I've heard about RENT when the play was staged here in Manila some years ago. I never know though that there was a movie version. Am as raw as one could get when I went to the press conference last January 18 at the Rockwell Club -- no knowledge of what RENT was all about.The play by Jonathan Larson, for the most part, is about people afflicted with AIDS and how they cope with the complications that come with it. It is also about loving and fulfilling dreams in trying times in the characters' lives.
Director Robbie Guevarra shared that they have a good mix of newbies and veterans in the cast. From the 300 that auditioned, the number was trimmed to 75 for the call back then was down to 16 for the final casting:
Roger - Gian Magdangal (Footloose, West Side Story)
Mark - Fred Lo (N.O.A.H.)
Mimi - Nicole Asensio / Cara Barredo (Mulan Jr., The Fantasticks)
Angel - Job Bautista
Collins - OJ Mariano
Maureen - Carla Guevara-Laforteza (Miss Saigon, Spelling Bee, Avenue Q)
Joanne - Jenny Villegas
Benny - Noel Rayos (Company, Hairspray)
Ensemble - Raul Montesa (Man of La Mancha, Sweeney Todd), Guji Lorenzana (West Side Story), Gary Junsay (Sweeney Todd), Johann de la Fuente (Footloose, Spelling Bee), Anna Santamaria, Ring Antonio (Once On This Island, Sweeney Todd), Peachy Atilano
Swings - Harold Cruz, Kyla Rivera (Footloose, Beauty and the Beast)
When they sang the trademark song "Season of Love" (which goes "five hundred twenty-five hours, six hundred minutes...") , I knew I heard it before but did't know the title. Another fave song of mine in the play is "No Day But Today" which tells us to live life to the fullest and be not afraid to dream and to love.
The media preview last February 3 was worth the traffic and long travel that I had to endure, coming from the Music Fest 2010 (Kris Allen, Jabbawockeez and Boyce Avenue) press conference at Eastwood Mall earlier. I enjoyed the play tremendously and would love to watch it again if given a chance. Fred, Gian and Nicole (as Mark, Roger and Mimi respectively) shone bright as the stars of the show but Job and OJ (as Angel and Collins) can give them a run for their money. Carla as Maureen was great in her "Over the Moon" performance.
RENT can be seen at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at RCBC Plaza, Makati City. Opens on February 5, RENT will run on February 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28.
I hope that more people will begin to appreciate plays again and support the efforts of theater producers to impart culture and appreciation of the arts. Watching stage plays is a good departure from the totally pop culture of watching movies as there's more satisfaction in watching live performances and unedited talents.
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