'Rent'

by Chris Jones
City Pages
December 21, 1999

Imagine it's a few short weeks before Y3K. The Human History Center has opened its long-awaited exhibit: "Y2K--No Worries." You, being a postmodern - theater buff in a post-post-post-postmodern age, quickly pass the Dot-com Mania exhibit to find a seat at the 17,356th revival of Rent--the most popular Broadway musical at Y2K's turn. Certainly something about this tale of angst-filled Bohemian love has been lost in translation--what with the antiquated costumes (hello, platforms?) and the bombastic score. But the notion of ceaseless self-confidence (and song) in the face of apparent failure -- regardless of economic or medical status -- abides for the ages. Come back to 1999, my ticket - buying friends, and the viewing experience is much the same. $30-$65 (with a discount for bringing teenagers).

 

 

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