[Broadwaybaby777]

So I was thinking through the show, and I know all of Benny's money comes from his father-in-law. But if he's married, how does he start dating Mimi? Do they talk about him getting a divorce that I missed or is he cheating on his wife?

[briggsgirl]

he's cheating

[Broadwaybaby777]

okay, i wasn't sure. i just thought of it and was like whoahhhhhh confusing.

[andie]

[jcstar]

She's defeated, better give up
Right now.

Thoought I'd finish it.

Andy.

[what_the_heck013]

Actually, I thought it was that he previously dated Mimi.

[Mimi Marquez]

Well its both. He did have a previous relationship with Mimi and he is ALSO cheating on Allison with her.

[briggsgirl]

it's not both. during his previous relationship with mimi, he was cheating on his wife. they've only had one relationship, and he was cheating.

EDIT: when i say one relationship, i mean before the show. they have another during the show. i always thought he was married already during his previous relationship with mimi as well.

[AngelicDramaQueen58]

Yay!! now I understand it too!!

[qpidsangel]

I always thought he had previously dated Mimi. not necessarily cheating on his wife though. He hasn't been married to muffy that long within the year I'm pretty sure. The money thing has gone to his head a bit, 'least that's how I interpret his character. Seems that Mimi was the gf previous to his wife.

[briggsgirl]

^mmm i've always thought he was always cheating. but that's possible too...

[Azaelia]

He cheated on Alison with Mimi. I think they'd had a relationship before, but possibly while he and Alison were still dating/just married. Then during the show, they had another fling.

[What Is This Feeling?]

Yes, Benny is a cheating man-*****!!! Tsk. Tsk.

*MOD EDIT* Let's keep things civil, people

[norayouadora]

[Jordan]

In the film version, I think it's perfectly clear that he's cheating on his wife.

[trinaaron]

I love how his cheating isn't even commented upon by anyone. I have always thought the "morals" in Rent are somewhat on the odd side. Benny is cheating on his wife, Angel is a canine hitman, Collins steals from the ATM. In my world these things would be seen as a big deal, while in their world they don't even raise an eyebrow. I love it. It's a small part of what made the show so revolutionary 10 years ago.

[Azaelia]

[norayouadora]

Hey, it's not as if they're offering themselves up as saints. None of them ever tries to project a perfect image; they are who they are. I think it's appropriate that the musical shows a different perspective on characters that the audience might normally hate--we cry when Angel dies, though she killed a defenseless animal; we cheer for Roger and Mimi, though he's a burnout and she's a junkie stripper; and we adore Collins (you know you do!) despite the fact that he's robbing an ATM. In contrast, all Benny has really done wrong is cheated on his wife... Though morally wrong, that's hardly a crime. So, if portrayed in a different light, we might loathe most of the characters and give Benny a great deal of respect, simply because he puts up with the other idiots. BUT, instead RENT shows us a different side of people, kind of forcing you to look past the stereotypes and the whole "criminals suck" mentality. Sure, no one likes criminals, but not everything can be defined in such black-and-white terms. You sort of have to decide for yourself what matters the most: the characters' thoughts and feelings, or their outward images?

^Cheesy analysis. But I'm bored, so... Lol.

[Luc]

[!ILOVERENT!]

Well they dated before MiMi met Roger and it doesn't say when he abandoned them and got married so he might not have...Because even though Roger thought she was cheating, Benny was just being a friend to MiMi

[DramaRobin2002]

[!ILOVERENT!]