Paper Mill Playhouse’ presentation of RENT is a show and a work of art in its own right. There are testimonials projected on a black screen, very chiaroscuro in documentary style, where people who were part of the East Village during the time Jonathan Larson was creating RENT spoke eloquently of their experiences in the art and theatre scene, what HIV/AIDS disease management and the fear around it were like, and the general timbre of the times. Each of these testimonials wove a tapestry of love and care and fear and love again that prepared those for whom it is history as well as those of us for whom it is our-story of the late 80s and early 90s. Wrapping our now-21st Century brains around that experience makes this RENT fresh.
What makes it even more fresh are the projections and the sets, Nicholas Hussong and Jamie Godwin on projections, Chika Shimizu on sets expanding on Paul Clay’s original design, Cha See’s lighting and Matt Kraus on sound envelope us in the moments of the show. Rodrigo Muñoz’ costumes are spot on (especially Angel in Act II) and Brittany Hartman on hair, wigs and makeup completes the brilliance.
Did I mention the cast? The ensemble is amazing, and honestly the standouts for me include Alisa Melendez’ Mimi, Zachary Noah Piser’s Mark, Oliva Lux’ Angel and Terrance Johnson’s Tom Collins. Melendez invests Mimi with a lifetime of wisdom distilled from a handful of very difficult years on the street. Yet, when she invites Roger (Matt Rodin) to light her candle – who could resist? Piser’s Mark carries that large and trusty three-chip camera everywhere and for youth who don’t remember video cassettes and apparatus like that, what better metaphor than progress.
The problems plaguing our band of artists is the same – the spectre of HIV/AIDS, while no longer a death sentence, still looms. Poverty is still an issue as is gentrification. Within it all, there are those who will thrive, much like the flowers that push their way through concrete, our artists are evergreen.
Thank you for the gift of this past season, Paper Mill Playhouse! We look forward to what you have in store!
This version of RENT runs through July 2, so visit papermill.org to go over the moon.