insomniak's Rent tour review (warning: long)

[insomniak]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 8:45pm

I can't even articuate how thrilled I was to see it again. It's been almost a year and I'd heard so many great things about this tour cast, some of which I agree with and some of which I don't.

We begin... Tune-ups and voicemail- As always, it threw me a bit to hear new actors singing the music that I'm so used to the OBC doing on the recording. I did warm up to this cast fairly quickly, though I think Andy Meeks swallowed a few lines. Erin Greiner was a good Mark's Mom, very funny and a little different. I like her hair, too.

Rent- What an eargasm. I'd forgotten how amazing this score is played live, the recording is so dry compared to the way the instrumentals are supposed to sound. This number is great in general, love the dancing and the lighting and everything. Dan Rosenbaum was a little weak at times, but overall it was great.

You Okay Honey?- Damien Smith was good, but something about the way he talks annoys me... hm. I'll talk about Marcus Paul James later.

Tune-up 3 and One Song Glory- Wow. Andy did a good job with his little bit and Dan's Glory is fantastic. He doesn't sound as much like Adam as I thought he would've, but very, very good.

Light My Candle- I love this song and their rendition made me happy. Talia Brinson was a very good Mimi, though she didn't have a particular approach to the role- not young and inexperienced like Dominique Roy or tough like Karmine Alers. I am happy to say that she has proper 'Mimi hair' now and that Dan's handcuff dance was hot. Dan and Talia had nice chemistry also, but no sparks flew.

Voice Mail 2- No particular feeling about it

Today 4 U- same, really. I never much liked this song, but Damien definetly had a good time with it.

You'll See- Very well done, Mario Ferrell has a lovely voice. People have said he acts 'too gay' to be a good Benny, but I thought it was actually rather funny and added an unintended irony to his lackluster marriage to Allison.

Tango: Maureen- Adrienne and Andy were perfect and had great comic timing. <3

Life Support- *sniffs* Every time, every time. 'Beacause reason says I should've died three years ago' was perfect.

Out Tonight- *WHOOP* I LOVE seeing this performed and Talia did not disapoint. That girl is hot and knows a thing or two about dancing. Good vocals, too.

Another Day- *sigh* This is the number that makes or breaks a Roger in my book. Dan failed to impress me. I could hardly hear him over the band and he didn't sound angry enough. Talia and the ensemble almost managed to make up for it, though.

Will I?- I think this song made my heart physically hurt, that's how good it was.

On the Street- Not much to say (and this is long enough already) LaDonna Burns did well with the Bag Lady

Santa Fe- Marcus Paul James. What can I say about this man? He was fantastic throughout and Santa Fe was one of the best-sung numbers of the day. Love the ensemble's dance too.

I'll Cover You- Awww. So cute.

We're Okay- As well done as anyone can do a pretty bad solo. Kudos to Adrienne Fishe.

Christmas Bells- Great. I love hearing it live because you can hear things that are completely buried on the recording.

Over the Moon- AVA! I love this girl. She might be my favorite Maureen- funny and ditzy, but also believable. Some actresses play Maureen like a cartoon, but Ava's characterization made me think she could actully be a real person.

La Vie Boheme, both parts- Perfect, one of the best versions I've seen. Spot on vocally and nailed dancing.

I Should Tell You- Again, no sparks, but very, very good.

Seasons of Love- Again, great. LaDonna isn't my favorite soloist, but she's alright.

Happy New Year and voicemail- The whole cast was great, they did a good job with acting like a family of friends. They felt connected as a whole and Dan and Talia were adorable together.

Take Me or Leave Me- AMAZING. Hugely energetic and wonderful belting, perfect emotion. One of the standout numbers.

Without You- THIS is why Talia was cast. She has this perfectly clear, beautiful voice that sounds gorgeous on an otherwise dull song. I listened to her and watched Marcus and Damien, who completely broke my heart with their little bits of blocking and Angel getting sicker.

Contact- Alright. Nifty dancing but no funny improvs.

I'll Cover You: Reprise and the funeral- I cried all my mascara off. Marcus was brilliant and the song itself really hit home for me, reminded me of one of my friends right now.

