of the 90's. It was the first show to use the late 80's/90's rock/alternative sound in a show...and it featured a more realistic view of life in NYC unlike the fantasy land it appears as in the old Comden and Green shows or in a show like Guys and Dolls. However, the show does have many faults and I think that now they are a little more noticeable than at first. I think the death of Jonathan Larson also aided the show in both respects. I think first, the show gained a lot of notoriety because of the tragedy, and many of the flaws were overlooked because of it. However, if Larson had not died on the eve of the Off-Broadway premiere he may have been able to correct many of these flaws during the preview period..etc. I think it is hard to totally judge the show since its creator didn't survive to totally finish his creation.

Updated On: 8/27/05 at 12:18 PM

[Kringas]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 12:26pm

I agree with Enjorlas. Both and neither? I've always found it's a show that plays really well and every time I see it really enjoy it, but if I'm just listening to it or thinking about it, its flaws become glaringly obvious.

Perhaps, as BobbyBubby alluded, something about it has to do with age. I was 22 when it came out and thought it was the best thing ever. Perhaps because of youthful naivete of the show (or us as viewers/listeners) or because the show is so rooted in zeitgeist, it's harder to accept it as unflinchingly once we become older.

For me, it becomes almost impossible for the separate the show from where I was in my life when I was really into it. There's personal nostalgia that the show evokes for me, so even though I recognize (and point out) all the flaws I see in it, it still manages to get to me. I'm curious to see what sort of reaction I have to the movie.

Updated On: 8/27/05 at 12:26 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 1:03pm

I say it's a little bit both, as well. It one sense, it certainly isn't everybody's cup of tea. And in another, it isn't perfect. But then again, every great musical is flawed, no? Well, okay, ALMOST every great musical.

I had a really great conversation with someone I worked with this summer; someone who's quite an expert in musical theatre history. Anyway, he says he hates Rent because of its imperfections, and because it's over-hyped. But, deep-down, he does love it. He saw the original cast, and the show impacted him in ways that it impacts a lot of its fans. He also said he loved it for what it's done for so many people; even with technical imperfections, it's hard not to overlook some of them when you're talking about a show that has changed so many lives, etc. He did say that he thought had Jonathan not passed away when he did, the Broadway transition would not have been so fast, but rather more (necessary) work would've been done on the show.

I think that put a lot of light on how I see the show, in addition to things that continue to come to light as I learn more and more, often from people on this board.

The "revolutionary" aspect of it is pretty obvious, I guess. So, yeah, a bit of both.

[bwaybound83]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 1:12pm

Like everyone else I would have to say both. I was only twelve years old when the show came out. I was in NYC with a theatre company I was in at the time and we had tickets to see the show during it's first few months. I had heard the story about Larson and was touched but I recall going into the theatre and being so moved by what I saw that I cried. Now I was always the Jock kid who also loved theatre so crying was a no no but I was so moved I coul dnot help myself. When I listen to the score it alwaysbrings me back to highschool a time where I had so much fun with that score and seeing the show. I mean I skipped a biology final so I could rush for the tour. As I get older I have come to kno wthe faults of " RENT" but for some reason or another I can look past that and thing of all the fun the music, and the story gave me. I am getting excited about the movie and while it is not my favorite show there will alwaays be a special place in my heart for the world of " RENT"

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 1:17pm

It is considered to be the 4th Landmark Musical after OKLAHOMA!, HAIR, and A CHORUS LINE.

I think it holds some of the same problems people feel that HAIR has--dated references. But, I do think it is a great musical that deserved it's many awards and fans and longevity.

[NightLaughs]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 1:25pm

Revolutionary.
At least in my life, and that's the most I could ask for. It touched me so deeply, and just the opening sends shivers down my spine. It opened me up to musical theater and whole new side of music I never knew existed. It changed my idea of Broadway, reached out, I can't talk about Rent without getting completely sappy. It's one of those things I love so much I have to show to the people I really care about, let them experience it.
My arguements are all personal, I suppose that isn't the point of this thread. Oh well.

Question: What would you all consider its imperfections? I'm not saying there aren't any, I'm just curious.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 2:21pm

OVERRATED.
Maybe I was too old when it came out (26), but it never spoke to me. I lived in New York City in the early nineties, and experienced a lot of the things that are chronicled in the show (friends ODing; friends dying of AIDS; friends being evicted, etc). I always thought that the show was a sterile, suburban look at life in the city. It was made, IMO, to appeal to young, suburban teens who want to feel "bohemian".

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 2:28pm

It's not a bad show by any means, but it's not nearly as good as many of its fans think, so I'm in the overrated camp.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 2:30pm

It also doesn't help that the show's direction is some of the worst I have seen on stage.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 3:08pm

Totally OVERRATED, It is good but it is not what people make it out to be. I can honestly say it was the worst theatrical experince of my life, i called my friend at intermission to see if she could sneak me into the show she was ushering, but alas i was stuck in that theatre!

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 3:16pm

But let us also take note that there is a HUGE difference in evaluating the writing of a play or musical and a production of such.

