BWW Reviews: Even the Heat Can't Stop the Powerhouse That is RENT at the Hudson Theatre

The old adage that the show must go on was put to the test at Hudson Theatre during the opening night performance of Jonathan Larson's musical RENT presented by the 2Cents Theatre Group. Not only did the air conditioning go out, making the theatre so hot several audience members were distractingly fanning themselves with their program throughout the show, the sound equipment was on the blink causing many actors to switch to a working wireless headset backstage in between numbers causing actors to go onstage with battery packs and wires hanging very visibly on their bodies. And the glorious band often drowned out the poor actors dealing with failing headsets.

But all that aside, this production, directed by Kristen Boulé with musical direction by Morgan Fitch, multi-level pipe-based set design by Anderson William, lighting design by Donny Jackson, and costume design by Abbey Hocker still packs a punch. The cast features (in alphabetical order) Dedrick Bonner, Kate Bowman, Amber Bracken, Ariel Brooker, Cole Chapman, Brian Gamble, Lauren Joy Goss, Jonathon Grant, Michael Levine, Juan Lozano, Alli Miller, Tyler Olshansky, Reagan Osborne, Deondray Randolph, and Jessika Rowe.

Based on Puccini's La Boheme, RENT tells the story of one year in the life of friends living the Bohemian life in the East Village, New York City, 1989-1990. Among the group is the narrator, nerdy love-struck filmmaker Mark Cohen (Reagan Osborne); the object of Mark's affection, his former girlfriend, Maureen Johnson (Alli Miller); Maureen's Harvard-educated public interest lawyer and lesbian lover Joanne Jefferson (Kate Bowman); Mark's roommate, HIV-positive musician and former junkie, Roger Davis (Juan Lozano); Roger's new girlfriend, the HIV-positive drug addicted S&M dancer, Mimi Marquez (Lauren Joy Goss); their former roommate, HIV-positive computer genius Tom Collins (Deldrick Bonner); Collins' HIV-positive drag queen street musician/lover Angel (Jonathan Grant); and Benjamin Coffin III (BrIan Keith Gamble), a former member of the group who married for money and has since become their landlord and the opposite of everything they stand for. As their lives intertwine, we see just how much changes or doesn't change in the 525,600 minutes that make up a year.

All the leading actors mentioned above do an incredible job with their roles and I have the feeling each was thrilled to be offered the role. Their enthusiasm and joy filled the too hot theater, lifting the material above whatever setbacks the cast was facing.

And I must commend Tyler Olshansky, with her wild hair, short shorts, and Nirvana t-shirt, the outstanding soloist in "Seasons of Love," the opening number of Act II. Her stirring vocals lifted the number to the heavens and beyond. Her performance as well as Deldrick Bonner's heartfelt rendition of "I'll Cover You," Kate Bowman and Reagan Osborne's "Tango Maureen," Alli Miller and Kate Bowman's ode to all lovers"Take Me or Leave Me," Jonathan Grant's rousing and breathtaking high-heeled struts and jumps in "today 4 U," every number by standouts Juan Lozano and Lauren Joy Goss as star-crossed lovers Roger and Mimi, and the rousing and cleverly choreographed full-cast number "La Vie Boheme" at the end of Act I are just a few of the outstanding moments in the show. And trust me, there are many more making this production a joy to behold.

RENT runs Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 7pm through June 30 at the Hudson Theatre, located at 6539 Santa Monica Boulevard, on Theatre Row in Hollywood, 90038. General admission tickets are $34, with student and senior tickets available for $25 with valid ID. To purchase tickets by phone, call (323) 960-4410.or online at www.plays411.com/rent.

Photos by Alicia Reyes

The Rent company performs "La Vie Boheme"

Juan Lozano and Lauren Joy Gross in "Light My Candle"

Kate Bowman and Alli Miller in "Take Me or Leave Me"

To post a comment, you must register and login.