Just to clear things up: I didn't take the whole week to finish the musical. And no, I haven't watched the movie version of Rent (at least, not yet). I watched Rent Live, two Broadway versions which were the 1996 & 2008, and even high school theatre production adaptations of it. But mainly, I started with Rent Live. After watching that one, I searched the OBC (and obviously watched it too). Apparently, I was not entertained enough because the bootleg that I found of it was a bit old (and you can't blame it since it was the 1996 version). I've been meaning to watch the movie but based on comments from some YouTube videos of the cast recordings and interviews, a lot of the songs were taken away from the movie. The very reason I wanted to see the movie was to see its adaptation as opposed to the one on stage (just like what I did with Hintayan ng Langit/Heaven's Waiting; Read here). But if they were to cut most of the songs, I wouldn't get to do a fair comparison.
Before I reached the high school theatre production adaptations, I was able to stumble across "No Day But Today - The Story of Rent" which was basically a documentary film on Jonathan Larson. He was the maker of Rent. But before it even had its first show on Broadway, he died. I became even more interested in Rent by then because I've always had that kind of fear: People knowing all of the great works you've done and acknowledging its huge impact only after you've died. Like I always say, "I owe it to the dead who were gone before me (but wanted to live) that I'm still alive and can still continue on the legacy they weren't able to uplift".
I grew attached to Jonathan Larson's story and Rent's story as well. I know it's one of those mainstream Broadway musicals that people just can't get enough of. But I never knew how signficant it actually is until I finally delved myself deeper into it. I understand now why it's so important for the people in the musical theatre industry. I understand now why Broadway embraces Rent as one of the well-known contemporary classics. Besides its very complex way of interpreting the plot, I love how it attacked political and social issues in such a way that would not bore the audiences. With Rent, there is nothing too explicit that we cannot talk about through the stage.
I'm just hoping that another production house here in the Philippines some time in the future would get to do an adaptation again (I missed it when Ateneo Repertory did one: a big regret). Maybe I could audition but I would most definitely NOT be Mimi or Maureen. I think I make a decent Joanne though. Or maybe I'll just be an ensemble singing with them during "Seasons of Love".
Since we're talking about characters, I just can't get enough of Collins and Angel. Each time I jump from one adaptation to another, I always find myself looking at the different portrayals of Collins and Angel. God knows how many times I've felt giddy each time Angel asks Collins, "You okay, honey?". And Lord only knows how much I've grieved and cried for Angel... Maybe just as much as I grieved my own grandfather. Maybe even more. I'm still grieving for both. I can't remember how many times I've repeated "I'll Cover You" in its original and reprised version. I couldn't help but feel so emotional watching both. Portraying a genuine kind of love in a time wherein it's so scary to take the risk since it was set in a time during the AIDS epidemic, there's a gush of happiness and fear. Yet, both Collins and Angel took that leap of faith. As Mimi and Joanne sang during Angel's funeral, "I'd be happy to die for a taste of what Angel had... Someone to live for. Unafraid to say I love you."
I always seem to get attracted to Mimi's character as well. There's this pinch in my chest each time she starts to sing "There's only us, there's only this...". I'm getting a feeling you've observed a pattern on the things that catch my attention when watching movies, musicals and shows. I've observed a pattern myself. I always go for those emotional moments and root my liking for the show from there. Maybe I'm masochistic that way. I hurt myself by enjoying the most hurtful parts of what I watch.
So yes. I'm not completely over Rent yet. That's maybe one of the reasons why it took me so long to write something or even everything about it yesterday (that and the fact that I finished some workload for university so I don't have to deal with it in the next few weeks before deadline). And for that reason, I'll probably post another blog entry later this evening (hopefully... I'm still hungover from Rent) to make it up to you.
Anyway, if you've reached this far off on this blog entry and still haven't watched Rent yet, sorry for the spoilers... And please, please, watch Rent! It definitely hit my soft spot especially now that during this quarantine, I'm in touch with my emotional side more than ever. It's a heartache and a comfort at the same time... Now, let me get back to my nth time of replaying "Seasons of Love". Anticipate another post for a little while later tonight.
PS: I swear, the first two chords of "Seasons of Love" make my heart melt instantly.
Before I reached the high school theatre production adaptations, I was able to stumble across "No Day But Today - The Story of Rent" which was basically a documentary film on Jonathan Larson. He was the maker of Rent. But before it even had its first show on Broadway, he died. I became even more interested in Rent by then because I've always had that kind of fear: People knowing all of the great works you've done and acknowledging its huge impact only after you've died. Like I always say, "I owe it to the dead who were gone before me (but wanted to live) that I'm still alive and can still continue on the legacy they weren't able to uplift".
I grew attached to Jonathan Larson's story and Rent's story as well. I know it's one of those mainstream Broadway musicals that people just can't get enough of. But I never knew how signficant it actually is until I finally delved myself deeper into it. I understand now why it's so important for the people in the musical theatre industry. I understand now why Broadway embraces Rent as one of the well-known contemporary classics. Besides its very complex way of interpreting the plot, I love how it attacked political and social issues in such a way that would not bore the audiences. With Rent, there is nothing too explicit that we cannot talk about through the stage.
I'm just hoping that another production house here in the Philippines some time in the future would get to do an adaptation again (I missed it when Ateneo Repertory did one: a big regret). Maybe I could audition but I would most definitely NOT be Mimi or Maureen. I think I make a decent Joanne though. Or maybe I'll just be an ensemble singing with them during "Seasons of Love".
Since we're talking about characters, I just can't get enough of Collins and Angel. Each time I jump from one adaptation to another, I always find myself looking at the different portrayals of Collins and Angel. God knows how many times I've felt giddy each time Angel asks Collins, "You okay, honey?". And Lord only knows how much I've grieved and cried for Angel... Maybe just as much as I grieved my own grandfather. Maybe even more. I'm still grieving for both. I can't remember how many times I've repeated "I'll Cover You" in its original and reprised version. I couldn't help but feel so emotional watching both. Portraying a genuine kind of love in a time wherein it's so scary to take the risk since it was set in a time during the AIDS epidemic, there's a gush of happiness and fear. Yet, both Collins and Angel took that leap of faith. As Mimi and Joanne sang during Angel's funeral, "I'd be happy to die for a taste of what Angel had... Someone to live for. Unafraid to say I love you."
I always seem to get attracted to Mimi's character as well. There's this pinch in my chest each time she starts to sing "There's only us, there's only this...". I'm getting a feeling you've observed a pattern on the things that catch my attention when watching movies, musicals and shows. I've observed a pattern myself. I always go for those emotional moments and root my liking for the show from there. Maybe I'm masochistic that way. I hurt myself by enjoying the most hurtful parts of what I watch.
So yes. I'm not completely over Rent yet. That's maybe one of the reasons why it took me so long to write something or even everything about it yesterday (that and the fact that I finished some workload for university so I don't have to deal with it in the next few weeks before deadline). And for that reason, I'll probably post another blog entry later this evening (hopefully... I'm still hungover from Rent) to make it up to you.
Anyway, if you've reached this far off on this blog entry and still haven't watched Rent yet, sorry for the spoilers... And please, please, watch Rent! It definitely hit my soft spot especially now that during this quarantine, I'm in touch with my emotional side more than ever. It's a heartache and a comfort at the same time... Now, let me get back to my nth time of replaying "Seasons of Love". Anticipate another post for a little while later tonight.
PS: I swear, the first two chords of "Seasons of Love" make my heart melt instantly.
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