Rent

Rent is a powerful show and has a score that spans a range of genres including rock, pop, gospel, tango and more. It portrays Bohemian New York in the mid 90s and is based around characters that live in an East Village squat. Together they face the challenges of homelessness, drugs, and HIV and this is brought to life in the song ‘No Day But Today’.

Musical Director Izzy Cullis had worked with lead characters and the ensemble to ensure the audience were blown away with the passion and power required for some very emotional songs. This is a difficult score and overall the effect was well achieved.

Benjamin Connor Davies had cast the show well and I am sure that he is more than delighted with the outcome and the sold out performance. The story follows a number of relationships, from one Christmas Eve to the next, with the central characters being Tom Collins (Joe Fisher) and his drag queen lover Angel (Michael Dean), Roger (Joe Childs) and Mimi (Asha Parker), Joanne (Jemma Game) and Maureen (Grace Murray).

Recording their lives on camera is Mark (Matty Romasiuk) who plays a central role in supporting the narration of the show and focusing the audience’s attention.

The role of landlord Benny was played by Sanjay Burnett who just moulds himself into any part he plays. There were some excellent supporting performances by Elly Clark as Mark’s Mum, Abbie Vaughan as Roger’s Mum and Daisy Wyatt as Alexi Darling.

In shows like this it is the overall effect of all performers on stage that brings real intensity on stage, which is offset, against the comedy moments such as Squeegee Man played by Euan Mellings or the Bag Lady (Sarah Scully).

The set was designed well for this show and gave a variety of heights, which worked well across the multiple scenes and locations required in order to stage. Every property that had been set on stage to create the overall feel of the Squat was used throughout the performance. I particularly liked the inclusivity of the band being on stage and the music being central to the action.

There were a number of highlights of the evening, La Vie Boehme , Take Me or Leave Me, Without You and of course Seasons of Love.

There were some stand out performances in this production, however it was Michael Dean and Joe Fisher for the sensitive portrayal of Angels death that made the biggest impact with the audience.

Congratulations to everyone involved, this was a powerful and thought provoking evening.

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