[Vanessa20]

This is probably stupid, but I have a lot of college work to do this week, so I'm kind of nervous, and when I get nervous, I tend to play pop psychologist. This morning I posted a similar poll on the "Wicked" forum.

Nearly every review, essay, study guide, etc, that I've read on "La Boheme" (and since I'm an opera buff, that's a lot) praises the opera for having such realistic, relatable characters. I personally don't relate to any of them, but most people seem to. In fact so many opera buffs say that they identify with "Boheme" that, being a "Les Mis" fan too, I once nicknamed it "the Eponine of operas."

So I was just wondering if RENT has the same effect on people. How many people on this board identify with one or more of the musical's characters?

Just curious.

[The Very Angry Woman]

I can't say I've ever identified with any character in a musical. And actually, when I identify with any fictional character of any medium, I kind of see this as a turnoff. I'm around myself all the time; I don't need to see/watch/read about someone similar.

[ActingDude17]

I identify with Mark. I don't know exactly how to explain it, I just do in an odd sort of way. So yes.

[Quique]

Nah. Which is probably why I was so fascinated with them. I never tried to be them either, like half of the Rentheads that I had to endure at the ticket rush (this was before the lotto was implemented in the national tour. It was first come-first serve).

[Oli-Ol]

Not really strongly, but I identify with Rodger a bit. But I suppose if I looked hard enough I could find something to relate to in all the characters.

[Monsieur D'Arque]

I think Mark is the easiest to identify with, because he's crafted as an Every-loser. He has no really major pressing issues to deal with but he's surrounded by people who do. He's not a major character at all, and he does nothing much of importance in the story, yet because it's his film and he's the narrator, he manages to come across as the main character. He works as a proxy for us, because other than his conflict with Maureen, ANY of us could be Mark Cohen and watch the events unfold.

[ActingDude17]

Mark's falling out with Roger when he leaves for Santa Fe is a conflict, in my opinion. His conflict is not so much external as it is internal. I think Mark struggles with himself. Maybe a part of Mark's love for film making is detaching from feeling alive and not facing himself. I'm sure he struggles with his faults like that.