(no subject)
Paul Wontorek of Broadway.com writes:
READING RENT
After all of my whining in my last column over Chris Columbus' recent interview with About.com regarding the Rent film, I was thrilled when a few of my readers sent me the actual screenplay so I could read it for myself. It seems that one of the original cast members who is recreating their role for the film has been passing this treasured document into the hands of fans over the past month, which led to one overzealous Rent-head posting the entire document on their website, showing a blatant disregard for law. Which actor was it? I won't tell, but it's not all that difficult to decipher.
Anyway, I have to say that the actual script eased my soul in a lot of ways--novice screenwriter Stephen Chbosky and rewriter Columbus have delivered a shooting script that will make many a Rent fan happy. The aforementioned cut songs turn out to be the obvious choices--some "Voicemail" sequences, "Contact," "Happy New Year" and, disappointingly, the wonderful "Christmas Bells" shopping in St. Marks Place scene (although there are several of the shorter versions of the song sung by packs of homeless people). But the plot is intact, with just that goofy gay marriage subplot thrown in--Joanne and Maureen awkwardly sing "Take Me or Leave Me" in front of the guests at a swank
Hey Taye, Anthony's getting in
bed with Idina in the film!
"engagement party" at Joanne's parents' house in Connecticut. Chbosky and Columbus have even found a credible way to incorporate "Seasons of Love," the one song in the show that isn't plot-driven, into the screenplay and in the same exact spot as it is in the score!
In terms of expanded scenes, we now see Mimi's place of the employment, the Cat Scratch Club, which seems to something between Lucky Cheng's and Scores. Mimi sings "Out Tonight" on the stage of the strip joint on a set that apparently will mimic the Broadway Rent set, staircase, scaffolding and all. By the way, Angel randomly joins Mimi for the last verse of the song and they both wind up topless with just panties on! There's also a new scene between Mimi and Benny at the club, which helps to explain their dubious past.
READING RENT
After all of my whining in my last column over Chris Columbus' recent interview with About.com regarding the Rent film, I was thrilled when a few of my readers sent me the actual screenplay so I could read it for myself. It seems that one of the original cast members who is recreating their role for the film has been passing this treasured document into the hands of fans over the past month, which led to one overzealous Rent-head posting the entire document on their website, showing a blatant disregard for law. Which actor was it? I won't tell, but it's not all that difficult to decipher.
Anyway, I have to say that the actual script eased my soul in a lot of ways--novice screenwriter Stephen Chbosky and rewriter Columbus have delivered a shooting script that will make many a Rent fan happy. The aforementioned cut songs turn out to be the obvious choices--some "Voicemail" sequences, "Contact," "Happy New Year" and, disappointingly, the wonderful "Christmas Bells" shopping in St. Marks Place scene (although there are several of the shorter versions of the song sung by packs of homeless people). But the plot is intact, with just that goofy gay marriage subplot thrown in--Joanne and Maureen awkwardly sing "Take Me or Leave Me" in front of the guests at a swank
Hey Taye, Anthony's getting in
bed with Idina in the film!
"engagement party" at Joanne's parents' house in Connecticut. Chbosky and Columbus have even found a credible way to incorporate "Seasons of Love," the one song in the show that isn't plot-driven, into the screenplay and in the same exact spot as it is in the score!
In terms of expanded scenes, we now see Mimi's place of the employment, the Cat Scratch Club, which seems to something between Lucky Cheng's and Scores. Mimi sings "Out Tonight" on the stage of the strip joint on a set that apparently will mimic the Broadway Rent set, staircase, scaffolding and all. By the way, Angel randomly joins Mimi for the last verse of the song and they both wind up topless with just panties on! There's also a new scene between Mimi and Benny at the club, which helps to explain their dubious past.