page 8 Manitou Messenger November 20,1998 ARTS & LIFESTYLE Experience the passion of Jonathan Larson's Rent
resume to three women with dark- things about the show is that it appeals to Katherine Tanner rimmed glasses. As 1 opened my mouth all age groups and people from all Contributing Writer to sing 1 lost all recollection of what backgrounds. The story of Rent is a happened. And after being informed that loosely translated modern version of the I was too young-looking for a part, but opera La Boheme that relocates Giacomo I finally understand just what it is that would I be interested in an internship?, I Puccini's tale of Parisian artists to New makes people so crazy about this lost touch with the production entirely, at York City's East Village. The updates are theatrical and musical phenomenon. least until I moved in with my roommate, an up-front acknowledgment that the Rent, a beautiful story of faith in one's a self-admitted "Renthead" who has lifestyle hasn't died, but merely shifted. creative work, is a faith-gathering display nearly devoted her last two years to the The artists are still struggling to survive. that today is a musical sensation. production. Just prior to curtain, I was sharing This Broadway musical with book, Until last Saturday 1 didn't understand conversation with a 47-year-old Renthead, music, and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, why. She organized an entire group of a very successful attorney in Iowa. We directed by Michael Grief and people to "rush" Rent for the Saturday, discussed the appropriateness of the choreographed by Marlics Yearby, returns Nov. 7 show. "Rush" is the inside term entire production's concept. The to the Ordway for its second Twin Cities for the people who sleep outside of the demanding eight performances per week engagement Nov. 4-21. Ordway's box office in hope of landing parallel the rigorous lifestyle of the Rent first arrived in Minneapolis/St. starving artists in the musical. This Paul the summer of 1997, with the cast Renthead let me know that I would soon referred to as the "Angel Cast." This Rent speaks to be experiencing what it is that motivates particular cast was invited by the Ordway the performers to keep up this impressive and the U.S. Bank Theatre Season to schedule. As the lights dimmed and 1 perform.this magical production. audiences in a leaned forward in my seat, I finally began My first exposure to Rent came while to understand the glory behind this watching the 1996 Tony Awards, when it way- that no phenomenon. There I was in my $20 first- won Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, row seat, and. all I could feel was the Best Music, and Best Lyrics. As the actors overflow, the super-saturation of passion- approached the stage to receive their musical has done passion for performance, passion for awards I could see their raw enthusiasm. sharing, and passion for the artist within An aura of "this is something special" in a generation. us all. Submitted photo read on their faces to a college freshman The passion unfolds with the story of on the other side of the screen. I didn't admiration and betrayal between friends Katherine Tanner cozies up to the character of Collins while backstage at Jonathan even know the story behind Rent, but I and lovers. It begins with Mark and Larson's Tony-winning Rent. didn't need to. Its energy was enough for one of the 28 available front-row seats for Roger, who receive an unwelcome visit Act I, however, Maureen's performance is These Bohemians display their inner the moment. $20 that are saved specifically for these from their former roommate Benny. With struggles, articulated by Larson with My second brush with the production individuals. This concept was developed the help of his new father-in-law, Benny a go, and Benny decides to padlock his beautifully-crafted questions like "How came my sophomore year. The open by a request from Jonathan Larson has purchased the builiding Mark and building, making it inaccessible to its do you document real life/When real casting call flyer hung on the Kelsey himself, and is carried through religiously Roger live in. Benny dreams of building a tenants. Act II begins on New Year's Eve as life's getting more/Like fiction each day?" Theatre Greenroom board, sending me a at every tour house. I agreed once again high-tech cyber-arts studio on the Mark, Roger, and friends try to break back and answers with the realization that dare. I collected a few fellow theatre to engage myself with this show, and am I property, and in order to do so he must "There is no future,/There is no past;/l majors and arranged the day. We took off ever glad I did. evict all of the tenants, including Mark into the building. The remainder of the live each moment/As my last." early enough to find parking and to Rent pulses with youth and energy. and Roger. act follows the events of the year. The I write this article to send out a dare to collect ourselves before the audition. Larson, who devoted the last seven years Mark's former lover Maureen schedules character Angel falls in love with Collins, experience Rent for yourself. Feed the Nearly 400 people appeared, hoping for a of his life to Rent, thought of it as a "Hair a performance at midnight on Christmas Mimi and Roger develop an intimate desire for passion, and nourish it so it can good word or a smile from the acclaimed for the '90s." And in terms of popularity, Eve to protest Benny's nasty scheme. relationship, and Maureen and her new casting directors. Everyone could feel the he was right. Rent speaks to young Benny gets so nervous about the prospccl lover, Joanne, struggle through their own share with others its passions and fears. relationship. The entire story is set to desperate buzz of excitement as our small audiences in a way that no musical has of losing his studio that he offers Mark I dare you to 'Rent!' rock music and performed on, around, group huddled together and reviewed our done in our generation. But Rent does so and Roger a deal on housing if they and under scaffolding and tables. 