Rent (musical)

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The rock musical Rent is the last work by the composer and author Jonathan Larson (1960–1996), who died of an aortic aneurysm on the day of the premiere .

The work

The rock musical , which won the Tony Award for “Best Musical” and “Best Original Music” as well as the Pulitzer Prize for “Best Drama”, is based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La Bohème , which in turn is based on the book Les scènes de la vie de bohème by Henri Murger goes back.

Rent tells the story of a group of young artists in New York's East Village in the lively phase of Alphabet City . Two of the main characters are filmmaker Mark and musician Roger (Rodolpho in La Bohème ), who can no longer pay the rent for their apartment. Her landlord is her former roommate Benny. The action begins with a robbery on her friend Collins on the street and the revolution against rent. Puccini's Mimi appears in the person of the drug addict Mimi, and the subject of homosexuality is dealt with by the drag queen Angel and the eternally quarreling couple Maureen (Puccini's Musetta) and Joanne. Another important issue is AIDS .

Rent ran uninterruptedly on Broadway from 1996 to 2008 , had 5123 performances there and is currently ranked 8th among the longest uninterrupted Broadway musicals. The production grossed $ 240 million. In 2005 Rent was filmed, produced a. a. by Robert De Niro . The film was shown in German-speaking countries from April 13, 2006 with German subtitles in cinemas. A large part of the original cast of the Broadway production could be signed for this, including Idina Menzel and Adam Pascal.

Sources and inspiration

Larson's inspiration for the content of Rent came from a variety of sources. Many characters and plot elements come from the opera La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini, which premiered in 1896, 100 years before Rent . In La Bohème is also about the suffering and the lives of young impoverished artists. Tuberculosis, the nagging disease in Puccini's opera, is replaced by AIDS in Rent , and Paris around 1830 by New York's East Village in the late 1980s. The names and identities of the characters in Rent reflect Puccini's original characters, but not all of them are direct adaptations. For example, the figure of Joanne in Rent is based on the character of Alcindoro in La Bohème , but also has features of the figure of Marcello . In addition, Joanne is the only character in Rent who has a different gender in the original.

La bohème Rent
Mimi, a seamstress with tuberculosis Mimi Marquez, a dancer with HIV
Rodolfo, a poet Roger Davis, a songwriter who is HIV positive
Marcello, a painter Mark Cohen, a filmmaker and Roger's roommate
Musetta, a singer Maureen Johnson, a bisexual performance artist
Schaunard, a musician Angel Dumott Schunard, a drag queen and drummer with HIV
Colline, a philosopher Tom Collins, a gay philosophy professor with AIDS
Alcindoro, a councilor of state Joanne Jefferson, a lawyer and Maureen's partner
Benoit, a landlord Benjamin 'Benny' Coffin III, a local landowner and ex-roommate of Roger, Mark, Collins and Maureen

Another example of the parallels between Larson's and Puccini's work is the song "Light My Candle" composed by Larson, which is almost identical to the first scene in Puccini's opera in which Mimi and Rodolfo meet. In addition, the melody was taken directly from "Musetta's Waltz". The song “Quando Me'n Vo” from La Bohème is recited in the first verse of the song “Take Me or Leave Me,” in which Maureen describes how people stare at her when she walks past them.

Rent is also an autobiographical work in which Larson has incorporated many elements of his own life: For example, Larson himself lived in New York for many years as a starving artist with an uncertain future. He renounced a stable life in order to be able to work as an artist and shared many hopes and fears with the characters in the musical. Like his characters, he endured the poor living conditions, and some of them (e.g. illegal wood stoves; a bathtub in the middle of his kitchen; a broken bell: his guests had to call him from the pay phone across the street, he then threw the keys down so they could open the door) found their way into the piece. There is also a model in Larson's life for the sub-plot in which Maureen leaves Mark for a woman: his own girlfriend once left him for a woman.

The phrase "I'm more man than you'll ever be ... and more woman than you'll ever get!", Which is recited as a tribute to Angel at Angel's funeral, is a quote and was originally used by the character Hollywood Montrose in the films Mannequin from 1987 and Mannequin 2 - The magic goes on from 1991 formulated. Like Angel, Hollywood is a flamboyant gay man who presents songs and dance numbers, and sometimes wears women's clothes.

