RENT- the Harford County premiere - opening soon at Tidewater Players in Havre de Grace, Maryland

October 30, 12:06 AMBaltimore Budget Travel ExaminerChris Barsam

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The cast of the Harford County premiere of RENT rehearsing at Tidewater Players of Havre de Grace
photo by Chris Barsam

Stopped by Tidewater Players in Havre de Grace to observe a rehearsal of RENT, a month before its November 13 Harford County premiere. The theater is disheveled. Rehearsal detritus litters the house. Scenery from a previous show sits forlornly on stage. The dozen actors are in street clothes, costumes are weeks away. I am not expecting much.

But I am pleasantly surprised.

The cast rehearses two musical numbers in my presence: Seasons of Love and La Vie Boheme. Extraordinary. The harmonies are there, the energy is there, the enthusiasm is there, and I am lost in the moment.

And this is four weeks before opening!

RENT is the story of a group of struggling artists on New York's Lower East Side during the advent of AIDS. For the first-timer, one is immediately struck by how much of a musical tightrope RENT is. This cast is walking the walk, perhaps leaping is a better word. Rapid-fire musical conversation requiring split-second timing between multiple characters seems to be the norm.

Also impressive is the vibe this cast exudes. How does one define a vibe? Evidence includes positive energy, encouragement, lingering after rehearsal is over. There is good camaraderie.  Between numbers the off-script banter and in-jokes are cutting and hilarious. There is a nice mix of familiar faces and newcomers, middle-agers and 20-somethings
 

The bottom line? For $15 and a short drive to Havre de Grace, RENT is a must-see.


RENT
NOVEMBER 13 - DECEMBER 13
(except Nov 27)
Fridays & Saturdays @ 8 pm
Sundays @ 3 pm

Directed by Laurie Starkey
Musically Directed by Marji Eldreth
Choreography by Dickie Mahoney
Featuring
Jacob Martin Bauer III  Tammy Crisp  Tatiana Dalton
Justin DeJesus  Carrie Dill  Eyvo
J. Jeffrey Harrison  Dickie Mahoney  Adam McDowell
Aimee Molineaux  Joseph Murphy  Katie Nickerson
Ashley Sangret  Dominic Santos
Leslie Somerville  Allison Weiner
www.tidewaterplayers.com