Now that the redevelopment of the Congress Theatre has started, the big West End musicals that normally work so well on that huge stage will have to fit into the, smaller, Devonshire Park Theatre. The first musical to pay a visit to this new home is RENT and fit it does – just.
Using every inch of space available, the huge gantry set, that represents some run-down loft apartments in the Bohemian Alphabet City in New York’s East Village, makes quite an imposing sight but, with clever use of lighting and in the more intimate surroundings of the Devonshire Park, the overall effect works surprisingly well.
Jonathan Larson, who tragically died the night before his masterpiece opened Off-Broadway in 1996, based a lot of the tale on his own experiences of living the bohemian life in New York in the 1980’s, under the terrifying shadow of HIV and AIDS. Although healthy himself, many of his friends had HIV, had very little money and, using what money they had, were addicted to drugs and it is these issues which echo throughout the piece.
Billy Cullum, as filmmaker Mark Cohen, narrates the show and he does it very well. Although a lot of the story is told in song, his words are clear and can be heard well throughout the packed theatre despite the loud rock music score that, at times, makes the whole theatre shake.
His roommate is Roger, a rock singer, played by Ross Hunter. Ross’s previous stage credits include Jesus Christ Superstar and We Will Rock You and it is very easy to hear why he was chosen for those shows, and for RENT. He has, quite simply, one of the finest rock voices around.
Ryan O’Gorman, who plays their ex-roommate Tom Collins, takes on one of the most dramatic parts in the piece which he plays with every ounce of emotion that he can muster – as does Philippa Stefani who plays one of the other majorly dramatic roles, that of Roger’s love interest, Mimi Marquez.
Lucie Jones (who just won the competition to represent the UK at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest) and Shanay Holmes play squabbling girlfriends Maureen and Joanne. Their relationship is a tempestuous affair and is played out with skill and sensitivity, with both women showing off their superb singing voices.
Other members of this extremely talented cast, Javar La’Trail Parker, Katie Bradley, Joshua Dever, Kevin Yates, Bobbie Little, Christina Modestou, Jordan Laviniere and Oliver Bingham all perform well and show just exactly how well an ensemble piece can be played. Special mention also needs to go to Jenny O’Leary who, during one of the show’s most well known numbers, Seasons of Love, delivers a spectacular show-stopping solo performance.
The final character in the show is Angel Schunard, a young transgender woman/drag queen usually played by Layton Williams. Sadly Layton is unwell but, in his absence, the role is played by Harrison Clark. Whether he is dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, or she is dressed in a bikini and fur coat combo, Harrison works the role like he has played it for the entire tour. Sexy, sassy and, ultimately, so very dramatic, Harrison really deserves top billing.
Although firmly fixed in time and place, RENT also has a timeless quality owing to it’s themes of love, loss, friendship and strength in the face of adversity and it is those powerful themes that earns the production a huge standing ovation – well deserved for such a breathtakingly fantastic show.
***** Five Stars