The first drafts for the characters in the musical differed greatly from their conception in the final version of the piece. In the original play facility, each of the characters except Mark had AIDS, especially Maureen and Joanne. Maureen was a serious, angry woman who alluded to Oedipus in her performances, Mark a painter (and not yet a filmmaker), Roger's name was Ralph and was writing a musical, Angel was a jazz philosopher, Collins was a street performer (both were originally intended to be white), and Benny had a slightly larger role in the play.

Many real places and events are named in the musical or have shaped it. For example, the “Life Café”, where the number “La Vie Bohème” takes place, refers to a restaurant of the same name in the East Village of New York. The riot at the end of Act 1 is based on a conflict in the late 1980s that arose in the East Village when a curfew was imposed on Tompkins Square Park.

“Will I?” A song sung during a life support meeting expresses the pain and fear of living with AIDS. This one was inspired by a real event. Larson attended a meeting of Friends in Deed, an organization that helps other people deal with illness, grief and other emotions. After he was there for the first time, he attended the meetings regularly. During a meeting, one of the group members stood up and said that he was not afraid of dying. He said, however, that there was one thing he was afraid of and that was to lose his dignity. From this sentence came the first line of the canon (“Will I lose my dignity?”). The people who make up the life support group in the musical all have names of friends of the author who died of AIDS. On Broadway shows, group members 'names are swapped each evening to honor the cast members' friends who live with or have died from AIDS.

Lynn Thomson Controversy

Lynn Thomson is a dramaturge who was employed by the New York Theater Workshop and helped post-production on Rent. She claimed that she co-wrote the new version of the musical between May and late October 1995. She sued the company for $ 40 million in damages and claimed 16% of the revenue from the performances. She claimed to have written a large part of the lyrics and libretto. During the process, Thomson could no longer produce the lyrics of the songs and the structures that they are said to have written in the libretto. The judge dismissed the lawsuit and agreed with Jonathan Larson's heirs.

Songs

1st act

  • Tune Up # 1 - Mark and Roger
  • Voice Mail # 1 - Mark's mother
  • Tune Up # 2 - Mark, Roger, Collins, and Benny
  • Rent - ensemble
  • You okay honey? - Angel, Collins, and man in the street
  • Tune Up # 3 - Mark and Roger
  • One Song Glory - Roger
  • Light My Candle - Mimi and Roger
  • Voice Mail # 2 - Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson
  • Today 4 U - Collins, Roger, Mark, and Angel
  • You'll See - Benny, Mark, Roger, Collins, and Angel
  • Tango: Maureen - Joanne and Mark
  • Life Support Ensemble
  • Out Tonight - Mimi
  • Another Day - Mimi, Roger, and Ensemble
  • Do I want? - Ensemble
  • On the Street Ensemble
  • Santa Fe - Collins, Angel, and Mark
  • I'll Cover You - Angel and Collins
  • We're okay - Joanne
  • Christmas Bells - Ensemble
  • Over the Moon - Maureen
  • Over the Moon Playoff - The Band
  • La Vie Bohème A - Ensemble
  • I Should Tell You - Mimi and Roger
  • La Vie Bohème B - Ensemble

2nd act

  • Seasons of Love - Ensemble
  • Happy New Year A - Mark, Roger, Mimi, Collins, Angel, Maureen, and Joanne
  • Voice Mail # 3 - Mark's mom and Alexi Darling
  • Happy New Year B - Mark, Roger, Mimi, Collins, Angel, Maureen, Joanne, and Benny
  • Take Me or Leave Me - Maureen and Joanne
  • Seasons of Love B - Ensemble
  • Without You - Roger and Mimi
  • Voice Mail # 4 - Alexi Darling
  • Contact - Ensemble
  • I'll Cover You (Reprise) - Collins and Ensemble
  • Halloween Mark
  • Goodbye Love - Mark, Roger, Mimi, Collins, Maureen, Joanne, and Benny
  • What You Own - Roger and Mark
  • Voice Mail # 5 - Roger's mother, Mimi's mother, Mr. Jefferson, and Mark's mother
  • Finale A - Ensemble
  • Your Eyes - Roger
  • Finale B - ensemble
  • Playout (I'll Cover You) - The band

Table of contents

Rent at David Nederlander Theater in Manhattan , New York City

1st act

The first act of the musical takes place on Christmas Eve. He begins with Mark Cohen, a filmmaker who, as the storyteller, begins making an unwritten documentary in his loft. He holds the camera at his roommate and best friend Roger Davis, who is tuning his guitar. Roger is a former rock star and ex-junkie who retired after his girlfriend April took her own life when she learned that the two of them had infected themselves with AIDS through a needle. Mark's mother interrupts the filming with a phone call. She reassures Mark that his girlfriend Maureen left him for a woman.