A crap production can make a great work seem bad. And vice versa. Considering that many of us may have only seen a tour or the Bway production in it's later years, we might not have a true perception of that work's greatness. These productions become carbon copies of a carbon copy of a carbon copy of a (etc).

[TennesseeTwang]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 3:19pm

I think it's overrated only if one insists on saying that it's revolutionary OR one of the all time great musicals. It's good.

But it's nowhere near being as groundbreaking or influential in the history of theater as was initially stated by it's most fervent champions.

A friend of mine who is totally in the overrated camp, says that it's nothing more than a young suburbanite's idea of slumming in bohemia. And he hates what he sees as a romanticizing of abject poverty.



Updated On: 8/27/05 at 03:19 PM

[Conor]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 3:29pm

Overrated, didn't see what the hype was about.

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 3:56pm

I think it depends on how you look at it. I would say it's revoluntionary, not necessarily based on the creative and technical aspect of it, but the effect it has had and continues to have on the audiences who see it. I think if you ask a large number of young people what show got them interested in theatre, they're going to say Rent. So I think it's revoluntiary in the respect that it has done things that many other shows would not have been able to do. It's almost been like a doorway to the world of Broadway for a lot of the people in my generation, and you have to give it credit it for that no matter how much flawed or imperfect it may be.

[Kringas]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 4:17pm

Question: What would you all consider its imperfections? I'm not saying there aren't any, I'm just curious.

Lyrically, it's disastrous at points. So many rhymes seemed forced. I was almost lynched in another thread for saying this, but I think "With condos on the top/whose rent keeps open our shop" is one of the worst lyrics I've ever heard in a Broadway musical.

There's also an argument (which I do think is valid to some degree) that the show paints heterosexuals at the heroic center of the AIDS crisis (See Susan Schulman - who has her own axe to grind, mind you).

I've also noted (on another thread) that I do think the gay characters get short-changed in the show. I personally think that of all the couples, Collins and Angel have the least depth.


Edited to Add: But let us also take note that there is a HUGE difference in evaluating the writing of a play or musical and a production of such.

I actually think the production of the show rises above its problems. I think a good production of the show allows you to overlook a lot of the flaws and inconsistencies. A bad production of it only serves to magnify them.

Susan Schulman Interview

Updated On: 8/27/05 at 04:17 PM

[loudasthehelliwant]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 4:33pm

I would say both.

I think most shows are "overrated". If you hear a show is the best thing since sliced-bread, I personally think you're going to be disappointed after seeing it... b/c very few things ever live up to hype.

I LOVE this show, though it is flawed, but I think "revolutionary" is a very strong word. I wouldn't say its purely revolutionary, but I would say that it was at least a little revolutionary.

LOL. I'm not good at making sense.

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 4:33pm

kringas, what's ur icon?

[Kringas]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 4:35pm

It's me, performing a scene at my thirtieth birthday party.

[Tap16]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 4:37pm

what is the big deal about rent? whats so great about it? i personally don't think that the music is even that great.

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 4:39pm

Sarah Schulman can say all she wants, and I would have taken her points much more seriously if she had referred to points in the musical correctly. There is a time in her book, Stagestruck, where she incorrectly describes a character who, even amidst the wrong details, is Collins, but she calls him Benny. If you're going to write a book, you really should make sure you're referencing what you're trying to disprove correctly.

[Kringas]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 4:44pm

Fair enough, GFC, but she does raise some issues in that interview that should be addressed, namely that "You end up with a story of the AIDS crisis in which the central, most heroic figures are straight." She may be a tad hyperbolic, but I think it's a valid point.

[seasons of love]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 5:04pm

After reading the previous posts... I'm going to have to jump on the "both bandwagon." I really think its a matter of preference.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 5:09pm

I've never seen it performed live so I can't really say overall whether it's one or the other as far as the entire performance, but judging from the music, I think it's exuberant and moving for the most part, though I agree that some of the lyrics and characterizations could be stronger.

[freeadmission]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 5:14pm

I've always felt RENT is overrated, but there's no doubt in my mind that it was revolutionary. I just happen to think its being revolutionary is a bad thing. Part of the reason I find it overrated is that in the end you're left with a sense of hopelessness; a sense that, yeah, life sucks, but it's all we have; that life lacks a purpose, which is something I do not believe to be true.

This idea that life has no goal worked its way into the RENT revolution (so to speak). Many (dare I say most) who saw the show subscribed to this philosophy and live accordingly. RENT fueled the exsitentialism, cultural relativism, and "tolerence" ideals of today's society. None of which I find particularly encouraging.


On another note, I think Schulman -- despite problems with other things she said -- hit the nail on the head with this one:

"It's constructed like a Benetton ad: There's the homeless Puerto Rican drag queen who's HIV-positive, the black upper-class lesbian, the straight white guy from the suburbs who's HIV-negative. And they're all presented as equal; they're all bohemians. This is a standard conceit of a dominant culture: to look at people who have different levels of social power and equalize them in a false way that removes the specificity of their experience."

I always bothered me how the shows diversity seems so contrived. But I haven't yet fleshed my thoughts out on the matter, so I'll stop there before I confuse myself. LOL