Downsizing "Rent" for a new run

[stars_inthe_sky]

Gone is the two-tone scarf, the crewneck sweater, the eyeglasses: the signature costume for Mark Cohen, a lead character in the musical “Rent.” During the show’s 12 years on Broadway that character’s look was so familiar it inspired many Halloween costumes in New York. Now, in the new Off Broadway revival of “Rent,” Mark’s stylings are a cap atop

Comments

[fiyero3305]

I'd like to see this. The video previews didn't impress me vocally but I'm interested, and I'd love to see Arianda as Mimi again.

Yes, I did really just say that.

[stars_inthe_sky]

I'll admit that I kind of miss the blue pants already. But hopefully whatever she's dancing in now is more comfortable for the actor!

[fiyero3305]

I'm shocked by how little I miss them, actually! They were what I always looked for when I saw the show. "How's the actress gonna pull off the blue pants?" "Are they going to be black with the blue top instead because that'll piss me off" and I always hope community theatre productions will have them, but for whatever reason I lik eher new costumes. I think she looks even hotter than before.

[foundmysong]

It's a mediocre production at best. Also, way to play the cop-out card, Greif. You think anyone was confused about whether or not Angel and Collins were a gay couple? Wrong. The cheap way to do it is to make him a club kid and get away from the taboo of being a drag queen.

Ugh, whatever. This whole thing makes me sick.

[the_novel_idea]

I agree with the whole Angel thing. I mean...who cares if people aren't aware that they are a "gay" couple? That would be their own stupidity since Angel is first shown as a man. And you really aren't supposed to focus on what KIND of a couple they are. Angel, to me, isn't more man than woman or more woman than man. Angel was a perfect mix. To try to make him more..."normal" gay is...weird. There aren't many characters like Angel...they should've left him alone. Change his costumes, I get. Change what he is supposed to be? Eh, not so much.

But then again, I haven't seen the new version. Just the idea and the cop-out explanation. If people are uncomfortable with Angel being a drag queen...good. Rent isn't supposed to really make you completely comfortable. Sigh.

[foundmysong]

Yeah, I agree with everything you've said.

Except, I have seen the new version and most of it was a sore disappointment. I loved the gritty, controversial nature of the old production. This just feels like American Idiot took over with spinning sets and Lady Gaga costumes. I can't take it, it makes me terribly sad.

[amelialourdes]

“I wanted our new Angel to be a bit more of a club kid and to be dressed more male, so it would be very clear to audiences that Angel and his lover, Tom Collins, are two men in a relationship,” Mr. Greif said. “I think the original ‘Rent’ became a little safe in the sense that audiences could easily just assume that Angel was played by a woman.”

WHAT THE HELL?

[stars_inthe_sky]

In fairness, my little sister had no idea Angel was male until she saw the show for the first time. Bit jarring if you're not expecting it, I guess.

[amelialourdes]

That means that she thought he was a woman on the soundtrack, yeah? But if you're viewing the show you should see that Angel is a man since he's dressed in men's clothing from the first second you see him. To infer that he doesn't look like a man when you see him on stage is a little ridiculous.

[stars_inthe_sky]

Right. And yes. But I think what Grief is saying isn't that people actively think they're seeing a female performer--rather, that it's more comfortable to say to oneself that it's okay that Angel and Collins kiss because one of them dresses like a woman and therefore could well be. I haven't seen anything from the show beyond this article, but it seems to me to be less about playing down Angel's flamboyance and more about forcing audience members to admit/realize/understand that two men making out is sweet and normal and happy (they're easily the most functional relationship of any kind in the show). Not sure why people who felt otherwise would be seeing Rent in the first place, but that's what I take from his comment.