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Author Topic:   God, _Rent_ Sucks
Rrhain
Member
Posts: 6351
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Joined: 05-03-2003


Message 1 of 28 (263656)
11-28-2005 1:36 AM


OK, I broke down and saw Rent. I didn't like it when I first listened to the cast album and I wasn't going to pay nearly $100 to see it on stage. Now, I know that the transition to film changed an awful lot ("Seasons of Love" as the opening song? No singspiel phone messages?) but god, this story blows. I don't give a damn about these pathetic, whiney twentysomethings who seem to think that simply because they recognize that people are oppressed that somehow means they have tapped into something real. The only characters with any sense of connection were Angel and Collins and they were marginal, supporting ones.
Which is probably a good thing because if they had had any attention paid to them by the script, they would have turned into the same insignificant, petty fools. Exactly what did Mark and/or Roger accomplish? Ooh! I made my movie! Ooh! I finished my song! And to what end? What is the point of these things except to be an expression of self-aggrandizement of no meaning except to one's self and perhaps a handful of others who happen to know your personal vocabulary of "Poor Me"? "La Vie Boheme" is the crowning glory of wannabes thinking they have managed to show that they're above and beyond the "societal pressure of conformity" when, as always, they are just as conforming as those they despise. If they truly didn't care about what the normal people thought, they wouldn't spend so much time obsessing about it and engaging in a mutal masturbation fest of how much more authentic they are.
And Mimi [I][B]DIES[/i][/b]! She doesn't come back! Her living turns what is supposed to be a tragedy into a maudlin farce.

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by Phat, posted 11-28-2005 3:03 AM Rrhain has replied
 Message 6 by clpMINI, posted 11-28-2005 12:34 PM Rrhain has replied
 Message 9 by RAZD, posted 11-28-2005 11:29 PM Rrhain has not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 2 of 28 (263662)
11-28-2005 3:03 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Rrhain
11-28-2005 1:36 AM


Rant about Rent
I knew nothing about this, cultural baboon that I am, ( ) But I took a gander at this website to at least get an idea of what you were talking about...
You are into plays and all that, are you not, Rrhain? What are some of your most memorable Broadway and off Broadway plays that you have some good recollections of?
This message has been edited by Phat, 11-28-2005 01:04 AM

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Rrhain, posted 11-28-2005 1:36 AM Rrhain has replied

Replies to this message:
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 Message 4 by nator, posted 11-28-2005 10:07 AM Phat has not replied
 Message 17 by Rrhain, posted 12-03-2005 12:01 AM Phat has not replied

  
Nighttrain
Member (Idle past 3993 days)
Posts: 1512
From: brisbane,australia
Joined: 06-08-2004


Message 3 of 28 (263674)
11-28-2005 5:01 AM
Reply to: Message 2 by Phat
11-28-2005 3:03 AM


Re: Rant about Rent
Move over and share the seat with another cultural baboon, PB. Maybe it`s the years, but these renderings of teeny/twenties know-it-alls baring their angst at shouldering the burdens of the world single-handedly, leave me cold. Sigh.

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nator
Member (Idle past 2169 days)
Posts: 12961
From: Ann Arbor
Joined: 12-09-2001


Message 4 of 28 (263728)
11-28-2005 10:07 AM
Reply to: Message 2 by Phat
11-28-2005 3:03 AM


Re: Rant about Rent
One of the best plays I ever saw was a production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? that I saw at the Stratford theater festival a couple of years ago.
Just great, very powerful performances, and we were in the 4th row, center stage.

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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crashfrog
Member (Idle past 1466 days)
Posts: 19762
From: Silver Spring, MD
Joined: 03-20-2003


Message 5 of 28 (263740)
11-28-2005 10:54 AM


I think the most fun I've ever had in the theatre - and, like Rrhain, I have a stage background, so I've had an awful lot of fun in theatres - was seeing Peter Pan at London's National Theatre (the big stage, can't remember which one of the three that is), with Sir Ian McKellan as Captain Hook. Fun as hell.
Either that, or it was seeing The Weir on opening night on the West End. Very cool, as well. Gave me the chills for the first time in years.

Replies to this message:
 Message 7 by Nighttrain, posted 11-28-2005 6:12 PM crashfrog has replied
 Message 13 by macaroniandcheese, posted 11-29-2005 10:30 AM crashfrog has replied

  
clpMINI
Member (Idle past 5164 days)
Posts: 116
From: Richmond, VA, USA
Joined: 03-22-2005


Message 6 of 28 (263765)
11-28-2005 12:34 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Rrhain
11-28-2005 1:36 AM


Rent Rant?
I saw a stage production of Rent when it was on tour in North Carolina, I guess a few years ago now, and I have no intention of seeing the movie. I liked the show, the music was good, staging was minimalistic and unique (the musicians were on stage with the cast as part of the props), and the story was decent.
I would say that the meanings of Mark and Roger finishing their own movies and songs was to establish something more lasting and personal in a world where everything else they had was temporary. Everything else seemed very fleeting. "When friends, landlords, lovers, your own blood cells betray..." People living and dying with nothing to really call their own.
Not my favorite, but I liked it. Would have been better if Mimi did die.
~clpMINI

