No Day but Today...to Watch RENT

As Jonathan Larson described the play in a one-sentence summary, “RENT is about a community celebrating life, in the face of death and AIDS, at the turn of the century." It is about how a group of friends, dealing with drug problems and AIDS affliction, had to cope with the complications that came with the life they have. It is also about loving and fulfilling dreams and seizing the moment amidst chaos.

I’ve watched 9Works Theatrical’s initial staging of RENT last 2009 and I have yet to watch the movie version, but RENT 2011 has something new to offer: new cast members and new surprise moves (pole dancing) that came with better acting and singing performances.

RENT COUPLES: Roger & Mimi (left) Angel and Tom (right)

Gian Magdangal still plays Roger (with alternate Al Gatmaitan), a once successful but now struggling musician who, from the tragic suicide of his last girlfriend, fell in love with fellow AIDS victim Mimi; Fred Lo takes up the role of Mark again, Roger’s housemate and a not-so less fortunate young man who chose to live the Bohemian life to pursue his dreams of becoming a documentary filmmaker and was left by his girlfriend Maureen for a woman; Mimi, the drug dependent club dancer, formerly essayed by General Luna’s vocalist Nicole Asensio and alternate Cara Barredo, is now played by Gian’s real life partner Sheree Bautista (Viva Hot Babes) alternating with Ciara Sotto.

"La Vie Boheme"

Because of stage chemistry and their emotion-filled rendition of “I’ll Cover You,” Job Bautista and OJ Mariano are back again as Angel Dummott Schunard (a young drag queen) and Tom Collins (Angel’s love interest), respectively; performance artist/activist Maureen Johnson is again played by Carla Guevara-Laforteza who alternates with the youngest but equally talented cast member, Mian Dimacali; Jenny Villegas as Joanne Jefferson, a lawyer and Maureen’s lover; and Lorenz Martinez as Benjamin Coffin III, former roommate of Mark and Roger turned building’s landlord, who wants to turn it into a multimedia studio, complete the major characters.

The rest of the ensemble is composed of Peachy Atilano, Harold Cruz, Johann dela Fuente, Pam Imperial, Gary Junsay, Anna Santamaria, Alys Serdenia and Mark Tayag.

The cast gamely poses after their performance at the press preview.

So what did I look forward to on my second time to watch RENT? I was intrigued about the pole-dancing component in the choreography of the song “Out Tonight” and was anticipating to see Ciara Sotto play Mimi but it was Sheree Bautista who was on stage the night I watched. I got to say that she did pretty well, owing to the fact that she only started to learn pole dancing in January and has had only three lessons before opening night. What I didn’t expect was for Job Bautista, as Angel, to do some pole stunts as well, this despite the fact that he can leap and bound tables with grace and balance on high heels. Of course, what is RENT without the inspiring "No Day But Today" and the heart-warming “Seasons of Love?”

Girls just wanna have fun... from watching RENT.

What are you waiting for? Catch RENT at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater at RCBC Plaza, Makati, on the remaining show dates on February 25, 26, 27, and March 4, 5 & 6, 2011. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8:00 p.m., with 3:30 p.m. matinee show on Saturdays and 4:30 p.m. matinee show on Sundays. For more details and ticket information, visit www.9workstheatrical.com.

Thanks to 9Works and JOT for the opportunity. Thanks to sis Marj for lending me the cam for the pics.

RENT is here!

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.

Photos from:

1) http://oliverpublicist.blogspot.com/2009/11/broadwayworldcom-rent-manila-announces.html

2) http://nodaybuttoday2010.blogspot.com/2010/01/time-is-what-you-make-it.html