MAKING RENT, THE MUSICAL, RELEVANT IN 2024

(SPOT.ph) Premiered in 1996, Rent by Jonathan Larson is one of those musicals that almost everyone just knows. It had productions worldwide, including 1999 and 2001 stagings in Manila with Director Bobby Garcia at the helm and 2010 and 2011 productions by 9 Works Theatrical with Director Robbie Guevara. So when Guevera said, "[he] didn't want to redo Rent," we totally understand. Still, he—along with 9 Works Theatrical—is taking on the task of giving it a fresh take come opening day on April 20 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, in Makati.

Also read: Rent 2024: Show Dates, Ticket Prices + What You Need to Know

Rent Musical in Manila This 2024

The revival of Rent in Manila is not merely a restaging but a thoughtful reconsideration of the material to speak to the sensibilities and experiences of contemporary viewers. In an insightful conversation with the media last March 12, he shared his initial reluctance to revisit the musical. However, spurred by the enthusiasm of his scenographer, Mio Infante, and the realization that today's audience perceives the world differently, the team embarked on a creative journey to breathe new life into Rent.

"The first order of business was, obviously, we can't present it the same way we did back in 2010 and 2011. And, how do we redo the material catering to the audience of the day, which are the zillennials? Their way of thinking is very different from just the [elder] millennials and the younger GenXers that we knew from that time. Without altering the script. And, just before we started rehearsals, like a month before we started music, I was already getting bothered by some of the things in the material, which I immediately called [Infante] for. Essentially, we realized so many things that we didn't realize back then. So, addressing those issues itself forced us to really rethink the approach per character," says Guevara.

Rent in Manila's Cast of Characters

Roger Davis (played by Anthony Rosaldo):

Once a thriving musician, Roger now struggles to find success and meaning in his music career. His journey revolves around the pursuit of creating a single impactful song amidst themes of love, loss, and the fear of mortality. Roger grapples with past mistakes as he seeks to discover his purpose in life.

Mark Cohen (played by Reb Atadero and Ian Pangilinan):

As the narrator of Rent, Mark is a documentary filmmaker who chronicles the lives of his friends and their community's struggles. Formerly roommates with Roger and Collins, Mark's journey explores the balance between following creative passions and navigating the responsibilities of adulthood.

Mimi Marquez (played by Thea Astley and Molly Langley):

A dancer and Roger's love interest, Mimi's story delves into the complexities of romantic relationships, self-acceptance, and embracing life's uncertainties.

Tom Collins (played by Garret Bolden):

A computer expert, philosophy professor, and activist, Collins becomes involved with Angel. His character confronts issues of inequality and discrimination while discovering the transformative power of love in the face of violence and prejudice.

Angel Dumott Schunard (played by Lance Reblando and Adrian Lindayag):

A drag queen and street musician, Angel's infectious personality celebrates the authenticity of life, the importance of a chosen family, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Maureen Johnson (played by Justine Peña and Jasmine Fitzgerald):

A provocative performance artist and Mark's ex-girlfriend, Maureen's character explores the intersection of art, politics, and gender dynamics. She enters a relationship with Joanne, delving into themes of love and partnership.

Joanne Jefferson (played by Mica Fajardo and Fay Castro):

An Ivy-league graduate and public interest lawyer, Joanne is Maureen's girlfriend and becomes intertwined in the lives of the other characters. Her journey navigates issues of fidelity, trust, compromise, and advocacy for justice and equality.

Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III (played by Markki Stroem and Guji Lorenzana):

Formerly friends with Mark, Roger, and Maureen, Benny has become their landlord, leading to tensions fueled by his perceived betrayal. Benny embodies the conflicts between tradition and progress, ambition and loyalty.

Making Rent's Characters More Relatable

"When we were able to more or less find ways of making these misfits lovable, the staging became clearer. And, by misfits, I don't mean to be derogatory. I just mean that they're different from everyday people. Because they face challenges that don't affect a lot of people all the time. The bohemians, the artists...some are poor by circumstance, some are poor by choice, only because they choose to cater to their passions. And, they do things out of necessity, they do things to deal with what life gives them. So, they have to play on the street. They have to do betting, and hacking, and all that.

So, from the characterizations, the next step was, how do we make the audiences relate? Because, apparently, that's what makes a show really successful. It's when audiences get to relate to the characters. And, they get to say, 'Hey, that's my story,' 'Oh my God, that's me.' And, we want to, more or less, bring that approach to all of our shows from now on. It's how do we make the audiences find themselves with the characters," Guevara continues.

Markki Stroem, for example, is particularly excited to play Benny.

"I wanted to give him a little bit of a redemption arc. So, that's the reason why I wanted Benny. Because I wanted to give him the time to shine among his friends. And to actually have time for the audience to really fall in love with all of the characters in the show. And not just hate on that one quote-unquote bad guy. Because nowadays, who is that?," he tells us.

Lance Reblando, who plays the role of Angel, gives her artistic interpretation to the character.

"Angel is a trans woman, at least for me. It just wasn't verbalized before. Because in the '90s, there were [already] trans women. But no one was straight up saying, 'I am a trans woman.' So, at least for me, that's how I approached her," she says.

These collaborations and open discussions between the cast and the production team led to a more nuanced portrayal of the characters, making them feel more human and raw. Plus, the variety of the cast's artistic background makes the upcoming production of Rent something to be excited about.

Rent runs from April 20 to May 24 at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, 4/F RCBC Plaza, Makati City. Tickets, with prices ranging from P2,000 to P4,000, are available through Ticket2Me and showbuyers.

2024-03-29T04:07:26Z dg43tfdfdgfd