Rent: A Review

A few weeks ago I went to The Old Rep to see producer Neri’s production of Rent.

The production has been created completely in Birmingham, with Neri making it his goal to cast local singers and actors from across the region.
This was partly why I chose to buy tickets - I’d never see Rent in any form before, but was intrigued with how someone could make one of the most relevant musicals of today’s society feel as though it was part of the midlands.

It’s not  your average show tunes musical. It’s a sad tale both on and off-stage. Larson has created a beautiful piece that shows a gritty, hard-hitting look at urban life in New York in the 80’s. However Larson passed away on the day of the final dress rehearsal for the broadway opening and never got to enjoy its success.

The show is sung throughout and it helps if you understand the plight of the characters and their backgrounds beforehand. That being said, the quality of the lyrics and composition, whether you are a first timer or a devoted Rent fan, there is a treat for everyone to enjoy.

Without giving too much away, one standout moment for myself and the audience of the night, is a reprise of ‘I’ll Cover You’. For me to explain the song would be to spoil its emotional potency. Ryhs Owen’s who plays Collins, half belted and half whispered performance of the song is the best interpretation I’ve ever heard. Granted, my comparison is from this production and film adaptation, but that does not take away from its impact. The supporting cast give an additional gospel-like chorus reminds people why this particular scene is regarded as one of the most emotional in musical theatre history.

The only downside to the production was sound. Throughout the performance, particularly the first act, the mics regularly dropped in volume, with some characters being rendered inaudible at times. Unfortunately this meant that a few songs lost a little of their power, in particular ‘I’ll Cover You’. The many reviews I’d read before seeing the production mentioned the same issue as well, I was hoping this was a problem that was unique to the press night but unfortunately not.

In contrast to this, the set was utilised very well, and the use of projections was memorable. The set being a simple scaffolding construction was ingenious, it meant less distractions so the real focus could be on the acting and songs themselves. The voice modulation of phone calls and the final film projection being very striking effects. With another effective piece of staging, featuring a large rainbow flag waving proudly, was one of the great moments throughout the show and is a reference to Les Miserables. RENT is definitely something I recommend someone see, whether they’re a fan of musicals or not.