Sunday, December 04, 2005
RENT Rants
I have just returned from watching RENT for the second time in my otherwise unremarkable life and unfortunately the second time ain't that good.
Broadway cast and all but it wasn't bawlin'ly good like the last time around.
The last time around, I was bawlin' my eyes out almost throughout the second half of the show. This time around I was looking at my watch as Mimi was singing "heart-rendingly" about the tides changing and boys running without Roger.
I had my doubts about the show from the opening notes when Mark opened his mouth to sing.
This "Mark", was in a word, horrible.
There wasn't even a programme that I could buy that would identify this horrible incarnation of my favourite character. Personally I thought his voice was too flat and he sounded a little off-key in certain bits. The worst was when he massacred "What You Own", my most beloved song off RENT. The character was rather bland and nondescript. Mark is definately whinier and most emotive at least during the La Vie Boheme bit. (This bit is added after I found the fridae review and cast list: Mark Cohen is played by Trey Ellet, whom I hope had influenza tonight cos otherwise there's no excuse for ruining "Mark" for me.)
However, I have to say he did do a pretty passable rendition of the Tango: Maureen, but then again maybe because he was singing with the fabulous Danielle Lee (thank you fridae.com for the link and review! http://www.rentstarringkarenmok.com/)
Caren Lyn Manuel as Maureen was HOT! She actually sounded a little like Idina Menzel in the original Broadway recording.
I have to say kudos to Karen Mok for a pretty convincing Mimi. I never really had her down for a theatre actress but she was doing pretty good as a junkie/ex-junkie/junkie Mimi. She kinda got drowned out a little during her solo for Out Tonight, but her railing work was awesome! I really gotta hand it to her on that amazing job on the bars in death-defying heels.
Jeremy Kushnier as Roger was a little nasal but he turned on the rock rasp in ALL the right places *sigh* Andy Senor as Angel, I thought, was a little weak on the delivery and I swear I heard her voice break at least once.. I felt he wasn't very convincing as the eternally optimistic believer in L-O-V-E Angel. Not queen enough I guess... The last guy who played Angel made me cry like a teenage girl watching Titanic for the first time.
I told Candice and Ric (who watched the show with me) during the interval that if this show doesn't make me cry it isn't a good show. Well I stand by that. The other thing that killed it for me was John Eric Parker's rendition of the reprisal of I'll Cover You, after Angel died. He didn't sound distraught at all (as he should be given that his lover just died) and seemed to be more interested in delivering a flowery R&B infused performace of the song. Entirely killed the moment dude...
Overall, I felt that the main failure in the performance was the lack of chemistry amongst the cast, in this show I think it's the chemistry that counts. I believe the audience has to feel, to believe in the the deep camaraderie and love among the group of friends in the first half to be able to cry with them in the second, darker half. I think they did try but there was too much gesturing and movement, every action seemed a little too affected for them to come across as beliveable characters. Even the embraces and kisses seemed a little reluctant and false (with the exception of Maureen and Joanne. HOT HOT GIRL ACTION!).
In my opinion, the cohesive element in the musical was supposed to be the very *real* friendship that develops in the group of unlikely people drawn together by chance/mischance one cold christmas eve in New York. One was supposed to have experienced the coming together of a groups of friends, who were drawn irresistibly together by circumstance and with them, celebrate the spirit of Bohemia, spontaneity and love. Only then can we as audiences, experience fully the tragedy that is Angel's death and the heartwrenching separation of Mimi and Roger.
I felt that in the previous local+Filipino cast and I think many other people did too cos I could hear sobbing and snuffling all over the theatre the last time. Not even a snuffle this time around I'm afraid. Maybe it was the expectation that I was going to cry that prevented me from crying, or maybe it was the big bald ang moh head bobbing left to right in front of me that distracted me from the *sadness* that I was suppose to be feeling.. Oh well, money spent, show watched, that's it.
Bummer.
Oh and for those who are interested in reading a little about what's been happening in my life:
I have just returned from watching RENT for the second time in my otherwise unremarkable life and unfortunately the second time ain't that good.
Broadway cast and all but it wasn't bawlin'ly good like the last time around.
The last time around, I was bawlin' my eyes out almost throughout the second half of the show. This time around I was looking at my watch as Mimi was singing "heart-rendingly" about the tides changing and boys running without Roger.
I had my doubts about the show from the opening notes when Mark opened his mouth to sing.
This "Mark", was in a word, horrible.
