Review: Rent
Olympia Theatre, Dublin
Thursday June 18 2009
The night before the first preview of 'Rent' in 1996, its writer, Jonathan Larson, collapsed and died.
'Rent' is a play about looking for love and striving for success, but realising that life is ultimately more about survival and solidarity. Sung by a group of people on the cusp of success, in the shadow of one of their own who hadn't made it, the original production radiated integrity.
'Rent' was a huge hit. It transferred to Broadway, where it ran until late last year. In the early days, at least, its subject matter of Aids, heroin and homosexuality in a hostile New York was a relatively fresh one.
But more than a decade on, 'Rent' is now a period piece. Slow to get going, with a plot that is over-elaborate and characters that are underdeveloped, time has exposed its weakness as a play. Sung by a cast of students (from DCU's drama society) who have no memory of the 1980s, it no longer has the gutsy authenticity that initially distinguished it.
But it still has the songs, and damn, they're good. And its 40-strong cast may not know much about Aids or poverty, but damn, they're young, and good looking, and they can belt out a tune like their hearts are breaking.
Fiona Carty as the leather-trousered Maureen is superb. Damian Kavanagh as the drag queen, Angel, is quite beautiful. The rest lack the experience and craft to carry their performances to the back of the Olympia. But by the end, with a stunning rendition of the play's irresistible anthem, 'Seasons of Love', they bring this young audience whooping to its feet. This cast will live to sing another day.
- Colin Murphy
