RENT the Broadway Tour at the Marcus Center

Reviewing a show like RENT is tough because many of us who enjoy live theater have already seen multiple versions of the musical. Still, the new Broadway national tour that opened for a short run at the Marcus Center on Tuesday night does not disappoint. It lives up to well-publicized hype and features three original cast members, including Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp.

As you enter the Uihlein Hall theater, the curtain is already open. This allows a showcase of the production’s impressive set, which alternates from the story’s apartment to the streets of New York’s Alphabet City. The open set concept has always been an important part of the groundbreaking show — keeping the story moving and eliminating long set changes that can stifle momentum.

RENT essentially tells the story of Roger and Mark, two men sharing a tiny apartment in New York. Pascal reprises the role of Roger, who is a songwriter unable to find words for his next song. Rapp also returns as Mark, who is a wannabe filmmaker unable to find inspiration, yet tempted by the money and fame of Hollywood. We meet their friends and lovers:  Mimi is the sexy, drug-addicted, HIV-positive woman with whom Roger falls in love. Maureen and Joanne are a mismatched-but-passionate lesbian couple who can barely stop arguing long enough to sing a duet. Finally, Angel is the lovable drag queen with a big heart and some killer dance moves while in heels.

Both Rapp and Pascal have had success on stage and film performing in RENT since it first premiered Off Broadway in 1996. With both men now in their upper 30s — I was a little skeptical that they could pull off the energetic musical numbers and still convey the naive youth of their characters. Pascal, with a booming rock-star voice and smoldering sex appeal, was a bit uneven at times and seemed a little tired. However, Rapp stole every scene with his quirky, engaging style. Both actors were still excellent.

The other actor reprising her ensemble role from the original Broadway show is Gwen Stewart as Mrs. Jefferson. Stewart, best known as the original “Seasons of Love” soloist, can still hit that high note more than a decade later and has a stage presence that lasts for miles. She is a real pleasure to watch. A couple other standouts are Justin Johnston as Angel and Nicolette Hart as Maureen. Both are flamboyant characters, and both actors pulled off the right balance of over-the-top and raw emotion when needed.

While there are some poignant moments, RENT isn’t known as an ‘actor’s’ show. It’s known for its music. What the show lacks in plot and acting, it makes up for in energy. Songs are fast-paced, loud and fierce. The cast comes together as friends and enemies to create some amazing chemistry, and even involve the audience. At the end of the show, almost everyone in the crowd was cheering, and there was no delay in giving performers the standing ovation they deserved.

A nice touch came in a short speech by Anthony Rapp after the show, in which he thanked the audience and acknowledged his Chicagoland roots. He also asked patrons to give a donation to help fund AIDS help centers across the area. Several actors stood around with red buckets to collect donations, which was a nice way to personalize the experience.

If you’ve already seen the movie or a different production of the show, don’t let that deter you from checking out this version. It’s a true Broadway-caliber production, and we are lucky to have it here in Milwaukee during this Thanksgiving holiday.

For ticket information, visit the Marcus Center website or call the box office at 414-273-7206. Certain lottery tickets and student rush tickets are available prior to showtime; visit the Marcus site for details.