Rent @Campbelltown

OK everyone

I have seen Rockdale. I have seen Penrith and then the same cast in Chatswood. I have seen Canberra.

I am a ginat RENT fan and I know the show backwards.

I have one thing to say.

If you are a fan of the show RENT and you miss out on seeing this production, you will miss out on the best production ever of this great musical.

The setting is intimate and the cast is casual to begin with. It was a little unnerving to see the cast roaming about the theatre and talking to the audience at first but it adds to the great feeling of the show overall.
The theatre is small and the stage is smaller than other productions but their set is outstanding and their use of the stage imaginative and flowing.

Jonathon Anderson (director) has somehow managed to cast 8 leads who all belong as leads. The direction itself is powerful, provocative and imaginative. (One Song Glory with the use of April is one of the most powerful and innovative interpretations I have seen of this particular song.)

As for the leads - what can I say...I noticed two flat notes in the whole show, which fopr an amateur show is way beyond my expectations Maureen - a fantastic characterization and her acting surpasses every Maureen I have seen. Joanne - a new interpretation - no longer butch or even overtly masculine, Joanne is powerful but vulnerable.

Roger and Mimi - this pair is by far the best - and I mean THE BEST Roger and Mimi I have seen. Their chemistry is papable and when they create harmonies together, it absolutely belongs on a CD. I would pay to hear Mimi sing Without You and I would pay to hear Roger sing One Song Glory. Angel (my favourite character) is fantastic - a dancer, a singer (a great singer too) and the only Angel who does his own drumming. Angel's death made me shudder and literally convulse in tears - why? Because this is the only Angel who has made me care about him.

Collins - probably one of the best leads on stage. His voice echoes through the theatre and you can hear every emotion from joy to heartache, not only for the character but also for the actor himself. Mark - a younger Mark than I have seen, a little inexperienced in comparison to the rest of the leads, but his character shines through in Tango Maureen and You're What You Own. Finally Benny - ( I read in the prgram that the actor playing Benny came into it three weeks before they went on) - if this is the case, I couldn't tell. Benny is by far the strongest characterisation on stage and a new way of playing Benny. No longer arrogant, he belives he is truly helping the group with his actions.

The ensemble are strong and powerful and when the entire cast sings, it sends shudders through my spine. Each person plays characters in the show with fun and honesty.

And technically a great show. Sometimes the band gets a little over zealous but the cast compensate with tempos and volume. The lighting is fantastic and the sound levels are exquisite.

In all honesty, this is THE BEST production of RENT to ever have hit NSW and I also include the professional version. This particular cast is awesome and the one thing that sets them apart from the rest - their consistency in their acting. When each character sings, they show their emotions and rawness of the character and that is what RENT is about - ENERGY. RAW ENERGY

If you love this show, I urge you to see this production and do not miss out or you will regret it. It may be in Campbelltown but is worth every drop of petrol and every cent for the ticket (and $25 for this quality of show is a bargain, they should be charging $70)

I will be seeing it again I know that for sure. I really do advise seeing this show if you want professional performances for the price of $25.

If there are awards for amateur shows, this one would surely win.

Congrats to all involved. I loved it all!