There wasn't even a programme that I could buy that would identify this horrible incarnation of my favourite character. Personally I thought his voice was too flat and he sounded a little off-key in certain bits. The worst was when he massacred "What You Own", my most beloved song off RENT. The character was rather bland and nondescript. Mark is definately whinier and most emotive at least during the La Vie Boheme bit. (This bit is added after I found the fridae review and cast list: Mark Cohen is played by Trey Ellet, whom I hope had influenza tonight cos otherwise there's no excuse for ruining "Mark" for me.)
However, I have to say he did do a pretty passable rendition of the Tango: Maureen, but then again maybe because he was singing with the fabulous Danielle Lee (thank you fridae.com for the link and review! http://www.rentstarringkarenmok.com/)
Caren Lyn Manuel as Maureen was HOT! She actually sounded a little like Idina Menzel in the original Broadway recording.
I have to say kudos to Karen Mok for a pretty convincing Mimi. I never really had her down for a theatre actress but she was doing pretty good as a junkie/ex-junkie/junkie Mimi. She kinda got drowned out a little during her solo for Out Tonight, but her railing work was awesome! I really gotta hand it to her on that amazing job on the bars in death-defying heels.
Jeremy Kushnier as Roger was a little nasal but he turned on the rock rasp in ALL the right places *sigh* Andy Senor as Angel, I thought, was a little weak on the delivery and I swear I heard her voice break at least once.. I felt he wasn't very convincing as the eternally optimistic believer in L-O-V-E Angel. Not queen enough I guess... The last guy who played Angel made me cry like a teenage girl watching Titanic for the first time.
I told Candice and Ric (who watched the show with me) during the interval that if this show doesn't make me cry it isn't a good show. Well I stand by that. The other thing that killed it for me was John Eric Parker's rendition of the reprisal of I'll Cover You, after Angel died. He didn't sound distraught at all (as he should be given that his lover just died) and seemed to be more interested in delivering a flowery R&B infused performace of the song. Entirely killed the moment dude...
Overall, I felt that the main failure in the performance was the lack of chemistry amongst the cast, in this show I think it's the chemistry that counts. I believe the audience has to feel, to believe in the the deep camaraderie and love among the group of friends in the first half to be able to cry with them in the second, darker half. I think they did try but there was too much gesturing and movement, every action seemed a little too affected for them to come across as beliveable characters. Even the embraces and kisses seemed a little reluctant and false (with the exception of Maureen and Joanne. HOT HOT GIRL ACTION!).
In my opinion, the cohesive element in the musical was supposed to be the very *real* friendship that develops in the group of unlikely people drawn together by chance/mischance one cold christmas eve in New York. One was supposed to have experienced the coming together of a groups of friends, who were drawn irresistibly together by circumstance and with them, celebrate the spirit of Bohemia, spontaneity and love. Only then can we as audiences, experience fully the tragedy that is Angel's death and the heartwrenching separation of Mimi and Roger.
I felt that in the previous local+Filipino cast and I think many other people did too cos I could hear sobbing and snuffling all over the theatre the last time. Not even a snuffle this time around I'm afraid. Maybe it was the expectation that I was going to cry that prevented me from crying, or maybe it was the big bald ang moh head bobbing left to right in front of me that distracted me from the *sadness* that I was suppose to be feeling.. Oh well, money spent, show watched, that's it.
Bummer.
Oh and for those who are interested in reading a little about what's been happening in my life:
- I failed my driving test.
- I finished my feature flyer which I've been procrastinating over for aeons.
- I bought me a new phone (The gorgeously PINK Motorola RAZR V3 *Fweeuweet!)
- I'm going broke on christmas presents and I'm WAY behind on my buying due to other shopping opportunities that have irresistibly presented themselves.)
- I recently bought 3 pairs of Hush Puppies ( 2 slip-ons and one pair of low boots *in purple!* a pair of ultra comfy bronze italian-made mules from SOLE2SOLE, a Nightmare bag, a Mango top and a 2nd pair of spectacles.
Which Member of the Endless Are You?
Which Naruto Character Are You?
Test by naruto - kun.com>
| Disorder | Rating |
| Paranoid: | Very High |
| Schizoid: | Moderate |
| Schizotypal: | Very High |
| Antisocial: | Moderate |
| Borderline: | Low |
| Histrionic: | High |
| Narcissistic: | High |
| Avoidant: | Very High |
| Dependent: | High |
| Obsessive-Compulsive: | High |
-- Personality Disorder Test -- -- Personality Disorder Information -- | |