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Rent Reviews
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Don't go watch this...............Watch the film instead or head to Broadway Review by: Brandi, Oct 28, 2007 |
I was so ecstatic when I saw that Rent was coming to London and couldn't get tickets quickly enough. I will admit to never seeing it on Broadway. I have only seen it on film and have watched it more than I care to admit. I attended the London show on October 27th and was so absolutely disappointed.
First of all, Rent is about the music. To get the music perfect there must be a perfect chemistry within the cast for you to get the ... read more rushes of emotions that Rent confronts you with. Mark was okay. I have a hard time getting past the British accent on a character that is suppose to be from NYC but I can get past that. I think that my biggest disappointment was the way that La Vie Boheme was butchered. Mark has one of the most important roles in the song. If it is sung properly, the audience should really feel its energy.
Maureen and Joanne had such an awkward relationship in the London production. In the film there is this lust that is so obvious for each other which in turn explains Joanne's desperation for Maureen's "faithfulness". I noticed another person commented that Maureen's "Over the Moon" song made little sense. That person should watch the film and Idina Menzel truly relays it better while reiterating how much of a attention-seeker Maureen truly is. I felt that Maureen looked too old and didn't seem to have any chemistry with Mark either. I also felt that the audience involvement of her "protest" was not necessary and uncomfortable".
I wasn't as disappointed with Angel. I felt that the part was redefined even though it shouldn't have been but that it was well played. I was highly disturbed watching his descent to heaven with the leather-clad "angels". I think this was an awkward moment in the show. While I felt Tom Collins played and sang well, his relationship with Angel felt more brotherly than anything.
Roger was my favorite. I felt that he truly captured the part and sang extremely well. I don't think I would have followed the character development of him going to Santa Fe if I hadn't seen the film first though. This is more at the fault of the director/producer than the actor though.
Mimi was horrible. Her singing didn't come close to standards and her chemistry with Roger felt awkward.
And last but not least, La Vie Boheme was sung horribly. I was so disappointed because I thought that as long as they could get this one song right, I would be able to walk away a little happy. Unfortunately, that hope was destroyed almost immediately. I have had this song memorized and many of the lyrics were off and sung incorrectly.
This version was unbelieveable, confusing and dragged on for way too long. I truly hope that those who only see the London version at least watch the film to see that Rent is an amazing musical that evokes so many emotions and sends you off with lyrics forever engraved in your mind. |
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Don't go
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Tragic Review by: bne_matt, Oct 26, 2007 |
Rent had always been one of my favourite shows, but I believe the Producers totally lost the plot with trying to remix the show.
First of all, the General Admission and Rented Seats was a debacle, with people with General Admission Tickets occupying the Rented Seats, ad having a too bad attitude when someone tried to take their reserved seat.
Most of the main characters were tragic. Mark had a terrible upper class Brtish accent ... read more that was so wrong for the character, and obviously not the actors real accent as it got lost a few times. Collins needs to larn how to act gay. Maureen and Joanne as supposed to be Lesbians, yet the way they are protrayed on stage is anything but. Angel, oh here we go, you just want him to die, and very quickly. Why change Angel from a loveable Drag Queen to a tragc glitter soaked twink, who you just cant wait to see die (hopefully taking the rest with him).
The balance of the show was off with Maureen's perfrmance moved to the second act, it just did not seem balanced, and most of the music has been ruined by trying to make it sound like Kylie Minogue.
My suggestion is if you want to see a Kylie concert, go see Kylie, if you love Rent, go to Broadway as this show does Larson's work a complete injustice.
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| * Review is an opinion of a BroadwayBox user and not that of BroadwayBox.com and BroadwayBox, Inc. |
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