Tom Collins, a friend of Roger and Mark, arrives at their house and is beaten and robbed by three guys before he can get inside. Meanwhile, Roger and Mark receive a call from their former roommate and friend Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III. Benny married into a wealthy family and bought the house where Roger and Mark's apartment is located. He tells them the rent is overdue despite his promise to let them live there for free. Mark and Roger decide to stand up against Benny and not pay the rent.

Joanne Jefferson, Maureen's new girlfriend, meanwhile, is working on setting up the stage for Maureen's performance. When the sound system fails, Maureen calls for help against Joanne Mark's will. Mark agrees and wants to help Joanne. On the street, Angel Dumott discovers Schunard, a street performer and drag queen, Collins, lying injured on the street, and helps him. They leave the place together to treat Collins's wounds. They quickly realize that they are attracted to each other and discover that they both have AIDS. The two fall in love.

Back in the loft, Mark tries to persuade Roger to leave the apartment and reminds him to take his AZT . Roger tries to write a great song before he dies of his illness. He is disturbed by a knock on the door. He opens it and Mimi Marquez stands there in his doorway, a beautiful stranger who asks him for matches to light her candles while the power is off. Roger thinks he's seen her before and finds out that she works as an erotic dancer in the Cat Scratch Club. He also finds out that she is a nineteen year old drug addict who lives in an apartment below him. The two are drawn to each other, but Roger is reluctant to flirt as his last relationship resulted in suicide.

Joanne's parents call her home and are amazed at the fact that she is setting up a stage somewhere. They remind Joanne to come to her mother's political hearing. Meanwhile, Collins arrives at Roger and Mark's loft and introduces them to Angel. Benny comes to them to make them an offer. If they convince Maureen to stop their protest performance, he will give them rental freedom; however, the two reject his offer. After Benny leaves, Collins and Angel invite Mark and Roger to join a life support meeting, a local HIV support group.

Leading roles

  • Mark Cohen , a documentary filmmaker, the storyteller. He is Rogers and Collins' roommate until Collins moves out, as well as Maureen's ex-boyfriend. Baritone / tenor
  • Roger Davis , a once successful but now struggling musician who is HIV positive and ex-junkie. He hopes to write a meaningful song before he dies. His girlfriend April committed suicide after she found out she had HIV. He's Mark's roommate. tenor
  • Tom Collins , a gay anarchist with AIDS. He is described by Mark as a computer genius, teacher, vagabond and anarchist. Collins dreams of a restaurant in Santa Fe where the problems in New York don't bother him and his friends. He was the roommate of Roger, Mark, Benny and Maureen, and then Roger and Mark until he moved in with Angel. Baritone / tenor
  • Benjamin “Benny” Coffin III , owner of the building where Mark and Rogers and Mimi's apartments are located. He is also the ex-roommate of Mark, Collins, Roger and Maureen and is now married to Alison Gray of the Westport Grays. baritone
  • Joanne Jefferson , elite university trained lawyer and lesbian. Joanne is the woman Maureen left Mark because of. Joanne has influential parents (one parent is about to be appointed a judge, the other is a politician). Mezzo-soprano / belter
  • Angel Dumott Schunard , a young drag queen and street musician with AIDS. Collins is in love with him. Tenor (often with falsetto )
  • Mimi Márquez , a club dancer and drug addict. She lives one floor below Mark and Roger; Roger is in love with her. Both have HIV. Alt / Belter
  • Maureen Johnson , a bisexual performance artist; Mark's ex-girlfriend and Joanne's current girlfriend. She loves to flirt and has cheated on both Mark and Joanne. Mezzo-soprano / belter

