Rent

RENT   by Jonathan Larson, was first performed in 1996 and was a ground breaking musical, being the first to address serious issues such as homelessness, AIDS and drug dependence.  On the whole, musicals of the past were sweetness and light, about romance with a bit of comedy and, usually, a happy ending.     Set in a loft in New York, the story follows a year in the lives of a band of bohemians who drift in and out of one another’s lives and the impact their circumstances have on them.

The set, a multi level steel structure, was practical and made good use of the space; part of the upper level housed the orchestra.    Tables were moved around and used in various scenes. Props were well used – even the candles which can be notoriously badly behaved in live theatre!

The costumes were many and impressive ranging from Angels’ outrageous drag outfits to the cow costume for Maureen’s avant-garde performance in ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’.   The Bohemians were dressed relevant to the period and location.

The lighting was effective throughout, well controlled and varied in accordance with the nature of the emotion in the scenes such as gloomy lighting when there was an air of desperation or lighter and more colourful when the mood and musical numbers were more upbeat.   The sound from the orchestra was first class and the voices were clear and blended well with the level of the music.    There was clever ‘miming’ when a guitarist in the orchestra played but gave the impression that the actor was the one strumming.    The music throughout was of the highest calibre.

This was a very polished production from the opening scene to the end when the characters reflect on living life in the moment and cherishing the time they have left. The message of the show was evident from the energy and commitment of the performers.     There were some stellar solos as well as ensemble performances: Angel’s high energy and phenomenal entrance was amazing and Maureen’s Tango being just two of the highlights.   Everyone was totally engaged and absorbed into their characters and this was complemented by the excellent live music.     BATS have performed many shows and this production shows BATS at their very best with core roles for a good number of actors and therefore opportunities for many to shine.  The direction, music and technical and creative team worked hard to ensure the success of this vibrant, sometimes sombre and thought provoking show.

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