For those of you who are unfamiliar with "Rent" (shame on you, by the way), it was written by Jonathan Larsen in 1996. It's the story of a group of friends in New York City who deal with life, love, death, the AIDS crisis, money problems, the upper class, etc. Really, really good. It tries to bring theater to the masses and includes a lot of high-energy song & dance numbers. It's like Romeo & Juliet on speed, with cross dressers. Basically, it tells the story of Mark - an amateur filmographer - and his roommate/best friend Roger, an aspiring musician who has AIDS. Roger meets a druggie named Mimi and they fall in love. Mimi also has AIDS. Their friend Tom Collins (who is gay) meets a cross-dressing character named Angel who is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. Mark's ex-girlfriend Maureen stages a protest because they are all being evicted from their apartment building because they didn't pay their rent. The building is owned by their ex-friend Benny. Benny has married some upper-crust girl and buys their apartment building so he can turn it in to a studio of sorts. So Maureen stages this protest - which is one of the high parts of the play. In a way, Maureen has tied all of these characters together, and she has ruined several of the characters' lives. She is portrayed as being a little bit ridiculous, which I think is only fitting. Anyway, she puts on this "performance art" protest and talks about a dream she has in which she meets a cow in the desert. She "moos" a lot and gets the audience to moo too, and it's really hilarious. Eventually, Mark signs a deal with some studio to make his film footage of the protest and the ensuing riot into a movie. The studio agent is played by Christina Hernandez, a 2000 graduate from my own Texas Tech. She does a GREAT job. Roger accuses Mark of being a sell-out, and Mark accuses Roger of running away from his feelings. About 3/4 of the way through the play, Angel dies and it really affects all of the characters. Tom is, of course, heartbroken. It's gut-wrenching to see Angel's demise because she was a beautiful, flamboyant drag queen, and she is reduced to this tiny, weak shell of a man. After her death, one of the characters (Maureen?) starts talking about "him," but then she revises her wording and refers to her as "she." This part really struck me. I know several drag queens, and while they may physically be "men," they are emotionally and psychologically "women." It's important for all of us to realize that just because people are different doesn't mean they are deviants or sickos. They're just different. Anyway, the rest of the play follows the lives of the characters. Roger discovers Mimi is still doing drugs after she told him she'd quit. She's also sleeping around with Benny. Roger, of course, knows that he'll never be wealthy like Benny, so it makes him really angry. He goes off to Santa Fe and leaves Mimi alone. Maureen & her new girlfriend have problems. Tom wanders around aimlessly because he's lost his Angel. Eventually, they all come back together and realize that this day is the only one they have, and so they should "measure it in love" and not take anything for granted. Mimi falls very ill and is found in the park by Maureen and her girlfriend (whose name escapes me). They bring her to Roger & Mark's apartment, and Roger tells her that he loves her and sings her the song he has written. She appears to have died, but then she miraculously comes back to life. Everyone realizes that they have to love each other and play the hand that they're dealt.
On a serious note, my mom is having some surgery done tomorrow so please pray for a safe procedure & quick recovery.
Take care!
KNW 11:45a