RENT!
I do not know how to put into words how I feel about this show! I fell in love with the show via the soundtrack of the original Broadway cast recording two years ago. I learned all the songs, grew fond of all the lyrics, appreciated the story line, and could only yearn to go to NYC to see the show come to life on stage. Then it came to me, the first US tour of the show in 3 years. When I heard this news I was ecstatic! My dreams were to come true! I saw the matinee on Saturday, I have never been so moved by any show that I have ever seen. It made me laugh, it gave me goose bumps, and God damn it, it even made me cry! Of course one helping of the show was not enough to satisfy me, so we went back for Sunday night. For every showing of RENT, they reserve the front 2 rows, then 2 hours before the show starts. They sell them first come first serve for $20 cash. We got there 2 and a half hours early and scored ourselves front row tickets for a third of the price we paid for seats in row G. We were so close, that we were showering in the actor's saliva! My review of the characters... Mark What a cutie, especially when he takes those glasses off! Fun to watch, and just cute, cute, cute! Benny Besides his spaz dancing as a homeless man, he played the role well, and had a great voice. Mimi The only one in the cast I really had a problem with. When she sang slow, she was tolerable. But durring a fast song she got a really weird nasally sound to her voice i.e. "Out Tonight" she slightly resembled Christina Christian of American Idol fame JoanneThis girl kicked ass! She had an amazing voice, was cute, and I wanted to be her friend! Collins when he first got on stage, I was scared.. cause his voice sounded odd ... but he proved to be a good singer, and was able to do the dramatic thing really well, he was really crying when he was singing about Angel. Angel Kinda cute as a boy (from row G anyway) an AWESOME voice, even if it was a woman's voice! Pulled the drag off fairly well. Random black chorus guy He stared at me, and I waved at him, he smiled ... looked funny as a cop Maureen She rocks my world! Her rendition of "Over the moon" was so well developed, and very entertaining "MOOOOO" Roger I saved the best for last! What a voice! And what a HOT HOT HOT thing this man was! He has his own band, Mezzanine, and is from Canada. His acting skills, and his vocal talent was incredible! Before the Sunday night show... we were waiting in the lobby, and guess who walks 2 feet from us dressed in black leather... none other than Mr. Kevin Spencer (Roger) Pretty sure that his pants on stage were so tight.. nothing was left to the imagination! "La Vie Bohème" was soo fun, and Mark proved his cuteness many times in that number as well as in "Tango: Maureen" Then Angel has to die, making me look like a pussy as I cry while the cast talks about him and his legacy! The show really made me think about things, about life, which I believe is exactly what the late Jonathan Larson wanted when he created this musical. If you ever have the chance to see this show, do not pass it up. And Louis, I'm glad I got to experience this all with you.