RENT REMIXED to 5 April 2008.
London
RENT REMIXED
book music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson Original Concept & Additional Lyrics Billy Aronson.
Duke of York's Theatre 5 April 2008.
Mon-Thu, Sat 7.45pm Fri 8.30pm Mat Fri 5pm, Sat 4pm.
Runs 2hr 35 min One interval.
TICKETS: 0844 847 1545.
www.rentremixed.com
Review: Geoff Ambler 17 October 2007.
Revived, remixed, revised and occasionally reduced to a low Rent.
Unfortunately this isn’t the Rent still going strong, after eleven years, on Broadway, multi-Tony award-winning and HIV/AIDS issue-defining musical that has now achieved a cult status. No, this is a Rent Lite, remixed for a pop video generation and presented to an audience, already high on quality London musical theatre, with high expectations and, in many cases, memories of the original.
William Baker, Director and Ashley Wallen, Choreographer, are both from a pop music background which might go a way towards explaining why Rent Remixed opens feeling as though it is fighting the theatre, not knowing whether to be a musical, a Gap advert or a music video, and while there is emotion flying around on stage, little of it filters through to the audience.
The bright, glossy white, clinically clean set is always at odds with the lighting, causing distracting reflections that draws attention from the performance and never feeling like the rundown NY squat setting, Rent revolves around.
Rent Remixed works best when the cast are allowed to move from the abstract book and naïve direction, and sing. Luke Evans as Roger brings some early pleasure with 'One Song Glory' but it is all surpassed by stage newcomer Siobhan Donaghys’ Mimi, whose hauntingly depressing, yet beautiful 'Without You' nearly makes the evening worthwhile.
Denise Van Outen, naturally confident, sexy and always fun onstage, suffers from being Rented. Bedecked as Maureen in black leather and extra attitude she is just too much and her Act 2 opening left me cringing and glad I had missed the front of the Stalls.
While there are so many creative flaws in this production, Rent never reaches the lows it could so easily have plunged to, thanks entirely to the energetic, talented and passionate group of actors, dancers and singers, hampered by poor direction and a blurred vision, but still performing on, as though there are no icebergs floating down St. Martins Lane.
Mark: Oliver Thornton.
Roger: Luke Evans.
Collins: Leon Lopez.
Benny: Craig Stein.
Joanne: Francesca Jackson.
Angel: Jay Webb.
Mimi: Siobhan Donaghy.
Maureen: Denise Van Outen.
Ensemble: Ruth Augilera, Lewis Griffiths, CJ Johnson, Antony Luperi, Earl Perkins, Jamie Sampson, Philippa Stefani.
Male Swing: Lewis Griffiths.
Female Swing/Dance Captain: Philippa Stefani.
Director: William Baker.
Designer: Mark Bailey.
Lighting: David Howe.
Sound: Sebastian Frost for Orbital.
Musical Supervisor & Arrangements: Steve Anderson.
Vocal Arrangements: Terry Ronald.
Musical Director: Steve Hill.
Choreographer: Ashley Wallen.
Dramaturg: Lynn Thompson
Associate director: Clive Paget.
2007-10-22 00:18:17