PORTLAND, OR-Last summer, when I heard of a new tour of RENT, would be coming to Portland and it would headline the 2 original stars of Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp; I couldn’t wait til June 2009. So finally, when June was approaching I had exactly the same bit of excitement when Joel Grey was on tour with ‘Cabaret' in February 1989.It is rare you get see a touring show with the original cast as well as appearing in the movie version. (i.e. . Joel Grey)Just in case you don’t know, ‘RENT’ is modern day version of Puccini’s La Boheme about of group of artists in Early 90’s (known as the Bohemia years) and it has a big gay subtext with relationships between Gay men, a lesbian relationship, drag queens, and about 4 major characters living with HIV.Most of the audience knew the show so well, that they applauded at the beginning of each song and REALLY applauded after each song this was very evident for the La Vie Boheme (the act 1 finale) and ‘What you own’ Anthony and Adam’s tour de force duet.As I do every time I watch the movie, I always cry at the end of ‘No day Like Today’ when Angel, the character that dies from AIDS reappears in the last shot. It reminds me of the creator Jonathan Larson and how every time you hear his music his legend lives.Johnathan Larson, who died tragically before the show's original debut, captures the electricity of this time and combines it with a score that features a number of ensemble pieces that are nothing short of outstanding. When I saw the original production of Rent on Broadway, the performers closely mirrored their characters: they were young and struggling to make a name for themselves. The original show snapped with a spark of energy that is unlike anything else I've ever seen on stage.
After the show, a huge crowd met the two at the stage door with a wave of camera flashes and screams. The two have become something akin to rock stars. I witnessed this en route to the Marriot for the Cast Party and Benefit for the Cascade AIDS Project.At the party I ran into CAP director, Michael Kaplan with his partner Sean Sasser. Writers; Marc Acito and his partner Floyd Sklaver. I didn’t see Adam Pascal there, but did meet Anthony Rapp, to tell him I hope to have on the radio show soon. The tour is expected to conclude in February 2010!
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