RENT

Professional director Dean comes home from London every summer to oversee a group of talented local young people prepare an innovative musical in 10 days of intensive rehearsal. This year he choose the difficult and thought provoking show – “Rent” – to which all the young performers and production team gave immense commitment and dedication.

Choreography was energetic and appropriate – both dance and movement of props around the stage was well rehearsed and precise. Adam’s 4 piece band was also well rehearsed and the libretto thoroughly taught to principals and ensemble alike. Costumes, hair and make up caught the 1990s era of the piece, as did props such as the brick sized mobile phones.

The two level set was simple and appropriate, giving the feeling of the run down location in Manhattan East village, with the band housed underneath the higher level and behind metal netting. Entry to Mark and Roger’s flat was through the band and a wire mesh door; wooden pallet furniture, conveying gritty realism, was trucked in from the sides. Lighting was atmospheric and the use of “blinders” worked well. Sound was good, if a little over amplified at times – I didn’t catch every word but I think the blame lies in the unfamiliarity of the show to me.

Flatmates Mark and Roger were well played by Lee O’Reilly and Jordan Walsh. Mark was a wannabe film-maker and Roger a rock musician – a tortured soul after the suicide of his girlfriend on her Aids diagnosis. Mark and Roger were also HIV positive and Lee and Jordan both conveyed the feeling of hopelessness in their poverty stricken situation – with no heating and unable to pay the rent. Lee’s role included some narration that helped the audience understand and become involved in the plot. Jordan’s new relationship with Emma Dallas as club dancer and drug addict Mimi, was intense and believable and their solos and duets were really powerful.

Maureen (Mark’s ex girlfriend) was exuberantly played by Mimi Joffroy as she moved into a relationship with Joanne (Hannah Morton). Maureen was a wild and promiscuous character beautifully played to contrast with Joanne – a public interest lawyer who found it difficult to deal with Maureen’s unpredictable ways. Tom O’Kelly took the role of anarchist Tom Collins with enthusiasm, as he conducted an affair with Jordan Walker as young drag artist Angel. Jordan performed this difficult role well as Angel died of AIDS and reappeared in white as an angel watching over the lives of his friends thereafter. Tom and Jordan had good onstage rapport and sang well together.

Other noticeable supporting principals were Mark Lockhart as Benny, the former flatmate of Mark and Roger who had become their harsh landlord after marrying into a rich and powerful family, and Annie McIlwaine, Julie Toal, Meabh Quinn, Evana Maxted and Ben McDaid as parental telephone voices and cameo roles as well as being part of the excellent Ensemble. They were all totally engaged and disciplined and vocal harmonies were impressive.

At the conclusion of the show the friends gathered to share a celebration of life’s quality rather than quantity, Mark finished his narration by listing how many of his friends would die over the next year. Not a bundle of laughs but an inspiring piece of theatre well delivered and all in two weeks! Congratulations to production team and performers for reaching such a high standard in such a very short time. My sincere thanks to all concerned.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.