Despite Tragedy, the Beat Goes On
RENT at The Cadillac PalaceBy Kimberly Katz
The current cast of Rent's touring production
(photo by Peter Coombs)
Rent is the blockbuster musical hit of the nineties, a modern version of the opera La Boheme, depicting a community of young artists struggling to celebrate life while battling the first wave of the AIDS epidemic during the late eighties. I can never watch this production without thinking fondly of its creator Jonathan Larson who died suddenly of aortic aneurysm just hours after his final dress rehearsal for Rent off Broadway at age 35. I was living in New York during the eighties and feel in some ways I have lived this show in real life, as the AIDS epidemic became a reality to America.
The current touring production with two ex-American Idol stars, Anwar F. Robinson and
Heinz Winckler, in the lead roles does a great job of capturing the fever of the original New York production that created long lines of “Rent-heads’ - young people who followed the show and saw it hundreds of times. Anwar Robinson as Tom Collins does a great job and his soaring and rich vocals add a touch of maturity that this young cast needs to really capture the depth of emotion in Larson’s original intent. Jennifer Colby Talton as Mimi Rodriguez is a sexy presence and dynamite dancer, ditto for Kristen-Alexander Griffith's, transvestite Angel, although I felt that Mimi’s pole dancing version of “Take Me Out Tonight” could have been choreographed in a way to support her lovely singing voice a little more. Jed Resnick did a sparkling job as the character Mark Cohen, a Jewish filmmaker who most closely resembles the show’s creator Jonathan.
The present tour of Rent is a solid production with a really talented group of young people. I understand the need to keep the pace of a heavy show quick and easy so my only note to musical director Tim Weil and choreographer Marlies Yearby is to let the cast enjoy their applause a little more between each number, let the end of each song soar a few seconds longer, Jonathan would have wanted it that way since he never got to hear all that applause himself.
Jesus Christ is Still a Superstar!
Jesus Christ Superstar at The Cadillac PalaceBy By Kimberly Katz
Ted Neeley (left) as Jesus and Living Colour's Corey Glover as
Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (photo by Joan Marcus)
Ted Neely, 64, who has been performing this role for nearly forty years, is absolutely stunning in the role of Jesus, which requires an enormous amount of both technical skill and emotional maturity in order to pull it off to any satisfaction. I told Ted in our interview last year that I need for him to continue performing this role ad infinitum, as there is no other actor alive right now that I feel can suitably sing the role correctly for the hardcore Jesus Christ Superstar fans around the world. When Ted Neeley screams out to God with his four-octave range, you really feel it! As Ted showcased his powerful vocals in “Gethsemane” cheers began to swell throughout the house long before the song had ended in a rousing explosion of support for the gifted “superstar”.
Judas, played by Corey Glover (lead singer of the Grammy-winning band Living Colour), also blew the audience away with his dynamic singing range and surprisingly high level of acting ability. Really, I have seen Corey play this role three times and each time I am awed not only by his rich, fantastic singing voice, but by the way he allows it to crack with heartfelt emotion in just the right places, displaying his real depth as a dramatic actor.
If you are a fan of Jesus Christ Superstar, you must see this current production as it comes through your town. It has it all - from beautiful, young dancers, to a classic quality score and two of the most gifted, mature renderings of the Jesus and Judas characters you will ever witness.
Buzz Theatre November 2007
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