by Kelley L. Carter
Detroit Free Press
Novembr 29, 2000

The Broadway musical hit "Rent" has the feel of a fierce rock concert with the power to pull anyone within a 50-mile radius into its pulsating energy.

All that's missing is a mosh pit.

"Rent",   which in 1996 became a phenomenal hit, is still going strong after some 1,900 performances on Broadway. Likely, it will stay there until at least 2002. The national tour, which last stopped in Detroit in 1998, is in town again at the Detroit Opera House through Sunday.

For this show, all the rules of modern-day theater etiquette are thrown out. Here, you can stand up and sway to the beat or shout out your appreciation when the groove hits you just right.

This high-octane show shoots jolts of electricity through its audience; there's barely time to take a breath before jumping into the set.

You will want the CD. You will want to scream out loud. You will identify with this ragtag group of idealistic friends because we've all been young and hopeful.

It doesn't matter that the play largely attracts the 35-and-under crowd. It has a multigenerational reach that will please even the stodgiest theater hound.

"Rent" begins in the loft of Roger (Christian Mena) and Mark (Matt Caplan). Mark is a sharp Jewish kid from Scarsdale who went to Hebrew school and is determined to make it as a filmmaker.

Roger is hoping to write one perfect song on his guitar.

Mimi, the hot-to-trot 19-year-old exotic dancer, helps him find his muse. Mimi, played by the incredibly talented Saycon Sengbloh, shows up at Roger's door one night, cold and shivering, asking him to light her candle.

The passion begins.

Roger and Mark are penniless and must cooperate with former roommate Benny if they want to live rent-free. But there's no such thing as a free lunch. Benny wants the two to stop a protest staged by Maureen (Mark's former lover) over Benny's plans to tear down the building he now owns and clear the lot that shelters homeless people next to it. Benny wants to build a high-tech cyberarts studio.

Ah, what a predicament.

Add a nice ensemble of colorful characters like Maureen's lover Joanne, a Harvard-educated black woman; and Angel the transvestite, who is in love with Collins, the computer teacher. There are so many great chances to hear beautiful music about everyone's story.

The raw vocal talent is impressive. A Broadway show has never been this hip or this soulful.

The only thing that's missing from this musical masterpiece is one more song. One more verse. One more chance to see this multitalented cast on stage again.