Wicked or Rent?- Page 2

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 11:10am

See Rent, but not with Mel Brown. Wait until October or see a matinee. I liked Wicked, but Rent's going to close sooner.

[ponine24601]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 11:13am

hm....it's a hard decision, but i would have to say RENT.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 11:51am

Rent is a better show, but the current Broadway production is not in the spirit of the show. The cast are performing innacurate depictions of the characters, have no acting skills, or choosing not to act at all, but rather sing and walk through the show so they can pick up their paycheck at the end of the week. Some of the choreography and characterizations (and even costumes) have been completely changed. It is no longer the Broadway show in my opinion, but a production that has morphed into an arrogant and self-serving production that seems to have the sole purpose of entertaining the actors more than the audience. If you go, don't pay full price and don't expect anything like the original show. After having seen the original cast, the second cast, and the first national tour, I could not figure out why so many people nowadays say "I don't see what all the fuss is about". Now having seen the current cast, I know why they said it. It's not the same show.

[NightLaughs]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 11:53am

I was in love with Rent for years. Saw it on Broadway twice, and saw it on tour once. I have to say, the touring cast was so much better. It truly is a show you can see anywhere. And let me say, much to my dissapointment, the last time I saw it on Broadway I was highly un-impressed, and figured it'd be the last time I'd see it. I didn't get that butterfly feeling anymore... something was missing on that stage.

While Rent is amazing and was my favorite show for so long...

I say go see WICKED. I just saw it for the first time this week and was completely blown away. Completely. It's an amazing production that left me in awe. And Idina? AWESOME. Truly. You can't miss her!! The music is catchy, the set is breath-taking, the performers are just top notch. You're not going to find a better package any time soon. :) In my humble oppinion of course. It all depends on what you want in your show. Sounds like you'd enjoy either, but my vote goes to WICKED. Hands down.

Updated On: 8/1/04 at 11:53 AM

[Elphaba984]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 12:01pm

WICKED!... rent is definitely a hit or miss. like i like the music but personally not the show. yeah i'm like one of the few college people out there that didn't like rent.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 12:17pm

My heart is breaking. People HATING RENT? I understand the cast is lackluster, but how can anyone hate RENT? I must now go in the corner and weep.

[NYBroadwayNY]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 12:19pm

Well, if you like a show about junkies, drugs, the homeles, depression, AIDS, death, homosexuality/bisexuality/metrosexuality/sexsexuality, who's-sleeping-with-whom, down-n-outers, outcasts, rejects from society, or things of this sort.....with great music, go see RENT. Some say it's about real life. Well.........all I can tell you is, after 35 years of life, mine's not like that and never been.

If you like a great show, that takes you to a magical place with great fun, great music, great performances, great original story, one that makes you laugh out loud and touches your emotions to bring tears, all in a great night out on Broadway, go see WICKED!!!
It's not about real life. That's the magic of theatre.

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 12:26pm

I agree with what some other people have said here. I think it depends on how well you know the OBC Recording of Rent. If you know it by heart, don't go and see it as the current cast is not very good and it will just spoil it for you.

If you have not listened to the cast recording then definitely, see Rent as it is 'different' (try to ignore the lack of passion of the current cast though). Wicked as great as well but hey, Rent is really special. You have to eventually catch it.

QM

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 12:53pm

To counter the arguement that it depends on how well you know Rent's cast recording...The first time I saw Rent I had heard the cast recording, but I could probably only even name a few songs. I didn't even really have a great cast to compare it to, because I wasn't familiar with the cast recording at the time, yet the show I saw still wasn't very satisfying. It wasn't until afterwards that I really started to become familiar with it and came to realize that it could be a great show.

Absolutely catch Rent eventually...heck...if you have time on your trip to the city enter their lotto or try to get cheap tickets on the day of the show (you couldn't really do this for Wicked,...and the lotto is next to impossible), but I really think Idina's performance is not to be missed, and she is leaving sooner than Rent will be going away. And I'm sure it won't hurt you to be seeing JLT and George Hearn in the show.

[TheGirlinTheFrock]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 1:19pm

Hard decision. I saw RENT with the current cast a couple times and enjoyed their performances completely. However, I have not seen the OBC or other casts of it. I have loved the OBCR for years and for me it was the thrill off finally seeing it live. It was great to see the set (or well lack there of), the staging, and everything i was trying to picture in my head for the past 7 years. I also went with a group of about 20 or so from school, half being RENTheads, the other half never seeing it before. They all loved it. Well, one kid loved it soley because he got to see Scary Spice - but thats another story. Now IMHO, the current cast will NEVER stack up to the OBC vocally, because well its the OBC. Also because there voices are all very unique. This is however, the only thing i know about the OBC in these roles. I cannot comment on its current state to where it was 8 years ago.

