Twenty-eight years after its premiere, RENT is still a theatrical tour de force and cultural phenomenon.
Jonathan Larson’s rock musical RENT is endearing to many, especially as it is generational. As with Hair for the Baby Boomers and Hamilton for the Zoomers, RENT is a Nineties musical that resonated with the Gen Xers.
Set in New York’s East Village, the story revolves around a group of young artists and musicians trying to survive in a bleak yet inspiring bohemian backdrop. Faced with poverty, illness and death, RENT is based on Puccini’s La boheme giving it an operatic edge of empathy and deep emotion.
The cast of RENT
It first premiered in Australia in 1998, making stars of Rodger Corser and Christine Anu. Now back with a national tour, director Shaun Rennie (The Phantom of the Opera on Sydney Harbour) has given the production a more refined and classical feel, and it works beautifully.
“Roger is surrounded by like-minded people, primarily queer folk who savour every moment life has to offer” – Jerrod Smith
In the role of Roger, the struggling musician coping with the darkness of AIDS, Jerrod Smith (Rolling Thunder Vietnam) has been able to break down parts of his own life to find the character.
“I relate a great deal to Roger,” says Smith.
“He’s an artist desperate to leave his mark on the world. He’s surrounded by like-minded people, primarily queer folk who savour every moment life has to offer and refuse to live under society’s expectations.”
Noah Mullins as Mark and Jerrod Smith in RENT
“I’ve experienced and been around a lot of addiction and darkness in my life,” says Smith.
“I’ve experienced and been around a lot of addiction and darkness in my life” – Jerrod Smith
“I use every bit of life experience I’ve gained, including feelings of grief, pain, love and loss. I wanted to portray Roger’s story as authentically as I can, for all those living his experience today.”
Considering the melancholy themes of the show such as homelessness, poverty and death, portraying such a character can have its challenges, as Smith explains.
The cast of RENT
“With a role such as Roger’s, there’s always the danger of allowing his pain to infect your own life and mind, especially when you share some lived experience. But I feel very blessed to have an incredible support network and company that allows me to separate work and life. I feel safe and excited to go to the places this story and character require of me.”
Also in the cast are Nick Afoa (Miss Saigon), Martha Berhane (Hamilton), Carl De Villa (Kinky Boots), Tana Laga’aia (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) and Calista Nelmes (Jersey Boys).
As Roger’s best friend Mark, Noah Mullins (Jagged Little Pill) is filling a dream role inspired by the show’s creator Jonathan Larson.
“Rent has always been a bucket list show for me,” says Mullins.
“To be in one of the few musicals about the people on the outskirts of life is a true honour” – Noah Mullins
“I’ve had Mark at the top of my list for a while. RENT is one of the only musicals I’ve seen where the characters reflect the people that I surround myself with. There’s not enough queer representation on stage. To be in one of the few musicals about the people on the outskirts of life is a true honour.”
“I’ve been taking inspiration from Jonathan Larson himself,” says Mullins.
“I believe he wrote himself into the show through Mark. My process in developing Mark has been analysing the script to see how Larson created the language for RENT and how his characters interact. It’s given me some insight into what made him tick and I’ve tried channelling that. Also watching Tick, Tick … Boom! with Andrew Garfield helped too.”
Since opening in 1996, RENT has been in continuous production around the globe. It has earned Tony Awards, won the Pulitzer Prize for Larson, has been the subject of documentaries and produced the 2005 film with the original Broadway cast. While fans of the show became known as ‘RENT-heads’, critics praised the representation of the HIV-positive characters and their optimistic outlook.
“Rent is for the people who don’t fit in and who fight to be unapologetically themselves” – Noah Mullins
“I had known of RENT for many years before I understood what it was really about,” says Smith.
“It’s a story for anyone who believes that life is worth living, that love and creation are more important than anything else. It gives a voice to so many communities that otherwise struggle to be heard and speaks to any artist fighting to have their work appreciated.”
“Rent is timeless,” agrees Mullins.
“Timeless because of its universal message of love. It’s something the world always needs reminding of. The issues and topics the characters protest so strongly are just as relevant today as ever. Rent is for the people who don’t fit in and want to make the world a better place. People who fight to be unapologetically themselves.”
RENT is currently touring nationally
For more visit: rentmusical.au
