RENT has been hailed as one of the greatest shows to ever hit the Broadway stage. It won numerous awards, from Drama Desks to Tonys, and was the first musical to ever win the Pulitzer for Best Drama, and its musical numbers have become recognizable the world over. When choosing this show to open their season, Zach Scott Theatre knew they had a lot to contend with, but in the end they produce a polished, emotional production of the Broadway great. Zach had even greater reason to put on an amazing show this time, for they're dedicating their show to the memory of John Whisenhunt, a member of Zach's Board of Directors, and one of Austin's great theatre lovers, who died suddenly of AIDS in the early nineties. This invigoration of spirit adds an extra dimension to each performance, with director Dave Steakley bringing it all together in a harmonious balance.
The first thing that will strike visitors to Zach's Kleberg Stage is the breath-taking set. It's a monstrosity of wood and steel, stretching all around the audience on each side, giving characters a variety of ways to enter the action. In the center of the stage is a series of platforms, giving separate spots for the events of the play to take place, but this separation is under-utilized, usually only being used to create interesting exits and entrances through musical numbers. The highlight of the set is a large "tree" of televisions on the side of the stage, which flashes images that evoke a sense of 1990s nostalgia, zipping us into the MTV generation with every change of screen.
At the heart of the play we find Andrew Canatta as Mark Cohen, amateur videographer and chronicler of the important events of the play. We’ve seen Canatta in numerous impressive roles throughout the years, from Seymour in Summer Stock Austin’s Little Shop of Horrors, to John in Penfold’s John and Jen, but here he throws off his usual childish nerdiness for a someone much more mature. He’s a single stable force in a sea of combustible figures, keeping a level head as everything around him goes to pieces. Canatta plays the straight-man with finesse, endowing Mark with a snarky sarcasm that elicits plenty of laughs over the course of the play, while still showing the ability to carry without skipping a beat.
Outside of Mark, the play revolves a few sets of couples, each offering a different view of the world of the play. One of the most intriguing couples in consists of as Roderick Sanford's Collins and Joshua Denning as Angel, two HIV-positive homosexuals trying to make it on the streets of New York. Collins is an intellectual vagabond, an over-educated former college professor whose anarchist leanings have landed him on the street. Sanford makes Collins constantly likable, and we smile practically every time he’s on stage. When tragedy finally strikes, we feel every bit of his pain, tears flowing down the faces of most members of the audience. The actor shines brightest, however, when he has the chance to sing, his smooth, silky bass voice reverberating through the theatre, soaking into each member of the audience. Denning plays Collins’ partner Angel in a glorious whirlwind of effervescence, gliding around the stage like a pixie in his gaudy outfits, a creature made out of pure joy. The actor displays startling physicality, showing talent in acrobatics and dance, pulling off movies you would never expect from such a show. The two actors present wildly different types of characters, but somehow when they come together there's an explosive chemistry that we simply can't take our eyes off of.
Another interesting couple is Mimi and Roger, played by Karma Stewart and John Pointer. Pointer in particular puts on a good show, his soulful voice creating some truly transfixing moments. He never really reacthes the depths of emotion to show massive range, but he plays the brooding victim or the lovelorn misfit with skill. At first sight, Stewart seems an odd choice for Mimi, but she imbues the character with such confidence that you can’t help but be impressed. She slinks across stage with massive sex appeal, which is sure to leave the gentlemen in the audience paying careful attention, but sadly, her voice can't quite carry some of the more challenging numbers, such as "Out Tonight", pulling the audience out of the action during many important moments in the play.
RENT has become one of the most famous musicals in history, and one of the most important elements is its ability to capture a moment in time with astonishing clarity. Everyone involved in Zach's productions seem devoted to sharpening this image of 1990s New York, painting a vivid picture of life at the end of the 20th Century, introducing us to a collection well-shaped, realistic individuals all suffering from one of the most horrifying periods of sickness in our history. Lovers of musical theatre, or anyone who wants to a see a moving piece of artistic expression, should make their way out to Zach Theatre to see one of the best musicals of the season, featuring a handful of performances that should stay with you for days to come.
RENT is playing through November 28th, giving you plenty of chances to catch this fabulous show. To purchase your tickets, and to find more information about the cast, crew, and play, visit Zach Theatre's website at zachtheatre.org.
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