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Regional Reviews: St. Louis Rent Also see Richard's review of Radio Golf
Company founder Scott Miller co-directs with Chris Moore, creating a grand sense of recent history at a time when life could only exist in the moment: filled with prodigal sons and daughters, divorced from their past, and an extremely dark future lurking around every corner. A huge round table dominates the stage, forcing them to come together again and again (Todd Schaefer designed the subtly perfect set), and personal chemistry becomes inevitable in that unbreakable circle. The lovely vocals are arranged by music director (and bandleader) Randon Lane. Jonathan Larson wrote the book, music and lyrics, based on an original concept by playwright Billy Aronson. Larson died the day before the Off-Broadway opening, and never lived to see Rent win the Pulitzer Prize for drama, or four Tony awards, including Best Musical, or to see his show run for twelve years on Broadway after transferring to the Nederlander Theatre from New York Theatre Workshop, where it began its onstage life in 1993. Larson's score builds invisible towers of hope even when there's no such thing in sight. Fresh and original J. David Brooks plays Mark, Rent's would-be film auteur. Brooks suffered an injury as this New Line revival was coming to fruition, but, in spite of his injury, he sings and acts and tirelessly climbs up on that big round table (seemingly) with the greatest of ease. Nathan Mecey plays Mark's roommate Roger with great emotional detail and also serves in the important off-stage capacity of technical director. Corrinna Redford makes a desperate on-stage journey as Mimi, maddening until she fully becomes the emotional crux of it all in the show's final moments. It's a remarkably solid cast, with Aarin Kamphoefner coy and confident as Angel, and Chris Moore deceptively simple as his stoic other half, Tom Collins, a philosophy teacher and computer whiz. Sarah Lueken is funny and stylish as Maureen, with Jazmine Kendela Wade excellent as her long-suffering lover Joanne. Their duet, "Take Me or Leave Me," feels utterly fresh and completely compelling. Chelsie Johnston is great comic relief as Alexi, hoping to seduce Mark into a grown-up job. And Gabriel Scott Lawrence really caught my eye in a series of smaller roles. But you could say the same thing about everyone in this ensemble, they just sweep you away. I hadn't seen Rent all the way through in a while, not since a highly proficient but mechanical touring production blew through town some 15 years ago. But for me, in terms of perfect comprehensibility and a kind of symbolic purity on every level, this time really felt like the first. Rent runs through June 21, 2025, at New Line Theatre, Marcelle Theatre, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive, St. Louis MO. For tickets and information, please visit www.newlinetheatre.com. Cast: The New Line Band: Production Staff: |
