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| Jesse Dutlow as Angel in Opera Australia's production of "Rent" |
RENT - Opera Australia and LPD Productions – Sydney Opera House
Book, Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson.
Directed by Shaun Rennie – Musical Direction by Jack Earle
Choreographed by Luca Dinardo – Set Design: Dann Barber
Costume Design: Ella Butler - Lighting Design: Paul Jackson
– Sound Design: Evan Drill
Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House until November 1st
2025.
Opening Night Performance on October 1st reviewed by BILL STEPHENS
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| The cast of "Rent". |
Watching this production in the vastness of the Joan
Sutherland Theatre in the Sydney Opera House it was impossible not to be struck
by how incongruous it looked in this environment.
Although creator Jonathan Larson drew his inspiration from a
well-loved opera, Shaun Rennie’s brilliant stripped-back, low-tech interpretation,
with its op-shop costumes, stark steel scaffolding scenery, with components
manipulated around the stage by the cast, that had worked so well in more
intimate venues as it toured the country last year, now seemed the very
antithesis of the purpose for which the opera house was built.
Voices are now amplified to the point where it is often
impossible to hear the lyrics, with the
predominantly new cast appearing to have been directed to broaden their
performances to the point, where for
this reviewer at least, it is no longer possible to empathise with the
characters, who have now become caricatures, who prefer to embrace the squalor
of their environment, and despise those of their number who aspire to lift
themselves out of it, with shouting, pushing and shoving replacing subtlety and
nuance.
Although none of that seemed to worry those in the audience
on opening night determined to greet their efforts with rapturous applause.
“Rent” is a director’s show, in much the same way as
abstract shows like “Hair” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” offer possibilities for
daring interpretations. Shaun Rennie has embraced this opportunity and
surrounded himself with an outstanding creative team who include choreographer,
Luca Dinardo. Dann Barber designed the
sets, Ella Butler the costumes, and Paul Jackson and Evan Drill respectively,
responsible for the lighting and sound.
Jack Earle is the Musical Director.
Outstanding moments include a representation of The Last
Supper, an eye-popping orgy scene, the death of Angel, and a glorious rendition
of “Seasons of Love”. However, it is hard to forgive Larson’s misguided decision
to have Mimi come back to life at the end to join her friends in the finale
singsong, thereby robbing the show of a potentially shattering climax.
Despite the reservation expressed above, this production remains
a remarkable interpretation of the show, including innovative staging and thrilling
performances, but perhaps the magic moment of the Sydney Opera House opening night
was the introduction of members of the cast of the very different original 1998
Australian production including Rodger
Corser, Justin Smith, Michelle Smith, Genevieve Davis, Prinnie Stevens, Peter
Murphy and Troy Woodcroft.
Whether the global success of “Rent” is due to the legend surrounding the death of the writer and composer of the work, Jonathan Larson, who died just one day before his show opened in New York, or because of the quality of the writing which earned Larson a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the show, multiple Tony Awards, “Rent” continues to be a magnet for audiences and creatives alike.
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| The cast of Opera Australia's production of "Rent". Photos by Neil Bennett. This review originally posted in the digital edition of CITY NEWS on 04/10/25. |