Now, I saw WICKED and also enjoyed myself. This will hold a special place in my heart because it was the first show i saw that i went in knowing nothing about it. I saw it during previews so there was no Cast Recording to listen too. I would always listen to CRs of show befor seeing it, so i would be familiar with something in it. I came out loving it and wanting to go back right away to see it. Yet it was a "temporary high" so to speak. It was not something that lasted with me. Two weeks went by, then a month and my thoughts were "eh" about it. It is definately something that you enjoy in the moment. If that is what you want WICKED is a great show for it. There are also so great numbers in the show.

Either way i believe you will enjoy yourself. I would have to say RENT for the simple fact that it is my favorite show. If you see one, definately come back to see the other.

[eyecu]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 1:54pm

In my opinion Rent is one of the most overated shows in existance at this point. More so than Wicked at the very least. Rent is a good show. Just don't expect it to be a life altering experience. It's fun, with a few catchy tunes. Though alot of the cast is terrible right now so I would go with Wicked.

[insomniak]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 2:01pm

*hugs Spider* I don't hate Rent! Come out, don't hide!

I agree entirely about the current production of Rent. Here is what I advise: See Wicked on Broadway, while you can still see Idina and because it may not tour for a while. See a tour of Rent. The tour is much, much better. The cast is all-new, no one's bored with their roles and they really care about making it a good show. I was dissapointed when I saw it on broadway, the tour was much better. www.rentthetour.com (or www.broadwayacrossamerica.com , Rent's tour site isn't always up-to-date) will help; see if it's coming anywhere near you.

Rent is a better show, Wicked is a better production.

[BroadwayPer4mer03]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 2:24pm

Wicked - a must see

[robyn525600]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 6:53pm

See both - they're both wonderful in their own right.

[DiRrTy_ReNtHEAD420]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 9:06pm

RENT RENT RENT RENT RENT


Cause everythin is RENTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!! go see it who cares who is in it. I would rathersee it w/o spice chick but the show is gr8 regardless!!!!!!!!

Wicked is good but Rent is Great.

The music is so much better in rent about 4/5 good songs in wicked. Rent is awsome from start to finish.

[Delphine]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 9:08pm

Oh, DiRrTy_ReNtHEAD420, you're so awesome. Updated On: 8/1/04 at 09:08 PM

[DiRrTy_ReNtHEAD420]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 9:19pm

Thanxs I try :LOL:

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 12:25am

see wicked! rent is great too tho..but i would see wicked before idina leaves

Posted: 8/2/04 at 2:12am

Wicked. Wicked. Wicked. Wicked. Wicked. :=)You'll regret missing Idina if you don't go now.

[boborunstheshow]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 2:20am

though ive never seen rent, i think all these rent heads that are downplaying rent are doing so cause theyve seen the better shows and expect something more.

If your not a frequent broadwayer, i doubt youll be dissapointed by anything.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 10:04am

"Well, if you like a show about junkies, drugs, the homeles, depression, AIDS, death, homosexuality/bisexuality/metrosexuality/sexsexuality, who's-sleeping-with-whom, down-n-outers, outcasts, rejects from society, or things of this sort.....with great music, go see RENT. Some say it's about real life. Well.........all I can tell you is, after 35 years of life, mine's not like that and never been."

What a silly comment. No one said it was about YOUR life. Sounds like you you never saw the show. Or if you saw it, you didn't pay attention. That would be like saying Moulin Rouge is about prostitution and tuberculosis.

[xluckystar2107x]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 6:41pm

id see wicked because Idina is still there and its always great to see a show with some original cast. RENT is also on tour so i mean you could see it when it comes to you. i love them both ao its hard. the only thing is its getting hard to get tickets for wicked so if u want to go hurry and get some. i saw RENT around christmas which is a good time to see it since a lot of it takes place during the christmas season

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 7:13pm

The reason to see Wicked isnt Idina. Its a great show.
Its creative and its truly fantastic and Im sure that they person who follows Idina will be just as good. They wouldnt cast someone who sucked. Wickeds my favorite show of all time, but RENT is most likely on its way down so I'd go to RENT, but make sure Wicked is the next show on your list. Its a MUST see!

[JaiRoAngel]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 11:46pm

RENT is my FAVORITE show. If you can catch Jai Rodriguez in RENT then see it. And that's not just because I adore him. To me he brought a light to that show. I think he just started back for another couple of weeks.

But I also love WICKED, and seeing Idina is soo worth it.

[LittleBroken]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 6:35am

I would say see RENT.

Although I fell in love with Wicked my last trip to NY, RENT will always be my favorite show. And seriously, RENT has this great catharsis affect on people. I was going through some hard times, went to see RENT in March, felt reguvinated and inspired. You cant get that from Wicked.

Wicked is cute but with many flaws. Honestly, I only saw it because of Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. I dont think I would have gone otherwise. Oh, I dont know when you are going, but Id suggest RENT before sep 9 because Drew LAchey takes over the role of Mark after that. Not to say that I know his acting; he could end up being good. But Matt Caplan is the best Mark out there.