(Robert Mackintosh and Idili Theatricals Ltd)
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| La Vie Boheme |
The 20th
Anniversary UK tour of Jonathan Larson’s rock opera, Rent, is an unequivocal
triumph. Director, Brue Guthrie, has honourably paid homage to the original
Broadway production while making it fresh, raw and enticing for a whole new
generation.
Inspired
by Puccini’s opera La Bohème, the
story focuses on a group of bohemian artists who struggle to maintain their
friendships and their non-conformist ideals in New York's East Village, in the
mid nineties. Anna Fleischle’s stage
design captures the very essence of street life with her brilliant recreation
of the now famous corner of East 11th Street and Avenue B, delightfully utilising
every inch of performance space.
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| Seasons Of Love |
The entire cast are superb,
leads and ensemble, and it would be unfair to single out any particular
performance. There are wonderfully notable moments from every single actor. Rent
is a tough sing and vocals excelled across the board with a talented, five-piece
band providing awesome accompaniment.
Getting Lee Proud on the creative team
was a stroke of genius and yet again he enhances another production with his exhausting
choreography, totally transforming numbers such as La Vie Boheme and Christmas
Bells. The Tango Maureen is perfection and Layton William’s dance in Today 4 U
defies gravity. There’s certainly plenty to keep dance captain, Katie Bradley,
busy!
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| Today 4 U |
This production of Rent is magnificent,
a theatrical event that will leave you feeling emotionally violated in the best
way possible. It is also proof that you can get new, younger audiences into
theatres if only the right stuff is produced. An unusually busy press night and
standing ovation from the whole theatre are testament to Larson’s legacy,
Guthrie’s vision and the epic efforts of cast, crew, creatives and entire production
team. Go and see this show. Book your tickets now!
5 stars
Couldn't agree more with this review!
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