If you’re like me and came of age in the late 90’s, Rent was everywhere for a while. Our high school choir even sang Seasons of Love in our concert one year.
While I love Rent, I also have mixed feelings about it. It’s very much a product of the time period in which it was written. The topics were highly relevant at that specific time. But things have changed, and an HIV is no longer the death sentence it once was. So as time passes, it’s a little harder for Rent to feel as relatable as it once did.
That said, I’m still going to love it just as much as I always have. I have seen it in person several times, once even with Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal as Mark and Roger. I also think the movie version is adequate as well, even with the cast a little older than I think they really should be for the show.
One last thing. This musical is based off an opera. The story is actually the same, although details are changed to bring it into the modern era. The music is not the same, although the riff Roger is obsessed with – Musetta’s Waltz – is from the opera. We’re going to talk about the opera next week, and do a little compare and contrast type of thing. If you want a head start, go watch La Boheme. The story is the same, character names are different (mostly), but I’m confident you’ll be able to follow along.
Have you seen Rent? What did you think about it?