Supporting roles

  • Mrs. Cohen , Mark's stereotypical Jewish mother; their messages on the answering machine are the basis for the songs Voicemail # 1, Voicemail # 3 and Voicemail # 5
  • Alexi Darling , the producer on Buzzline , trying to hire Mark after his successful video contribution to the riot; sings Voicemail # 3 and Voicemail # 4
  • Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson , the wealthy parents of Joanne Jefferson, leave the message Voicemail # 2; Mr. Jefferson is also one of the singers on the a cappella song Voicemail # 5
  • Mrs. Davis , Roger's confused mom, calls voicemail # 5 and keeps asking where Roger is
  • Mrs. Marquez , Mimi's mother, singing on voicemail # 5, wondering where Mimi is in Spanish
  • The Man , the local drug dealer where Mimi buys her drugs and where Roger was previously a customer
  • Paul , the head of the life support group
  • Gordon , one of the members of the life support group; usually also plays "The Man"
  • Steve , a member of the life support group; usually plays the waiter too
  • Ali , one of the members of the life support group
  • Pam , one of the members of the life support group
  • Sue , one of the members of the life support group; in some productions (like the one in the last Broadway performance) her name is "Lisa"

There are also many other unnamed roles such as the waiter in the "Life Café", the homeless woman, "Seasons of Love" soloists, police officers, bohemians and the homeless.

Productions in German

On February 25, 1999, Rent was performed in German - translated by Heinz Rudolf Kunze - in the Capitol Theater in Düsseldorf for the first time in Germany and played there until May 9, 1999. In Berlin , from September 4, 1999 to January 4, 2000, the then Freie Volksbühne Berlin played the play in a production by the Theater des Westens .

After a few years, Wolfgang Adenberg took on a new German translation of the stage work, the premiere of which was secured by the Hessian State Theater Wiesbaden , which included the musical from August 30, 2007 to 2009 in its program.

The Austrian premiere of Rent took place in Telfs on May 20, 2009, and the Swiss premiere in La Tour-de-Peilz on October 5, 2009 . In Hamburg , Rent was performed from December 26, 2012 to January 5, 2013 in the Delphi Showpalast and from December 5, 2013 to February 23, 2014 in the Gruenspan .

Rent was performed in the Trier Theater from December 31, 2015 to February 2, 2016 . A controversy arose between the licensor and the theater after the theater made an unauthorized change to the work in the form of an additional, newly invented character.

Rent's German-language anniversary tour - and the first tour in German-speaking countries - was produced in 2017 by Hilbert Productions GmbH under the direction of the Berlin theater producer Boris Hilbert . It was directed by the British opera director Walter Sutcliffe. The cast included Anna Hofbauer and Martin Markert . The production was shown in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The specialist magazine Musicals - Das Musicalmagazin described the production in its 12/2017 issue as "The vocal performance was one of the best that has ever been seen in Germany".

Translations

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Life After Rent , Time Magazine , Mar. 10, 2008, p. 66 Online
  2. ↑ a b Official biographies of the characters on siteforrent.com ( Memento of March 10, 2010 in the Internet Archive ).
  3. ↑ Texts, musicals: Rent , heinz-rudolf-kunze.de
  4. ↑ Violation of copyrights: Theater Trier has to change musical staging , Trierischer Volksfreund , January 8, 2016
  5. ↑ http://www.hilbert-productions.com/rent-musical
  6. ↑ A bit of Broadway in Berlin in: Der Tagesspiegel , November 14, 2017
  7. ^ "Rent" on tour through Germany, Austria and Switzerland in: United Musicals, 11/2017
  8. ↑ Rocky La Bohème adaptation "Rent" inspires in the sold-out Worms Theater in: Allgemeine Zeitung , November 27, 2017
  9. ↑ Contents in: Musicals - Das Musicalmagazin , December 2017
  10. ↑ Chapter Maskenball - Die Musicals (p. 147 ff) in: Holger Zürch : Silbermond samt Stirnenfuß - Texts and music by Heinz Rudolf Kunze between 1980 and 2005. Leipzig 2005, ISBN 3-938873-31-0
  11. ↑ Work information on the website of the translator Wolfgang Adenberg ( Memento from August 14, 2014 in the web archive archive.today ).
  12. ↑ Markus Frädirch: One song a day . Workshop visit with Wolfgang Adenberg. musicalzentrale.de, April 2, 2006, accessed on August 14, 2014