[ActingDude17]

RENT: Farewell Tour
Durham Performing Arts Center
1.24.09

Pre-Show: I got to the theater early around 1:20. I looked at the understudy board and it said the role of Yuka Takara would be played by Trisha Jeffrey. I translated that to mean that Trisha would be in Yuka's track today.

I roamed the lobby for awhile. They didn't open the doors until 1:40. I was in Row C Seat 103 which is extremely house right, but nonetheless a great and close-up seat. I was sitting next to fellow Rentheads who had seen the show multiple times before. Jed Resnick (whom I saw as Mark back in April) was sitting a few rows back with a girl. Mental note: seek autograph at intermission.

The show started a little over five minutes late (a lot of latecomers). But eventually Adam started tuning his guitar and the show was underway.

Anthony Rapp: Need I explain his awesome Rappness? He pretty much IS Mark. Mark is the character I connect with the most and he really made you sympathize for this poor man who was watching his friends walk out on him and each other.

Adam Pascal: Need I explain his incredible Pascality (okay, I'll stop with the made-up Rent fandom words)? He IS Roger. Absolite natural and perfect. I could swear he shed a tear doing I'll Cover You (Reprise). Awesome chemistry with Lexi. Speaking of which...

Lexi Lawson: I think I have found a new lover. Her Out Tonight was H-O-T. It made me want to go push Adam off the stage so I could have her myself. Also, you never would have guessed she was a newcomer. All the hype about this girl doesn't even come close to describing her. Jennifer Colby Talton was good but this woman was great. You were convinced she was a junkie struggling with her addiction. She KNEW the character and how to play it.

Michael McElroy: Great. His lack of beard kinda irked me at first (used to seeing JLM in bootlegs), but I grew used to it. Collins is one of my favorite characters and he pulled off the anarchist quite nicely. Great chemistry with Justin and his ICY reprise rocked.

Justin Johnston: Perfect Angel. I noticed at least one "Wheee!" and I think it was during I'll Cover You. You Okay Honey? is predominantly downstage right so I had an amazing view for that number. Justin had me from the moment he walked on-stage. I love how he slowly worked Collins until "You're cute when you blush" and then that was it. They were together. Contact was unbelievable and his flailing during his solo was tragically beautiful (Wicked reference, anyone?).

Nicolette Hart: Epic win. Over The Moon was definitely one of the highlights of the show. One of the times she was supposed to turn on the "Leap of faith" backing vocals she forgot and struck a pose to start singing, but her cue to sing (the leap of faith music) never came. She said "Oh shit" and turned it on, which received major applause. I give this girl props, as the theater started to smell like fertilizer during her amazing song ("packed in with fertilizer and field oil..."). I was kinda scared of a blonde Maureen, but I didn't even think about it once the show started. She made Maureen lovable, which is absolutely essential in playing the role.

Haneefah Wood: Loooooovveee her! She beasted and her chemistry with Nicolette was incredible. Her Take Me or Leave Me with Nicolette was FIERCE, which was also a highlight.

Jacques Smith: Benny is such an underrated character and I think he made people realize that. You'll See is one of my favorite songs and he rocked it.

Gwen Stewart: I love this lady. SOL definitely received the most applause and it was obviously because of her. You could tell she was just having fun up there.

Ensemble: Loved Telly Leung's Squeegee Man, Trisha Jeffrey's Mrs. Cohen, and Adam Halpin's Gordon, specifically. Everyone else was amazing. No one in this show was weak. The ensemble was solid, which I think is very important in any show. Since Life Support is Gordon and Paul's song (at least IMO) I'll add in my question here. On the OBCR it's "Gordon, Pam, Allie, Sue...". Today it was, "Gordon, Pam, Allie, Lisa...". Explanation, anyone?

General: Everyone spoke through tears as soon as the ICY reprise ended, for the rest of the show. I thought the eulogy change was odd, not bad. I kinda missed the individuality of all the different inputs, but it was still heartbreaking. The change from Hicksville to Jersey in Happy New Year naturally sounded weird to me, but how can that weirdness linger with A-Rapp's singing it? Vocals were spot-on. Not a single missed note. Not many riffs either, which I liked (not a huge riff fan). There was never a weak moment in the show, and EVERYONE stood out. I can honestly say this was the highest quality theatre I've ever seen. Highlights were One Song Glory, No Day But Today, Another Day, Without You, Seasons of Love, La Vie Boheme, Rent, Take Me or Leave Me, You'll See, Halloween, and What You Own. As a side-note, the DPAC is very, very nice and hopefully will bring more amazing shows like this to the area. It sure does seem like it, as Wicked's coming in the fall. Oh, and an update on me finding Jed. He was nowhere to be found when the lights came up after Act I. He booked it out of the theater after the show ended too. Oh well.

