EDINBURGH 2010: BWW Reviews: RENT (SCHOOL EDITION) (Greenside)

Before seeing Rent, I did worry that perhaps a performing arts Saturday school (ArtsOne, based in South London) shouldn't be attempting this material, even if it is an adapted version for young people. With a large ensemble, a small stage and clunky set, the signs weren't good. And sure, you have to view this as a show by enthusiastic amateurs and judge accordingly.

But the young voices coped well with what is, after all, a difficult score to sing even for grown-ups (just ask Caprice). 18-year-old Claire Weston (Mimi) looks to be a strong actress with beautiful vocals, Peter James as Mark held the show together, capturing his character's isolation, and James Grice (Collins) has a good voice, a brave commitment to his character, and a strangely compelling stage presence for one so young. Mat Janes (Roger) and Sophia Jeddaoui (Joanne) demonstrated what could be absolutely exceptional vocals given a few years of training - Janes simply needs to have the confidence to push his higher range further as I'm sure the capacity is there; Jeddaoui has an extraordinary gift that just needs to be controlled a touch, but that will come with practice.

Of course this show wasn't perfect; with a cast aged between 14 and 18 and a libretto that's generally admitted to be flawed anyway, it's always going to have some problems at best. But Rent works only if it has the ability to move the audience (just ask William Baker), and these young people managed that in spades.