“RENT” rocks at the Broad Brook Opera House


EAST WINDSOR — The Connecticut non-professional premiere of RENT at the Broad Brook Opera House, the award-winning rock opera, is full of energy, passion, intensity, and love, performed by a strong, diverse, and talented cast.
The story is based on the Puccini’s opera “La Boheme” about young bohemian artists living in New York City around 1997 at the height of the AIDS epidemic. A narrator and filmmaker, Mark, played by Thomas Jon Creatore, guides the audience through the complex relationships of his friends, many of who have AIDS.
It’s a bit of a soap opera with lots of relationship twists and turns. Fortunately the show’s program has a helpful flow chart, showing the links between partners. Mark’s roommate Roger is struggling with his girlfriend’s suicide, who killed herself because she had AIDS, which Roger (Tom Knightlee) also contracted presumably from former drug use.
They are freezing in their tenement and can’t afford to pay the rent, hence the title of the musical. They owe rent money to a former roommate, now landlord, Benjamin Coffin III, played by Wayne Crow, who is threatening to evict them all.
Roger’s neighbor, Mimi Marquez (Gia Wright) a dancer and junkie, also suffers from AIDS. Mimi and Roger become a couple eventually, singing the lovely, flirtatious “Light My Candle.”
Mark’s former girlfriend, Maureen Johnson, (Erica Lindblad) a performance artist, has hooked up with a woman, Joanne Jefferson (Nicole R. Giguere) a producer.
Another friend and former roommate who also has AIDS, Tom Collins, (Christopher deJongh) is mugged on the streets of New York. Later he is rescued by a kind street performer and drag queen Angel Dumott Schunard (Giovannie ‘Deseo’ Mendez.)
All the performers are well-cast and excel in their given roles. Wright’s Mimi is a limber, excellent dancer, weaving in and out of the railings, and has a strong piercing singing voice that stands out when she sings “Out Tonight.” Fine choreography by Todd Santa Maria, on a solid set designed by Peggy Messerschmidt.
The lyrics and music by Jonathan Larson are soulful and fine, such as when Mimi sings to Roger “Let’s find a bar so dark we forget who we are.”
Whether he is singing quietly or belting out a tune, Knightlee can always be heard, is articulate, and has a beautiful, emotional voice. Some other performances are difficult to understand at times, which can perhaps be attributed to the uneven sound system, which had some feedback issues Saturday.
Although she had a small role, Melissa Paul’s solo in “Season’s of Love” that kicks off the second act is amazing and powerful, supported by the terrific ensemble cast.
The ensemble really do a super job bringing it all together, and extra nice is the four who play the parents and sing the acappella “Voice Mail #5.”
With profanity, talk about drugs, and simulated sex acts, this show is inappropriate for children.
Mendez, as the drag queen, is fantastic, with energy to spare, jumping on and off tables in remarkably high-heeled shoes and terrific costumes, (costumes by the multi-talented Creatore, who also assisted with the choreography.)
Creatore and Nicole R. Giguere as Joanne Jefferson, Maureen’s new lover do a fine rendition of “The Maureen Tango,” lamenting their shared mistreatment by the darling diva, played with sassy energy by Lindblad, who has her own showstopper with “Over the Moon.”
Director Philip V. DeVito works wonders with a small stage and a large cast of 16 members. At times DeVito has some characters that are not in the action or dialog sitting on stage, which is distracting.
Tickets to the show are selling so well that they have extended their run through March 7.
It seems odd to think of RENT as a dated show. Although AIDS is as serious a health threat as ever, it isn’t what it once was. Still the show has a lot to say about all kinds of love — gay, lesbian, heterosexual, and also about family and finding one’s way in the world.

RENT

3½ Stars
Theater: Opera House Players
Location: 107 Main Street, Broad Brook
Production: Music, lyrics and book by Jonathan Larson. Direction by Philip D. Vetro. Musical direction by Angela Klimaytis. Choreography by Todd Santa Maria. Lighting designer Roy Ryzak. Sound design by Avitra, Inc. Costumes and additional choreography by Thomas Jon Creatore. Set designer Peggy Messerschmidt.
Running time: 3 hours, with a 15-minute intermission
Show Times: Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. through March 7.
Tickets: $20, $16 for seniors over 60. Definitely not recommended for children due to language and adult situations. Call 860-292-6068 or visit their website at www.operahouseplayers.org
ACTOR…CHARACTER
Thomas Jon Creatore … Mark Cohen
Tom Knightlee … Roger Davis
Gia Wright … Mimi Marquez
Christopher deJongh … Tom Collins
Erica Lindblad … Maureen Johnson
Nicole R. Giguere … Joanne Jefferson
Giovannie ‘Deseo’ Mendez … Angel Dumott Schunard
Wayne Crow … Benjamin Coffin III
Stacy Constantine, Melissa Paul, Jessica Cutino, Aslynn Brown, Joseph J. Martin, Mike King, Stephen Jewell, Dallas Hosmer … ensemble