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Rrhain, posted 11-28-2005 1:36 AM Rrhain has replied

Replies to this message:
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Nighttrain
Member (Idle past 3993 days)
Posts: 1512
From: brisbane,australia
Joined: 06-08-2004


Message 7 of 28 (263868)
11-28-2005 6:12 PM
Reply to: Message 5 by crashfrog
11-28-2005 10:54 AM


To be, or not to be
I think the most fun I've ever had in the theatre - and, like Rrhain, I have a stage background
Now I`ve got you pegged, Crash......a frustrated actor.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 5 by crashfrog, posted 11-28-2005 10:54 AM crashfrog has replied

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crashfrog
Member (Idle past 1466 days)
Posts: 19762
From: Silver Spring, MD
Joined: 03-20-2003


Message 8 of 28 (263881)
11-28-2005 6:39 PM
Reply to: Message 7 by Nighttrain
11-28-2005 6:12 PM


Re: To be, or not to be
Actually, no. I'm a frustrated waiter who just works as an actor to pay the bills. Eh, it's a life.

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RAZD
Member (Idle past 1404 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 9 of 28 (263973)
11-28-2005 11:29 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Rrhain
11-28-2005 1:36 AM


greta garbo

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Rrhain, posted 11-28-2005 1:36 AM Rrhain has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 10 by Phat, posted 11-29-2005 1:29 AM RAZD has replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 10 of 28 (263987)
11-29-2005 1:29 AM
Reply to: Message 9 by RAZD
11-28-2005 11:29 PM


greta garbo? What the ????
What kind of a post is this, RAZD? Are you simply trying to rack up posting points to attempt (vainly) and catch Crashfrog, the frustrated Waiter?
We at least need to contrast the enigmatic Garbo with the shallow
projections of twentysomething angst that Rrhain refers to in Rent.
How about a link to a Garbo website as well as a few parting quotes taken from that link?
Quotes attributed to Greta Garbo writes:
"Anyone who has a continuous smile on his face conceals a toughness that is almost frightening."
"Life would be so wonderful if we only knew what to do with it."
PB
This message has been edited by Phat, 11-28-2005 11:32 PM

This message is a reply to:
 Message 9 by RAZD, posted 11-28-2005 11:29 PM RAZD has replied

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RAZD
Member (Idle past 1404 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 11 of 28 (264035)
11-29-2005 7:17 AM
Reply to: Message 10 by Phat
11-29-2005 1:29 AM


Re: greta garbo? What the ????
She played Mimi in a film version of La Boheme.
Are you simply trying to rack up posting points ...
Rats. I've been found out.

This message is a reply to:
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berberry
Inactive Member


Message 12 of 28 (264079)
11-29-2005 10:21 AM
Reply to: Message 4 by nator
11-28-2005 10:07 AM


Re: Rant about Rent
schrafinator writes:
quote:
One of the best plays I ever saw was a production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? that I saw at the Stratford theater festival a couple of years ago.
I've seen that (I think) 3 times on stage. The last was the best, it was performed in a large house; the "stage" was an actual living room.
I've seen so many fine plays it'd be hard to pick a "best". For the past several years I've done most of my playgoing at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, most recently in '04 when I saw Macbeth and Steel Magnolias. Incidentally, no matter how much you might love Dolly Parton or Julia Roberts, you simply have not seen Steel Magnolias until you've seen a quality stage production.

"We look forward to hearing your vision, so we can more better do our job. That's what I'm telling you."-George W. Bush, Gulfport, Miss.,
Sept. 20, 2005.

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macaroniandcheese 
Suspended Member (Idle past 3927 days)
Posts: 4258
Joined: 05-24-2004


Message 13 of 28 (264083)
11-29-2005 10:30 AM
Reply to: Message 5 by crashfrog
11-28-2005 10:54 AM


i liked picasso at the lapin agile. physics = fun.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 5 by crashfrog, posted 11-28-2005 10:54 AM crashfrog has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 14 by crashfrog, posted 11-29-2005 12:28 PM macaroniandcheese has replied

  
crashfrog
Member (Idle past 1466 days)
Posts: 19762
From: Silver Spring, MD
Joined: 03-20-2003


Message 14 of 28 (264112)
11-29-2005 12:28 PM
Reply to: Message 13 by macaroniandcheese
11-29-2005 10:30 AM


I was in that. That's a great script. I was the bartender.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 13 by macaroniandcheese, posted 11-29-2005 10:30 AM macaroniandcheese has replied

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macaroniandcheese 
Suspended Member (Idle past 3927 days)
Posts: 4258
Joined: 05-24-2004


Message 15 of 28 (264127)
11-29-2005 12:55 PM
Reply to: Message 14 by crashfrog
11-29-2005 12:28 PM


i would have been if i'd been able to be in the drama group at undergrad... but alas i worked and couldn't make nightly rehearsals. blah.

This message is a reply to:
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