[NEohioPAL] Berko review: RENT @ BW

[Roy Berko]

RENT compels at Baldwin Wallace
 
Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted-Fairview 
Times

--coolcleveland.com-

Baldwin Wallace College is doing an American first.  For the very first time in 
history, RENT and LA BOHEME are being performed in repertory.

RENT is Jonathan Larson's rock musical which is broadly based on Puccini's LA 
BOHÈME, but, is not a translation of that epic opera.  It is a reimagining, a 
view of Larson's 1996 today.  It puts the spotlight on the physical and 
psychological temperature of New York at that time.  

The title was chosen because Larson was looking at how, from his viewpoint, 
traditional society was thwarting the hopes and dreams of the MTV generation.  
He chose the term rent, because it means tearing apart. 

RENT takes place in New York's Lower East Side, before gentrification, when the 
old buildings and warehouses were home to the bohemian and drug worlds.  

The story covers about a year in the life of roommates Mark and Roger, who live 
in a condemned building, and their friends.  Roger, is HIV positive and is numb 
to life, trying to write a song which has only one musical line that he keeps 
repeating over and over on his electric guitar.  Mark is trying to capture life 
on film, but may, in fact be using his camera as a tool to steal himself away 
from life itself. They are intertwined with an exotic dancer/drug addict, a 
cross dresser, an hiv+ philosophy professor, an ex-friend who has married for 
money, and Mark's ex-girlfriend and her lover.  Together the group deals with 
love, loss, AIDS, and everyday existence.

The musical is somewhat autobiographical. Larson, who lived in the Big Apple for 
many years as a starving artist, sacrificed a life of stability for his art, and 
shared many of the same living conditions, hopes and fears as his characters.

The dynamic score includes the illuminating Light My Candle, the plaintive I 
Should Tell You and the stirring Seasons of Love. 

Much like the storyline, the musical's very existence was met with problems.  On 
January 25, 1996, the morning after the show's final dress rehearsal, 
coincidentally 100 years to the day of the debut of Puccini's opera,  Larson 
died from an undiagnosed aortic aneurysm. The first preview was canceled and 
instead, friends and family gathered at the theater where the actors performed a 
sing-through in Larson's memory.  He never knew that the show would be a smash 
hit and go on to win a Pulitzer Prize.

The BW production, with a few minor issues, is outstanding.  I've seen the show 
on and off Broadway, and in several other venues and this version holds up well 
against the others.  The staging  by Victoria Bussert and choreography  by 
Gregory Daniel are exciting and exacting. 

The show is being done with two casts.  I saw the “Mark” cast, so all my 
comments will center on those actors.  Seeing the “Roger” cast might garner a 
different viewpoint.

Jon White is outstanding as Roger.  He has an excellent voice, moves well, and 
developed a real and textured characterization.  Chris McCarrell is spot on as 
Mark.  He has just the right balance between geek and heartfelt persona.  Kyra 
Kennedy as Joanne, the girlfriend of Mark's ex, has an excellent voice and 
develops a nice lesbo vibe.  Andrea Leach is a total hoot as Maureen.  Her 
performance piece, Over the Moon, was a show-stopper.   Jason Samuel, as 
professor Tom Collins, left no eye unfilled with tears with his segment of the 
eulogy, Goodbye Love.

On the other hand, Jillian Kates Bumpas did not ignite the role of Mimi.  She 
had upper range singing issues and failed to develop the sensuality of the 
role.  Fortunately, her duet, Without You, sung with Jon White, left a positive 
impression.   Antwaun Holley seemed uncomfortable playing the cross-dressing 
Angel.  Since so much of the second act centers on the character, Holley's lack 
of dynamic warmth somewhat chilled the effect of his death on the story 
development.  But, as someone near me said, “S/he sure does look good!”

The chorus was outstanding.  Not only did they sing well, but they were in 
character throughout and created meaningful stage pictures.  Highlight 
supporting vocals were performed by Jessica Waddle and Adrianna Cleveland in 
Seasons of Love.

Jeff Herrmann's scenic and light designs, Charlotte Yetman's costumes and DJ 
Jankura's sound designs all added to the production.

My grandson, Alex Berko, a gifted musician, who I often bring along to give a 
teenagers' view of a show and comment on the melodic aspects, was ecstatic, 
giving the show a near perfect score.  He thought the leads' voices, with one 
exception, were excellent.  He liked the staging, thought the choral work was 
outstanding, though he noted that there were a few instances when the band was 
out of sync with the singers, especially in Seasons of Love. He commented, and 
grandpa agreed, that the music, under the direction of Ryan Fielding Garrett, 
was well played, but, at times drowned out the words to songs making it 
difficult to understand the words.   

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:   BW's RENT is a production well-worth seeing.  It will 
probably be more appreciated by young adult audiences rather than the senior 
set, but everyone should be impressed by the talent of the students and the 
quality of the staging.

RENT is being performed on  Feb. 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26 and 27 at 7:30 
p.m. 
and on Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. in the John Patrick Theatre on the campus of Baldwin 
Wallace College.   Call 440-826-2240 for tickets and go to 
www.bw.edu/academics/theatre for information.
 
Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 
2011, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at 
http://royberko.info.  His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com 
and www.NeOHIOpal