A lot of people ask about brining younger kids to see RENT, and if it's okay. Honestly, I think a lot of that stuff will just go right over their heads, but of course it depends on the individual. Anyway, I saw RENT for the first time with my father; I was seventeen. I suppose you're dealing with a lot of issues that can be potentially touchy, partly because of the reality of them, and partly because of the ideas that are 'unconventional' to some people. My dad was definitely more than a little bit put-off by a lot of the elements of the show, but he ended up falling asleep. I think the biggest issue, even aside from my age, because I could certainly handle it, was the issue of embarassment and experiencing all of this while my dad was there with me. Kind of like experiencing CABARET with my mildly-conservative mother. I mean, nothing is really there just to shock you, or just for the sake of being "dirty" of "offensive," and in all honesty, it could be MUCH more risque than it is.
re: the Broadway cast... I saw the show about a month ago, minus Drew. Anyway, here's what I thought -
10.14.04 RENT post
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/29/04
luvtheemcee, I'm surprised your dad managed to fall asleep. Rent is such a loud show, I can't imagine that! :) It sounds as if you think you were young at 17 seeing the show for the first time? That kinda surprises me, too, because I guess most of the people I know who love Rent saw it for the first time in their early teens (I was even younger than that). I remember one time I was at the Neder a few years ago and there was a sixth grade class there on a school trip to see the show. I thought that was pretty cool. And I've certainly seen kids around 9 or 10 at the show, many times. :)
Maureen flahses her chest if there is a "good" audience. And she moons the audience too.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/29/04
Like I said, I've seen the show 40+ times, at the Neder and every North American tour. I've never seen Maureen "flash her chest". And technically, she doesn't moon the audience, she moons Mr. Grey. Which Maureen did you see flash her chest? I'm curious. Updated On: 12/4/04 at 04:17 PM
IBF- that was Idina , I am not sure about all Maureens.
erinrebecca - It is still very far beyond me how my dad managed to fall asleep. Honest to God, the only thing he remembers is Today 4U. He saw Jai Rodriguez on Queer Eye and was like "hey. Isn't that the guy in the Santa suit from Rent?" "Yes dad, I thought you were asleep." And, yet, he still has the nerve to say he thinks it's a horrible show. It kills me that he's too dense to understand.
As for my age upon first viewing... actually, I was almost seventeen. This was two years ago, excatly next week. I think it was a long time to wait, especially considering the fact that for years I begged my parents to let me see this show that everyone was raving about, but they were the kind of parents who forbid me from seeing RENT (for listed reasons on this thread), Cabaret and Chicago until my later teens. For RENT in particular, I'm actually glad I waited, in retrospect. I don't think I'd have gotten as much from it, had I been 12 or 13, for example.
Broadway Star Joined: 10/30/04
I'm with emcee here on seeing Rent at age 17- but mind you, this was only last February, and I had been exposed to the OBCR two years prior. And I got more out of it, as well. My sister, though, is in the group of Rent fans who saw it when she was 12 and she was more into it than I was. During ICYR, the whole audience was silent except for her sobbing.
See, I went into it at 17 with almost NO prior knowledge. I knew that it was a show that in one way or another involved sex, drugs and other various things that for so long my parents had deemed 'inappropriate,' but I didn't know the music or the story almost at all. I mean... hell, I called myself a fan of Adam's, and had no idea whatsoever that he had anything to do with RENT. I could smack myself...
*smacks Emcee*
Don't feel bad for years I listened to my RENT cd and my YAGMCB cd and never noticed Anthony Rapp was in both.
Broadway Star Joined: 10/30/04
lol, emcee.
If it helps, I had no idea that Adam was a musician until I saw School of Rock. Nor did I know that Jesse was on L&O until someone pointed that out.
I know, I know. I should have my Adam fan license temporarily revoked or something. But, that won't be allowed. Three copies of Civilian ought to make up for a couple of months of delayed awareness, no? In all seriousness, though, I got the RENT 'highlights' CD right after my first time. I had camped out at my mailbox for days waiting for my Amazon order to ship, and when it finally came I sat up in my room for hours watching the snow fall, listening. The second I heard Adam's voice, I was like "hey. I know YOU!" And, the rest is history, so they say....
Broadway Star Joined: 10/30/04
It happens to everyone sometimes, my friend.
Three copies of Cilivian? Wow...getting flashbacks to whenever Springsteen released "The Rising." Must PM me about your going price for an extra copy- jk.
I don't actually own three, but I have bought three. I pre-ordered one when they were first semi-released. Then I went to the Kean show, and they were selling them there. I couldn't leave without one. My mail came the next day, so then I had two... I gave my extra copy to etheb... I owed her money anyway. Then my brother wanted one, so I picked him up a copy at the Tower gig. Christmas is coming up, so I'll probably end up buying two or three more for various friends and such. Adam should give me a prize or something.
Broadway Star Joined: 10/30/04
Okay- you're not on the same level of being an obsessive fan like some people I know.
Hey-I'm not obsessive.
I'm not
I'm not
Nope, I'm just showin' my support! When I told Adam that I owned two, the eyebrows went up and he was like "did you... already wear out the first one?" I probably won't wear it out any time soon, really, since it's on my iPod and I don't use the actual CD. On that note, I DO need a new AIDA CD.
Broadway Star Joined: 10/30/04
Heehee- getting interesting mental pic of a shocked Adam.
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