SirLiir Sees Rent.....the Musical (Finally!)

With the boards being in a Rent mode (whether people like it or not lol) I decided to finally see Rent on Broadway. Time and circumstances have kept me away and I know that its odd someone who posts alot on these boards has never actually seen the show. It just took me a while. Not only did I see it tonight and after seeing the movie first, I won the lotto and got front row seats! Good way to start things off. Anyway, to be brief, the show was phenomenal. Having seen the movie, I was so excited to see the stage version and I was naturally blown away. The current cast on Broadway were extremely good, with the Cary Shields understudy Jay Wilkison being the night's biggest stand-out (I actually preferred his voice to Adam Pascal several times but then again, I found that the movie really seemed to lessen the volume when he sang.) Karmine Alers was excellent as Mimi and extremely beautiful. Mark Chaplin was also fantastic as Mark as were Destan Owens (Tom), D'Owens (Benny), and Justin Johnston as Angel. Ava Gaudet was flat about brilliant as Maureen and she hit Idina like proportions the entire night. Star of the rise? I think so. Finally, Fenchie Davis was great as Joanne. In the end, I could see what makes this show such a hit: Powerful music, strong characters, and adult but personal situations that really address life's own problems in a new and somber light. I finally can say I saw Rent and I loved every second of it.

Updated On: 11/27/05 at 01:32 AM

Yeah he was out. I had Jay Wilkinson, Matt Caplin, Destan Owens, D'Monroe, Frenchie Davis, Justin Johnston, Karmine Alers, and Ava Gaudet. I have nothing bad to say about them whatsoever. Oh and everyone mooed tonight.

Nope. They were both there and both in top form (They at least seemed to be). Karmine was a marvel to just look at. Was her sister or relative Mimi (her name is escaping me atm) when Norbert Leo Butz was Roger?

Karmine's sister, Yasmin Alers, was a mimi i believe while norbert was in it. But i'm not 100% sure. can anyone verify?

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Karmine left the role of Mimi in mid-October, but is staying on with the company as a Swing.

Frenchie Davis is still in the company and normally plays the Bag Lady/Seasons of Love Soloist role. The new (old) full time Joanne is going to be Kenna Ramsey who is re-joining the company in early December. I believe that Frenchie and Crystal are alternating until Kenna gets there.

Yassmin Alers, Karmine's sister, was an original swing in Rent and was a swing when Norbert Leo Butz joined the company as a swing early after the show opened and David Driver was fired. Though she was offered full time roles she never took them because swings are paid more.

Yassmin covered Mimi, Maureen, Alexi, Mark's Mom and Seasons soloist and also went on as Paul (Paula) and sung the male Solo in Seasons of Love on many occasions when there were odd circumstances. Yassmin was a phenominal Mimi and easily my favorite. To see Norbert and as Roger and Yassmin as Mimi was something special.

Updated On: 11/27/05 at 01:50 AM

She looks a LOT like Idina.

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Patronus, was Yassmin in the movie? I could've sworn I saw her during the opening song, by Benny's car in the lot. my imagination?

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~ yasmin alers also played "mimi" as well.
she's also in the 'rent' film as one of the squatters in the 'rent' number.

I thought Ava gave one of the most amateur performances I've ever seen on a Broadway stage.. but thats just my opinion!

Yeah, Yassmin was a "bohemian" in the film.

Karmine is 38 years old and while she doesn't look 38, she is a far cry from looking "like she is 16", so it's probably for the best that she is only covering Mimi as a swing these days.

Yassmin was actually in Rocky Horror Show and The Capeman on Broadway.

You can hear her amazing "Without You" on her website:

http://yassminalers.com/page.php?audio

Updated On: 11/27/05 at 01:55 AM

SirLiir I as well was in love with Ava as you know already!

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Well we can always do this the civilized way and um...fight to the death over a lava pit? Or we can just listen to Ethel Merman with the sound cranked to 100x decibels. Surely one of our skulls will cave in first. The one that lives, though deaf, gets her ^^

Being a non-Rent head, its difficult for me to say just how great the cast was in comparasion to previous ones. Knowing that you are experienced on this matter, what did you find wrong with the cast, Patronus?