'Rent' recaptures Athens' audience three years later
By Susannah Elliott, Entertainment Editor
February 16, 2006 | 2 p.m.
“Rent” has become something of a cultural phenomenon. While in its 10th year, the musical is still a strong symbol for American youth.
“I just think it’s [a musical] that most people our age can deal with and understand the concept of,” sophomore Morgan Mulgrew said following the performance at Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
College students can uniquely identify with the lifestyles of the characters of “Rent.” The lives of the eight friends represent a time of life when friends are the most valuable possessions in one’s life. Similarly, college is a time when, for much of the year, most students are forced to be away from their families and everything to which they’ve grown accustomed. Ohio University is a far cry from New York’s East Village, but friends still become a second family for students in Athens.
The philosophies that “Rent” preaches hold true even 10 years after it was first preformed, despite the play’s obvious aging. Because of the costuming and “cyberspace” putdowns, the audience sees the musical through a nostalgic lens. However, many may not realize that by the time “Rent” premiered, its story was already a 100 years old.
The creator of “Rent,” Jonathan Larson, began writing a contemporary version of Puccini’s “La Bohème” in 1989. Puccini’s 1896 opera featured Marcello, Rodolfo, Colline, Schaunard, Benoit, Mimi, Musetta and Alcindoro. Those characters evolved into Mark, Roger, Collins, Angel Schunard, Benny, Mimi, Maureen and Joanne, respectively. The relationships among the characters remain the same, and their occupations are also very similar. Larson was able to write a true parallel to Puccini’s story while still creating a breakthrough success. “Rent” has most likely aged so well because Puccini’s original philosophies have yet to expire.
“La Vie Bohème,” the last song of the first act, defines the theme of “Rent” better than any other point in the play. The cast finds their upper-class landlord, Benny, in a restaurant with a few of his colleagues — all of whom are disgusted with Benny’s former friends. The offended artists then launch into song, belting out, “To days of inspiration, playing hooky, making something out of nothing, the need to express, to communicate.”
The result is a chaotic mess of song and dance, throughout which the audience can feel the excitement hanging in the air. They end their song, screaming “Viva la vie bohème!”
The artists throw their fists in the air as the lights turn off and, simultaneously, the audience erupts into yells and applause. The moment was one of many throughout the evening that united the viewers in a way only musical theater can.
“I just had chills the whole way through — from the minute the lights came up,” Morgan Mulgrew said.
Sophomore Chrissy Marquardt admitted that she had the same feeling at the end of the song “Rent,” one of the opening numbers.
After the performance, dozens of enthusiastic theatergoers met the cast before the actors could make it to the bus. The cast happily signed autographs and took pictures with their fans.
Many of the audience members were students who had seen “Rent” when it visited three years ago, and they wanted to re-live that experience again. Others were fans of the movie that came out last December, and some were new to the experience.
Now that one of the most popular performances of the Performing Arts Series is over, OU students look forward to seeing what’s in store for next year. For the rest of this season, however, students can still see “New Shanghai Circus,” “Illstyle & Peace Productions” and the “Appalachia Waltz Trio.” Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office inside MemAud from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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Visit the Official Rent Web site at: http://www.siteforrent.com