Rent

Helston Theatre Company has boldly grasped the challenge to present this relatively modern musical, and its talented and highly creative production team has succeeded in continuing to develop their rapidly growing reputation for quality shows.  The director delivered a ‘no holds barred’ production that didn’t shy from the graphic depiction of the subject matter, given the script’s strong language, full on physical embraces woman to woman and man to man, plus a bit of nudity thrown in!  It had to be so if the audience members who hold Rent dear to their hearts were not to be disappointed.  The principals casting was as near perfect as it could be with powerful acting and exciting singing skills patently evident from the start, and the soloists pulled from the ensemble for the smaller roles were equally strong.   I make a point of watching the supporting figures on stage when the action is focused on a point – this is when some players let their concentration slip, but no one dropped out of character here.  The energy exploded onto the stage and drove us along like a roller coaster; even the quieter moments held the audience gripped.  The blocking made full use of all the possible acting areas at the different levels and the cast occupied each swiftly and neatly as they moved around.  This is not a show for lavish dance routines and some would question whether dance is necessary at all given the rawness of the material but I felt the choreography seemed to sit in the overall picture quite well without distracting from it.  Believable relationships and heartfelt emotions that had some spectators dabbing at their eyes, plus a thrilling range of singing of the complex and evocative score drew us to these characters with a desire to understand their life difficulties and see a resolution.  We were lucky enough to share in a performance that will be talked about and remembered for a long time – and will be hard to top! 

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