RENT was FANTASTIC. Really, I don't know I to describe it. When it started, I never wanted to end. The cast was amazing! Tamyra Gray (sp?) who was on one of the many seasons of American Idol - can't remember which one - was Mimi. To me, that isn't like, "OH MY GOD!", but it was pretty cool and she did a fantastic job as Mimi. I think she blended Daphne Ruben-Vega (the original Mimi) and Rosario Dawson (movie Mimi) very well. She made Mimi a hard-headed girl just like I believe she was - plus, I've seen a few videos - in the musical, but she always made Mimi kind of weak and such like in the movie (or at least, in my opinion). Plus, her voice was kind of a blend with Rosario's and Daphne's voice. It was really strange, but she sounded wonderful. Though, she did forget a line in Light My Candle and I think she might have made an error in Without You, but other than that she was wonderful. Everyone else was wonderful as well. Roger, who was played by an Englishman - yes, English - was fantastic. Duncan Bennett - they guy who played Roger - made Roger seem so much, edgier than Adam (though of course, Adam will always be Roger no matter what), but I think it was because he had an accent. It just made Roger more, rockish, and his solo, One Song Glory was brillant! Seriously, it gave me goosebumps. It was breathtaking. Then, there is Mark. Okay, Kyle Post - guy who played Mark - was so adorable! And he sounded SO MUCH like Anthony Rapp - original Mark and again, another one who will always be their character - that it was kind of creepy. XD But, he did a wonderful job and yeah, he did sound like Anthony, but he had his own voice too and he did Mark so well. I just, gah! He was just awesome. Angel. OMFG, AMAZING. XD Seriously, I didn't think I would ever see the day where somebody could actually hit the notes that Wilison - original Angel - could hit, but this guy, he fucking NAILED them. It was amazing! And, he was so energetic and so just, Angel. :) Joanna was good, better than the original one, but I think Tracie Thoms (movie) was better, but again, no complaints on who we had playing her and the Maureen was pretty amazing herself and every line she said made me smile and laugh. She was so funny! Especially during her solo Over The Moon. It was hilarious! The only character I didn't like - who I absolutly ADORE in the movie - was Collins. Brett and I were talking and saying that he doesn't think there will ever be anyone better than Jesse L. Martin (Law and Order) to play Collins. Collins just HAS TO be played by him to be fantastic. But, anway, the guy who played him in our preformance had a wonderful voice, don't get me wrong, he just could not get low like Jesse did. He just had a softer voice, which I think worked very well for I'll Cover You (Reprise), but just didn't fit the character well throughout the show. And, everyone else - the other seven who are just additional people - were fantastic as well. *nodnod* The soloist were awesome. :)
Now, on to the actually play itself. XD
During Over the Moon, if you've seen the movie, you'll know that Maureen will 'moo' like a cow and then say "moo with me" and of course, everyone starts mooing in the movie and that's exactly how it goes in the play and that's no joke. She said "moo with me" (and I was informed of this a head of time since Brett had seen the play once before) and EVERYONE started mooing. It was hilarious! I was just like "MOO! MOO!" and the whole audience was mooing. It was just great. :) Another good part is during Seasons of Love, the characters start clapping and, we just join right in, clapping along with them as they sing and clap. It was so cool! :) I have a TON of highlights from the show, but I don't think I can list everything or else, we'll be here for hours! XD lol. Again, the play was fantastic and I never wanted it to end and when it did, I was sad. It makes it worse to know that it will be closing in like, two months. ;______;
On to what I bought. Well, I bought a T-shirt (of course. XD), the program (which came with this little RENT backpack) and the coffee book table or 'the bible' as Brandon, a guy who we was sitting next to us, called it. XD Those items were like, expensive themselves, but then I got a signed poster, again, by the cast, but this one had Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp's (original Roger and Mark) signature on them! I was like "OFMG", but it was a ton of money, so Brett bought it for me. XD Though, he bought it 'cause he owed me a ton of other money anyway. lol. He always bought me a picture (which I've got to scan) with Duncan Bennett and Kyle Post (Roger and Mark) and that's all I got. The picture and the poster money went to a charity that, at this point, I can't remember the name of. :/
Anyway! On to some pictures!
This is Brett and I with Marcus. Marcus (or that's what we believe his name is. :?) was one of the additional people, but he was the soloist in Seasons of Love and he would always sing the Christmas Bells part too. He had a really good voice and we both agreed he should have played Collins and even though, again, we believe nobody is better than Jesse, he probably would have been pretty close. *nodnod*
This is me with Benny. Well, Rodney Hicks, the man who played Benny, and there is a really interesting story behind this. Rodney actually was in the OBC (original broadway cast) of RENT. He didn't play one of the main characters, but he was one of the additional people like Marcus was in this play. Can you believe it? Even though he wasn't a main, we got to see an ORIGINAL cast member. It was fantastic and he did an amazing job. (seriously, if you hate Benny in the movie, you won't hate him in the play. he is so much better in the play version)
Then, these are our newfound RENTHEADS or buddies, Brandon and Katie. Yes, the Brandon I mention before who was sitting by us and his friend, who was sitting my me (it went, Brett, me, Katie, Brandon when we were sitting), Katie who was seeing it for the first time just like me. ^^ We all decided that we so need to get together again whenever we're on the west coast or they are in the midwest. We're hoping to maybe see Adam and Anthony on the touring cast together when they come around. ^^ These guys were fantastic! Amazing people. :)
Well, that's RENT. It was fun and I had a blast. Just wish it didn't have to end. :(
Current Mood: 
HAPPY
HAPPYCurrent Music: what you own ;; rent (obc 10 year)
scream your name