Honolulu Advertiser
August 8, 2000

Review unreflective of personal experience

I happened to see the review of "Rent" printed in your newspaper (Aug. 3). I also attended Wednesday’s opening night and I must disagree with your critic.

Three years ago I went to New York with my family and saw "Rent" on Broadway. The play moved me so much that when I was asked what I would like to do at the end of my summer, I asked to go see "Rent" again. Since then, I’ve been waiting for "Rent" to come to Hawai‘i, and when I heard that it was coming this summer, I was thrilled.

My friends and I stood in line for the $20 "Renthead Tickets" (which are for the first two rows) all day. By the time the box office opened, there were more people in line than there were tickets to sell!

Shaaroni Wong

Production well-received by majority of audience

I’m so sorry to read such an unwarranted negative review of "Rent’s" opening night by Joseph Rozmiarek. It was a wonderful enlightening production. How terribly sad Rozmiarek failed to notice the enthusiastic response from the rest of the audience, who went from laughter to tears to standing ovation in one sitting.

What exactly is "existing outside of mainstream social norms and significantly below the poverty line"? Are you describing the great majority of the audience who thought the production was magnificent? If so, you are significantly outnumbered.

Kristin Paulo