THEATER: 'RENT' Musical Entertains and Moves

Published Dec. 3, 2009 at 6:44 a.m.

Eight friends struggle with life, love and AIDS in the East Village of New York City from 1989 to 1990 in the Broadway Across America tour of the Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning musical 'RENT.' The musical is based on Giacomo Puccini's 'La Boheme.' Original Broadway cast members Merle Dandridge (Joanne Jefferson), Adam Pascal (Roger Davis), Anthony Rapp (Mark Cohen) and Gwen Stewart (Mrs. Jefferson, woman with bags and background roles) join the production of 'RENT: The Broadway Tour.' Pascal and Rapp also reprised their roles in the 2005 movie version of the musical.

The story is centered around and takes place in Mark Cohen and Roger Davis' barren New York City industrial loft apartment and begins during the 1989 holiday season. The apartment is also the main set for most of the show. The rockin' live band blends in and performs stage right underneath a platform adorned with green garland and a wreath. Stage left features a junky structure in an alleyway next to Cohen and Davis' apartment.

Costuming is very 80's and coincides with the times, including bright-blue Spandex pants, a CBGB sign, Doc Martens boots and music T-shirts down to a green and black leopard jacket hanging from the rafters.

Both characters have big dreams; Cohen aspires to be a filmmaker and Davis wants to be a rock star. Cohen narrates and is videotaping activities and Davis is found strumming his acoustic guitar throughout most of the production. Both men are single and long for their ex-girlfriends. Cohen pines for feisty actress Maureen Johnson (Nicolette Hart) who left him for Harvard-educated public interest lawyer and lesbian lover Joanne Jefferson. Davis, who is HIV-positive and a former junkie, is broken up over losing his AIDS-stricken girlfriend April to suicide but finds love again with flirty HIV-positive drug addicted exotic dancer Mimi Marquez (Lexi Lawson).

Cohen and Davis also have a humorous answering machine message, which is one word: Speak! The roommates constantly screen their calls and receive funny answering messages from family, friends and work contacts throughout the musical.

Former roommate Benjamin Coffin III (Jacques C. Smith) marries into money and becomes the owner of the apartment loft where Cohen and Davis reside. He calls to inform them they are past due on their rent, which is a year overdue. He wants to transform the building into a cyber-arts studio and has the power turned off on more than one occasion in an attempt to evict the residents. Coffin tries to make a deal with them and in return, they don't have to pay the rent. He wants them to find a way to prevent Johnson from performing her one-woman act, which is about and against his new business venture.

Cohen and Davis support Johnson and the show goes on. She performs her hilarious, dramatic one-woman act, which makes fun of Cyber Land while striking a cowbell and utilizing an echo machine. She also pokes fun at local celebrity Mickey Mouse.

HIV-positive drag queen Angel Schunard (Justin Johnston) dazzles during his appearances on stage especially, while wearing a black wig with a red flower, a feminine Santa Claus outfit with a zebra belt, zebra tights and black Mary Janes. Schunard has a big heart and is cutesy but lovely during scenes featuring his HIV-positive computer whiz boyfriend Tom Collins (Michael McElroy).

Other highlights include Davis and Marquez's first introduction on stage after she requests for her candle to be lit on a night when the power is out. She continues to tease and blow out the candle in order to continue talking to Davis. Marquez also performs sexy dances during two scenes to get Davis' attention.

Musical numbers include an outstanding performance by cast members singing 'Seasons of Love (525,600 Minutes)' during the second act. Stewart has a powerful voice and performs an amazing solo performance during the musical number. Rapp and Dandridge are also comical during their 'Tango: Maureen' performance.

The cast and guests hung out at Cleo's Lounge in downtown Orlando after the show. The bar atmosphere was relaxed and full of energy. Cast members interacted with the crowd and were having a blast. 'RENT' fans were chit-chatting with Lawson, Dandridge and Hart over drinks and appetizers while Rapp chilled out on the patio with his peeps. The DJ kept the groove going by spinning (actually real vinyl and not CDs) various music, including Lady GaGa, Black Eyed Peas, Kraftwerk and M.I.A. 

'RENT's' cast put on an extraordinary performance through the character's good and bad times and the sensitive nature of the storyline. I saw the musical seven years ago and it was nothing like last night's performance at the Carr Performing Arts Centre. And having four original cast members was a plus, that's for sure. See for yourself during the musical's run through Sunday December 6 with weeknight and Saturday evening performances at 8 p.m., a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m., a Sunday matinee at 1 p.m. and a Sunday night show at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $34-$65.

The cast is collecting donations following each performance to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA). Pascal's new CD 'Blinding Light' is also available to purchase at the merchandise table in the theater lobby.

 

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