I asked to have RENT jump ahead in our sequence due to an upcoming appearance by the actor, Anthony Rapp, who portrays Mark Cohen in this film adaptation of the musical. I have plans to see Anthony Rapp and I thought it would be beneficial to the experience to have a fresh look at the movie. My first introduction to RENT was a stage production taking place at Assembly Hall on the University of Illinois campus. The stadium was cut in half, for seating, a stage was placed in the center facing the audience. I remember being somewhat distracted by a tall guy sitting in front of us and the sound, from what I recall, wasn't of the best quality. For a story like this one, basically told completely in song, sound is crucial. So, overall the experience for this musical wasn't the best. I still thought the story was a good one and I appreciated the well-crafted vocal melodies and modern themes.
I didn't see the film adaptation of RENT in the theatre. Jason gave it to me as a present. This was my second viewing as I remember watching it, by myself, about two to three years ago. Still, for the first time viewing, I chose Anthony Rapp's character, Mark Cohen, as a standout. As the archivist of the group, Mark captures the love, pain, and loss he and his friends experience. I was also pleased to be able to recognize Idena Menzel who portrays, the precarious, Maureen. After RENT, Idena Menzel would go on to play Elfaba in Broadway's Wicked. She would also star as Nancy in Disney's Enchanted. Here, Idena Menzel plays a feisty performance artist who is feisty and rather self-assured. As Maureen she taunts Mark's emotions and brings constant worry to her new girlfriend, Joanne. I thought the casting, for this, was fantastic. Voices as well as charismatic individuals blend together well to complete all roles.
I recall going to this at Assembly Hall with Alicia, and it was pure frickin' torture. I was not a musical fan at the time. I had yet to enjoy pieces such Singin' in the Rain, Moulin Rouge and Chicago - not to mention I had not really considered The Blues Brothers and The Wizard of Oz musicals. I suppose what I am trying to say is that I was very anti-musical at the time that I saw it - oh the things you do for love! Since then, I have opened my mind to musicals more. I've watched West Side Story and The Sound of Music, and they're okay. As I think back at the Assembly Hall experience, I go back to bad seats and being place firmly behind a very tall man - making the experience that I already wasn't looking forward to firmly placed on the side of bad.
I am glad to say that RENT was not that bad. The story was one worth watching. I still feel that I need a break though between songs. I am not a fan of musicals that begin with singing, end with singing and have nothing but singing throughout. Though the stage production that was saw had no dialogue, this did. That helped. I really liked Jesse L. Martin's Tom Collins and Anthony Rapp as well. Upon it's opening I recognized that this was written to showcase the voice talents of nearly every main character in this movie. They all had their opportunities to belt it out - and did. Though the story of love lost is one that we've seen a million times - in movies like Moulin Rouge and various other love tragedies - it was still engaging and the lyrics of the song were fitting to the story and delivered beautifully by the cast.
I am a huge fan of musicals. I became a fan, as a young child, as I was taken to see my brother act in such high school version classics of Oliver, West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, and Gypsy. I have been happy to see the musical, make a comeback and become more beloved and accepted by a wider audience. RENT isn't one of my favorite musicals. I have some problems with the flow of the story and some of the songs do not seem, to me, to be on par with the rest of the songs. I still believe, however, content-wise, the songs eloquently tell a story and elaborate on characters.
I think that the introduction of a group of people faced with living in destitute and faced with loved ones who have AIDS is a vehicle behind the tragedies each of these characters are faced with. The key word is living. These people are alive to the fullest and looking to share their art with the world - if only the world would listen. There is where I think the problem lies with this movie. It's not a bad movie, but I feel the suffering artist that these people are supposed to be portraying just isn't real. I felt more admiration for the lyrics, music, singing and acting than I felt sorrow for the loss that these characters experienced. The affection that I felt for Satine and Christian in Moulin Rouge just wasn't there in this. The disease that most of these people were living with felt absent at best. I also kept watching this waiting for Roger to tell Mimi that he was either HIV positive or had contracted AIDS. Perhaps this was done in the middle of one of the songs, or maybe she already knew. However, the fact that I missed this - while actively looking for it felt negligent at best. I did feel for Tom and Angel significantly, but I think it's because they addressed their disease in the time that we spend with these characters. I know that part of the point was to address that these people were alive - regardless of the fact that most think of those with AIDS as the walking dead. I applaud Jonathan Larson for approaching the material in this way - but I think that the movie suffered what happens all too often in musicals - sometimes key points just move too fast in the lyrics of a song. He says, "It's a Renter." I really don't see watching this again unless I were to see it on stage.
I don't think I would disagree with statements made in the above paragraph. I think I was so entranced by La Vie Boheme and enthralled with the passion the characters display for their craft. I may have put aside the importance of some key plot points. Where this musical is different from others, I believe, is the inclusion of AIDS and drug addiction. I also think the subject is one that brought much criticism for it. I do think the topics are dealt with, in a way, that is accessible to the public and it becomes an education and an enlightenment, perhaps, for some. To clarify, the story should bring about discussion from the audience who sees this and allows for questions and reviews to be written.
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