May 20

May 20 REVIEW: "RENT" is colourful, joyful, and passionate musical theatre

Jonathan Larson’s multiple Tony award-winning masterpiece RENT has arrived in Perth, and is full of all of the joy, colour and passion that has made it a musical theatre stalwart for years. Loosely based on Puccini's opera La Boheme, RENT follows the trials and tribulations of a group of young friends and frenemies as they navigate life in early 90s New York amidst the AIDS/HIV crisis. Directed by Shaun Rennie, RENT brings a super talented and diverse Australian and New Zealand cast to one of the most iconic stage musicals of all time.

Rent opens with the narrator Mark (Noah Mullins) and his roommate Roger (Jerrod Smith) fighting to pay bills, stay warm and maintain relationships while fighting against gentrification, crime and personal tragedies. Their friendship group expands quickly with the introduction of Tom Collins (Nick Afoa) and his new lover; Drag Queen and performer Angel (Carl De Villa), and Roger’s new love interest, nightclub dancer Mimi (Martha Berhane). The HIV/AIDS epidemic closely follows the characters and their stories, with Collins, Angel, Roger and Mimi all living with the disease and finding their own ways to deal with the consequences.

Each of the cast gets their own dramatic introduction, Roger’s haunting One Song Glory, in particular, standing out, as Smith’s voice soars over lyrics of love, legacy and the need to create art, even in the face of tragedy.

The best of this performance of Rent is found in Maureen (Calista Nelmes of The Voice fame) as her character is only hinted at with glimpses throughout the first half hour, teased with shadows and silhouettes. She’s not seen until her introduction with her unhinged performance art piece Over the Moon, complete with a costume made of trash and twisted metaphors about cows and capitalism (audience participation moo-ing included). Calista Nelmes balances Maureen’s self-serious on-the-nose performance art and comedy perfectly, complete with incredible vocals that keep rising to new heights. Director Shaun Rennie’s choices in making the drama a little silly are important here in keeping it light in comparison to the much heavier topics at hand.

RENT won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, for its portrayal and celebration of queer characters in the AIDS/HIV epidemic in New York, and doesn’t make the disease a defining factor for the characters affected by it- instead focusing on their dreams and other life struggles. The tragedy caused by the disease is punctuated with moments of joy, love, and pride, exemplified by De Villa’s stand-out performance as Angel.

Now-classic songs like Seasons of Love and Take Me or Leave Me get their due, the latter in particular boosted by Maureen and her girlfriend Joanne’s (played by the very talented singer-songwriter Thndo) electric duel across the moving stage settings.

While staying true to musical theatre roots and tradition, RENT amps up the on-stage drama with a fantastic band and great cast, with a powerful message that is more potent and relevant than ever. Adding in modern exciting direction, staging and lighting, RENT is everything you want from theatre: entertaining and challenging in equal measure.