Rent The Musical

Rentis the 1996 Tony Award winning Best Musical. Set in a Bohemian Alphabet City in the 90s, a group of friends struggle with their careers, love lives and the effects of the AIDS epidemic on their community.

Written by Jonathan Larson as a “rock opera for the MTV generation”, the story captures the Bohemian lifestyle of Greenwich Village in a rock musical score loosely based on Puccini’s opera La Boheme. Its success as one of the longest running musicals on Broadway also transformed the direction and style of rock music theatre.

Director Kit Haines’ vision and commitment to inclusiveness smashes the fourth wall from the outset, surrounding the audience in a wall of sound and welcoming the central themes of inclusiveness and love in the face of desperation and suffering. His clever use of the revolve allowed for a fast-paced story, relentlessly moving the action forward. The set is dressed in newspaper, again a solid symbol of the transitory nature of the characters - Today’s information is tomorrows trash, “No day, but today.”

This entire cast of 14 were fully engaged in great story telling, with outstanding choreography by Claire Verity Rowley matching the well drilled band from co-Musical Directors Bickio O’Callahan & Courtney Noble.

From the opening strains, Sean MacFarlane brings magical vocals to aspiring filmmaker/narrator Mark, whose yearlong life project captures this slice of life musical. Partnered with musician Roger, they struggle to pay Rent to their previous roommate, now landlord.

Keith Marr’s plays Roger, whose outstanding vocals are beautifully paired with Kristin Candice Paulse’s Mimi, who strongly leads with amazing heartfelt vocals and great dancing, the duo giving us a troubled love story that fighting addiction, HIV and an unapologetic lifestyle, and carrying the first act with “Light my Candle”, “Out Tonight” and “I Should Tell You”.

Angel and Collins’ tragic love story also brings plenty of tears and carries the heart of the story, with Fin Bowen and Sam Iosefo crafting the roles with love and care.

However, the ensemble was essential in creating the “we’re all in this together” feeling for the audience. The ensemble work from Bryce Kehoe , Sammie Campbell , Kelsey McEwan, Gabby Bourne, Tiffany Utama and Sam Morgan was harmonically stunning and fed the story with intensity and terrific energy.

Haines setting of the 2^nd Act opener “Seasons of Love” perfectly captured the moment with such a familiar theatre anthem and sense of community inclusiveness that the audience sang along. When Joanne – Kirsten Craggs lets rip on the improv during “Seasons of Love”, the second half flies into action. Her duet “Take Me or Leave Me” with Maureen (Laura Rollinson) is a second act showstopper.

All the minor roles were perfect, with sublime dancing and beautiful harmonies, and when the entire company sang together you felt the heart of this piece come alive, inclusively carrying the “we’re all in this together feeling” right through to the surprise finale.

PTI’s Ending HIV season of Rent is a gift of a show and a night of theatre that celebrates the best of humanity and raises you out of your seat and into this community theatre production with the timely reminder – "No day, but today!"

Highly recommended!

Patrick Kelly