RENT

Rent opened last night at the Old Bakery in Northbridge and is running until 14th December. I will leave it to more knowledgeable people to give a detailed review but I just wanted to say .......

Yellow glass theatre have, yet again, exceeded expectations and put on the most fantastic show. The raw energy of the young cast just swept the audience away - the singing is superb and when the whole ensemble sing together it is quite breathtaking.

Many congratulations to Simon Holt (musical director) and Chris Kabay (director) for bringing this show to Perth audiences for the first time. The cast work together extremely well and, while it is unfair to pick out any individuals, special mention should go to Rhoda Lopez who sizzled as Mimi (in spite of a rather awkward costume mishap) and Julia Jenkins as Maureen whose song "Over the Moon" brought the house down.

Do not miss out!

I had the privilege of seeing this show tonight.

Once again Yellow Glass Theatre have shown how very capable they are of producing amazing theatre .

This production is an excellent example of ensemble work. The cast are totally focussed , the characterisation is exceptional and they really do understand the plot and their relationships to everyone else in the show.
The singing is fantastic and the direction is very tight.

It really should be required viewing for anyone thinking of ever performing on a stage. This production is a joy to watch and really deserves to be playing to full houses every night.

My congratulations Yellow Glass. A beautiful and sensitively directed production and a really first class example of excellent ensemble work.

Thank you for showing us what is possible.

Kerri Hilton

I toddled along to the show last night with a mixture of fear and anticipation - what would the Yellow Glass team do to this world- renowned modern musical? It's simple, they knocked me down with seamless, staggering ensemble numbers and dynamic individual performances. Everybody's a character, everybody's a presence. I adored it to almost no end.

"Before seeing Rent I listened to the original soundtrack recording of the show and was amazed at how close the band and the performers were to the original sound and spirit of the prduction."

- Ron Banks, the West Australian, 5/12/2005

If you have any doubts as to wether or not to go and see RENT, i strongly suggest you read the review in the West Australian today (Monday). Reviews will also be appearing in The Australian (tomorrow), the Voice Newspaper, ABC Radio, and the Post Newspaper this week. Well done to everyone involved. This show truly is live entertainment at its very, very best. Don't miss it!

We saw Devon Plumley as Mimi on Sunday night and her performance was incredible. The choreography for the scaffold was well done.

You cannot single out anyone because it is such a great ensemble work, what a wealth of talent on one stage. The set worked great, probably better that in a larger venue as the low roof helped to hem them in. Early in the show some mics could have been louder as the band overpowered them, but you have to have a live band for this show.

As others have said, this is a must see show as so much is happening and there is a constant evolution of happiness, sorrow, sadness, resolution.

Don

Just had to say that rent is possibly the best piece of am theatre I have ever seen done in Perth.
Congratulations to Chris and Simon and The Cast and Crew, it was an absolutely superb job, vocally stunning and well acted, it absolutely blew me away!!!

This is the first time I've seen Rent on stage and there are not enough superlatives in the world to describe this production. I shall therefore keep it simple and say it is sublime. I cannot imagine a Broadway or West End version being any better. The Bakery venue was perfect and provided an intimate setting. Vocally it is faultless. The acting is exactly right. All due to solid and heartfelt direction by both Simon and Chris. Truly stunning.

This is an absolute Must See. I want to go again!!

GO AND SUPPORT THIS SHOW!!!!!

Thanks to cast and crew.

Cheers
Julia
PS, DON'T wear eye makeup unless it's waterproof. Not unless you want to look like a soggy and traumatised racoon by the end. If my uncontrollable sobbing put anyone on stage off, I apologise unreservedly. Oh, and try and not sit behind a woman with very BIG hair.

I have to agree with all the other posters about this show...

Went to see it last Tuesday night, and was blown away by all the performances - SOOOO many great voices and a fantastic overall sound.

My only issue on that night was caused by another audience member...
a girl sitting behind me who just could not contain herself, and felt the need to SING ALONG in parts of the show...quite loudly! While I understand that a lot of people are very passionate about their love for this show, to me singing out loud is just plain annoying, and by the second half, my husband and I had to start giving her death stares. We went along to see and hear the fabulous Yellow Glass folks do their thang...and really didn't appreciate some highly off pitch girl in our ear!

Thankfully the death stares seemed to have worked and we were able to enjoy the majority of the second half of the show in peace!

I just wanted to say congrats again to everyone in the show - and to those in the cast we know (yes, there are quite a few of you)....WELL DONE...and sorry we didn't stick around after to say it in person....

Terri

I was amazed at how much the Yellow Glass production sounded like the CD I have of Rent. It wasnt a story I'd purposely go out and get the DVD about, or watch at the cinema, but the way in which the performers transformed into their characters was amazing. What also blew me away was the beautiful harmonies in many of the songs, and how amazing the dynamics of the main characters voices matched each other, creating a most pleasing sound. I can't believe it was performed by a small theater company. It was better than some broadway musicals my husband has been to see. He was so pleased we saw Rent.

I agree with your review John. I went to see it on Saturday Night and was blown away. Apart from a few sound issues with Benny the production was very smooth. A credit to Yellow Glass and it's team.

What can I say other than one of the best theatre experiences that I have had in a very long time!

Yellow Glass TheatreÂ’s Rent has raised the bar and sends a clear message to recent so called "Pro/Am Productions" of what can actually be achieved with a wonderful cast, great direction and professional crew.

I applaud your efforts.

I agree - YGT have put on an unbelieveably good production, which totally blew me and everyone I went with away :)

Now I just wish I could have another Rent fix but I've discovered that every show has sold out! *sigh* Maybe next time... (please put it on again!)

Cheers
Jacinta

I agree totally with all the other posts here.. I had the honors of seeing the show on Wednesday 14 December.. happened to be the last night too..
If people would tell me this was professional I would have believed it.. Simply stunning.. voices of the whole cast just amazing.. great rock voices of Roger and Mark.. and Mimi could sing the different emotions she was going through brilliantly.. thought she had a better voice, more pleasant then the recording..
Angel and Tom.. great work in I'll Cover you.. nice harmonies and great scenes together.. also Angel's death..
Maureen and Joannes seen in Take me or Leave me.. wow.. loved that ..
The chorus work, simply stunning.. great harmonies.. just overall great.

Overall I must say it was one of the best theatre experiences I had.. Wish I could have seen it again.. I think I missed still a bit of the storyline.. too focussed on other things..
Hope to see some more shows like this..

Peter

ps.. one thing I missed... the high notes in Seasons of Love.. *smile*