Stage Door: It was four people deep in some spots. Lexi, Anthony, John, Nicolette, and Gwen came out (in that order). Adam had some fangirls that were disappointed, but they sucked it up. Oh, and this.

Adam Fangirl: "...an amazing movie"
Gwen Stewart: (humorously indignant) "Movie?"
Adam Fangirl: "Oh, sorry! This was my first time seeing the show."

:rolleyes:

Anthony told us he had to go eat so we said goodbye to him.

So. Holy shit. That pretty much sums up the afternoon. Please, please, please ask me questions. I love questions.

Formatting Help: How do I change the pictures so that they don't stretch the page? Thanks!

[Disney-Bway27]

Excellent review, Keaton. I am unbelievably jealous. You were SO close up to Anthony Rapp.

Also, I hope you realize I'm gonna use "Pascality" on a regular basis...

[fjays]

*dies*
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh you were so close to Anthony! That boy is goooorrrrrggeeeeeouuuuusssssss and so talented!

Oh and I'm surprised you said you liked the girl playing Maureen. From what I heard when I read around, people said they didn't like her "trailer-trash" interpretation..

cool bananas

[Adie]

Very nice, thanks for posting your review.
I was pleasantly surprised at you your lack of RENTHead Fanchildness throughout the review.
A couple of questions

1. Does Lexi Lawson have an obvious Hispanic background (never seen her)
2. I heard the Eulogy changed- how dramatic or was it more of an update?
3. Costumes- stay true to the decade and original production or more modern?
4. Jed Resnick?!?!?!?! Get his autograph?

[ActingDude17]

1. Yeah, at least some. I definitelty saw (and liked) It.
2. No line changes, the ensemble would just join in on certain words, such as "it was US who were the lucky ones." Sounded pretty nice.
3. Exactly the same as the original costumes.
4. Check the end of "General".

Please, please, please keep the questions coming!

[What you own]

To answer your question on The Pam,Gordon,Lisa thing. The name are supposed to change everynight. I guess as a way to show dieing or respect to those who have died.

Something along those lines. So happy you enjoyed it. My friend is going to see it soon. (If you asked her she would know how many days)

[ActingDude17]

[Disney-Bway27]

Crazy jealous.

[Vice]

AWESOME.

[jackissensational]

[Melpomene]

Ooh, you've made me even more excited to see it when it comes to my area! I have tickets for the closing performance, huzzah!

[WickedToo]

Nice review and pictures!

[WickedToo]

Nice review and pictures!

[emilyp]

Nicolette does the "oh shit" thing in every show. It isn't a mistake.

[Sphynx]

I've seen quite a few Maureens do it, as well. I like it

I just got my tickets to see this cast I'm so excited.

[mastachen]

I'm seeing the March 7th Matinee. Hopefully, they'll come out and stagedoor. Hopefully, Adam Pascal/Anthony Rapp won't be out. Otherwise it's $170 down the drain.

[Theaterbabe5180]

Great review!

I'm glad to hear that they are keeping the production very close to the original. Sometimes I just don't like it when they start to mess around with a good production and try to recreate it.

I am hoping to possibly see the production when it comes to Boston. Of course that all depends on ticket prices and availability.

[ilovebway]

It sucks the tour isn't coming anywhere near me. I really wanted to see it. The last one (Non-Eq) came to a city near me last year and I coudn't go because it was the same night as a performance I was in...

Although, at this rate, I wouldn't be suprised if Adam/Anthony go ahead and start doing regional productions of the show. God knows how much they love their roles... .

[Sphynx]

[MusicalAstronaut]

[OJD234]

[ActingDude17]

[GabrielleLaRue]

Ooh, I saw in Chicago! Anthony Rapp is amazing~~~! He's currently my favourite actor just because he is THAT ridiculously AMAZING!