Halloween and Goodbye Love- (lumping them together, this is way too long of a review) Finally, Dan gets angry and proves he has a voice. Great job as an ensemble, I thought. Andy was solid though not gut-wrenching in Halloween.

What You Own- <3. They matched and exceeded expectations.

Finale and Your Eyes- see above. Dan did good on the louder part of Your Eyes, but the softer section was too raspy for my liking.

Overall, highly reccommended. The other details of the day that really don't pertain to the show will be in my blog in a moment if you care to hear about awesome pizza, awesome pizza-place induced fangirl moments and rushline observations. And you get a cookie if you actually took the time to read this whole long thing. *goes off to nurse sore fingers*

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 8:49pm

So, I demand a cookie.

Great review, and I'm glad you got to go!!

ETA - let me know when your blog's up.

Updated On: 2/6/05 at 08:49 PM

[jjdude2000]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 8:50pm

cookies!!

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 8:51pm

Yay!!! I'm glad you enjoyed it! I think you deserve a cookie for writing all of that!

[insomniak]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 8:56pm

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 8:58pm

I get a cookie! Good review! I might actually have to see RENT after reading and hearing so much about it! I have the OBCR, but I get the feeling it isn't quite the same...

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 9:03pm

i want a cookie! good review

[insomniak]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 9:09pm

Glad my efforts weren't in vain.

Blog up, for those care.

Which Bowlers were there, do you know, jonart? I believe you're a CBer.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 9:15pm

Blog read and commented!

[Chloe]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 9:34pm

I really enjoyed your review. Having just seen the show in NY, I know what you mean about how different the music sounds live.

[Delphine]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 10:10pm

Fabulous review. Very in-depth. I'm SO jealous!

I am kicking myself for not trying harder to get tickets for this tour! *headdesk*

[insomniak]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 10:17pm

*GASP*

Delph, you HAVE to go!

Chloe, thank you.

[Delphine]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 10:25pm

Oh, I know, Nia, I know! I tried hard to get tickets, just not hard enough. The closest place it was playing was quite a few towns out and it meant having to book a hotel, etc, and I just couldn't do it!

Do you happen to know if the tour will be looping back towards California? *crosses fingers*

[insomniak]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 10:31pm

Delph, no idea. Check CB or broadwayacrossamerica.com

[BEKA531]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 10:37pm

okk, i'm gonna conquer this thing. be back in 5 minutes.


WHOO! i did it. yay for mimi hair! and i'm glad TMOLM was good. i <3 TMOLM. sorry you were disappointed by dan.

2 of my friends agreed to rush (broadway) rent the weekend it gets warm enough. YAY! Updated On: 2/6/05 at 10:37 PM

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 10:45pm

Wonderful review! Now I want to see RENT more then ever before (if that is possible.)

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 12:03am

Delph, it won't be coming back to Cali, at least not this year. The tour ends in March in DC.

Som, so did you get rush tickets or orchestra??

ETA: Um, Som, just read your blog - not to be nit-picky, but just to clarify, you were the one freaking out and lashing out at me last night over the rush/ticket situation. And you were the one who said it was hopeless to get tickets - not me - I said rush tickets were hopeless (which they apparently were) and was the one who told you there would be about 100 tickets left in the orchestra not to mention extra ones in the loge area, which you said would be hopeless and a waste of your day (so, "how very wrong you were", hmm?). Just thought I'd point that out, because...well...I was right.

Updated On: 2/7/05 at 12:03 AM

[dory the nun]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 12:03am

YAAAAY ! It makes me sooo happy to read reviews like these! My name is Kati and I went to college with Tallia @ UArts and she IS amazing! she was very under-used here- being featured in "Sweet Charity", "Merrily We Roll Along" and "Working" notably...

I'm just so proud of her and thrilled that people are liking her work.


She's an amazing and sweet and good hearted person- so yaaay thanks for all the kind words!
it made me very happy!!!

[Em-LEE]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 11:42am

Thanks! That was a great review! I'm seeing the show in Hershey on February 19th, and I think you've just added to my excitement and anticipation. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 11:55am

*three snaps for Nia*

You need to move to NYC, so that you can see more shows and write more reviews like that.

QM

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 1:07pm

Whoa, can you do something about the size of that pic? It's really messing up the page so that it's difficult to read. Thanks.