THE REVIEW IS OUT!

I woke up today and got a text from Tina, "Congratulations! Awesome review!" So I grabbed the paper from my Dad and found the article right away in the Local section...

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100131/ENTERTAINMENT08/1310351/1114/ENTERTAINMENT/+Rent++deftly+deals+with+grim+issues

Jonathan Larson's reimagining of Puccini's opera "La Boheme" set in New York City in the AIDS-plagued 1990s still delivers powerful and very adult material in its themes, songs and characters. Drug addiction, homosexuality and many flavors of explicit on-stage sexual behavior are part of the play and of this production. Like the opera, "Rent" is about the struggles and suffering of young artists trying to survive and find love in a harsh city that has little interest in their talents.

Chris Turner has the challenge of managing a large cast and sprawling, episodic plot line. He does a solid job evoking the sense of excitement and emotional community the material demands. The strength of the show and of this production is its ability to make strange stereotypical characters not only believable but likable. The romance between Angel, the drag queen street drummer, and Collins, the gay computer philosopher, is sweeter and at times stronger than the central love affair between Mimi and Roger.

Matt Bennis as Angel is truly engaging in "Today 4 U" and "I'll Cover for You," a duet with Timothy Lamont Cannon as Collins. An actor in a short red Santa coat, black and white tights and a bobbed black wig should be ridiculous. Angel's persona understands the comic content of the look but uses it to convey sincere emotional depth. Cannon offers sterling support as the object of his affection, especially in the scenes during and after Angel's death.

Mimi, the heroine, is HIV-positive, an addict and an exotic dancer but she manages to make dissipated and depressed faded rock star Roger, also HIV-positive, into a man capable of love. Kristin Romero has a lovely rock-singing voice and a frank sexuality that seethes in numbers like "Out Tonight" and "Light My Candle." Brendan Sheehan provides his usual exciting vocals and joins Romero in a poignant duet, "Without You."

Despite the grim setting, the show has some really humorous material. "Tango: Maureen" a duet for the current (Maureen Cotellese) and former (Matt Whalen) lovers of a bisexual performance artist is simply a hoot. Laura Moss plays the wild, flirtatious Maureen and belts out a comic treat in "Over the Moon," complete with cow hand puppet. "Take Me or Leave Me," a bit of romantic comedy with Cotellese, also showcases some sexually charged dancing. Whalen plays Mark, a documentary filmmaker who serves as narrator for the story. He is a fine actor and does well as a singer.

The big anthem numbers of the show "La Vie Bohème" and "Seasons of Love" get rousing treatments and emphasize the fine choral work of the cast.

Matt Casarino directs a reliable five-piece band that propels the show even if they sometimes overwhelm the singers and make the lyrics difficult to follow.

The audience was obviously familiar with the material, offering loud cheers and applause for nearly every number.

Tom Butler is a Wilmington freelance writer.

SHWWWWINNNNGGGGG! I have a rock-singing voice! So does that mean I get to be a rock star now?

We're awesome. And last night I walked out and saw:

Tori
Chris
Anna
Megan
The Godfreys
My family
Ant
Jeff

And it was a good thing I took that death make-up off my face b/c I KNEW Mrs. Godfrey was gonna snap some pics! It was great to see everyone. Great great great as always. I haven't seen Jeff and Ant since before they went to Spain, and Anna since she moved to New York, and Megan since Aesop and Tori and Chris since I don't know when, and The Godfreys are always coming out to support me. People are awesome.

But yes, show number 2 is down. And I screwed up the words in Without You. I KNEW it would happen at some point. I knew the words in my head but then different words came out for some reason. But luckily no one even noticed. My family was there and during Out Tonight I thought, "Oh God. Dad's watching me hump and touch myself." At intermission I get a text from Mel, "omg girl!!!" So I guess as much as I prepare people for what I have to do, they're still gonna be a tad shocked. Oh well, I guess that's a good thing. My whole family ended up loving the show, and my aunt LOVED Angel. :) Too bad the video didn't come on at the end and I saw Ant in the audience with his hand up to his mouth in shock. B clearly was laughing when the lights came up. But hey, it happens :) We just kept squeezing each other's hands. Funny thing, live theatre. But that's what makes it interesting. Keeps you on your toes right?