by John Coulbourn
The Toronto Sun
June 6, 2000 |
It's back -- somewhat diminished, but certainly not in any of the
areas where it counts the most.
After a year or two on the road, Rent may look a trifle road-weary and its cast may not
have filled the stage with the power it once did. But, underneath it all, Jonathan
Larson's amazing millennial musical showed it still has its beating heart in an opening
night performance of a limited engagement at the Pantages Theatre,.
Oh yeah, it's still loud, raucous and more than a little rude -- and it's still populated
by the kind of people a lot of us try to ignore if we pass them in the street.
In fact, that's no small part of the edgy charm of the New York bohemians who populate
Larson's modern-day take on La Boheme.
HOPES AND FEARS
To many in their audience, they are as alien as people from a foreign culture. But once
we've taken the time to get to know them, we discover the same hopes, fears, regrets and
triumphs that we all experience in lives painted in considerably tamer hues.
Drug addicts, reformed and otherwise, gay drag queens, lesbians, performance artists,
aspiring filmmakers -- this isn't exactly a slice of suburban life as most know it, and
the fact that most of these characters are infected with the AIDS virus puts them at a
remove even more pronounced.
But spend 150 open-minded minutes with them and you'll be amazed at how deeply their
loneliness, their hopes and their humanity will affect you.
Chances are, you'll also be amazed at the talent of some of the performers playing them.
Impressive in the waning days of the Toronto production, Cary Shields has grown even more
so as he has grown into the wounded Roger, whose drug addiction has left him with a
lingering legacy that's slowly killing him.
As his roommate Mark, Matt Caplan may lack a bit of the detached charm of other actors who
have played the role, but his take is only slightly less effective.
As Mimi, the tragic young dancer who catches Roger's eye, Saycon Sengbloh goes all soft
and rubbery on the raucous Out Tonight, but redeems herself in numbers like Without You as
the show progresses.
IMPRESSIVE
Shaun Earl and Horace V. Rogers are impressive and deeply moving as Angel and Tom Collins,
while Erin Keaney, another Toronto alumnus, and Jacqueline B. Arnold do some fine work too
as Maureen and Joanne.
It may just be faulty memory, but it seems that Michael Greif's direction has lost a bit
of its edge, probably to accommodate more sedate tastes in the provinces. But under the
musical direction of Boko Suzuki, the show still rocks the rafters.
So, yeah, it's still too loud for some tastes, still a trifle raw for others and a tad
tattered at the hem for still others.
But for people who like a broad slice of life in their musical theatre, served up with a
vibrant beating heart, Rent is still the best ticket in town.
RENT
Director: Michael Greif
Stars: The ensemble
'HOT PROPERTY!'
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