16 measures for audition over and over. much more than that. One of the amazing promise to stop Maureen. By the end of T1 . T ' Jim Eagan's Hollywood Picks and Pans
The Waterboy: ** The Waterboy offers little more than filler between could swear I heard half the adults in the audience magical, other-worldly, which the material From the team that brought us last spring's those few hilarious jokes we've already seen on the snoring away. Martin Brest and his editors have re deserved. The soundtrack works in its own way. wonderful The Wedding Singer comes this unfunny TV ads. invented the term 'slow movie'. The dialogue There arc many silences, but when needed, the score mess. 1 was pretty excited about The Waterboy. The scenes go on and on and on, then when you think brings the film to life. trailers and TV ads gave me the impression that they're over, the actor turns and starts up a now Sandler and friends were simply giving us another Meet Joe Black: **1/2 - conversation. This happens for about three hours. Happy Gilmore, but putting it on the football field. What is wrong with Meet Joe Blackl I could Surprisingly though, the dialogue is well written. I Still Know What You Did Last Summer: *1/2 That seemed like a good thing, since I thought probably devote a whole column to all the problems Very well written. That's why I sort of recommend So the horror movie genre has become popular Happy Gilmore was hilarious. Well, 1 was wrong. with this failed re-make of the classic Death Takes a this film. Despite the fact that it's almost again, Kevin Williamson started this craze by The audience with which I saw The Waterboy must Holiday. Rather than doing that, I'll try to focus on unbearably slow, there are some strong elements writing the now-classic Scream. He then went on to have laughed 15 times throughout the whole movie; both the positives and negatives here. The basic here. The acting in particular is fantastic. Anthony write I Know What You Did Last Summer. After the majority of the jokes fell flat on their face. promise is that Death himself decides to take a Hopkins, as usual, is absolutely stunning. This guy Scream, we expected a hip, scary slasher movie. Sandler isn't really at fault, though. His antics on vacation. Maybe its just me, but that sounds like a has to be one of the greatest living actors. Claire What we got was a mildly entertaining TV-grade the football field are pretty funny. The movie fails in good start for a comedy - maybe a romantic comedy, Forlani, as the female lead and Joe Black's love horror movie with very little in the scare, laugh, and the writing and supporting actor departments. but a comedy. Unfortunately, the pretentious group interest, is quite good as well. She's fairly now to the gore departments. Could the sequel possibly be Henry Winkler as Sandler's coach and Kathy Bates of filmmakers here decided to make this premise acting scene; I believe this is her debut role in a big even less scary? Could it be less gory? Well, / Still as Sandler's mom are both unfunny and obnoxious. into a drama. Why? I don't know. There is just no studio film. She seemed right at home however. I Know What You Did Last Summer actually does have This is partially because they aren't given good way that this film should have been played straight- really enjoyed her performance. The only surprise a decent amount of gore—more than the original. material. The script is really lazy with the jokes. On faced. It's Death, for godsakes!! Are we actually in the acting department is Brad Pitt. He's a strong However, there are literally NO scares! The terror top of that, neither of these actors should be in an expected to accept Death as a romantic love actor, I've liked most of his work. But in Meet Joe of a well-directed horror film is nowhere to be seen. Adam Sandler movie. Winkler shouldn't even be interest? Black, Pitt has completely miscalculated his We're stuck with a couple loud jolts on the acting, and Kathy Bates should stick to the higher- Other than that very basic problem I had with the character. He seems to be under the impression that soundtrack when a character bumps into another brow fare. film, there's also the issue of length. Now this movie is a meditation on the screen presence of character. No suspense at all. All the killings are On the other hand, the cameo by former SNL sometimes when 1 see a movie there are a few sleep- Brad Pitt. A very superficial, sometimes charming accomplished in mere seconds with no warning: alum Rob Schneider is pretty funny. However, if deprived people in attendance. Maybe a couple of performance. Nothing more. Gorton's fisherman appears, idiotic character you're looking for some good laughs, tape The elderly citizens in the back row snoring. Meet Joe Technically, Meet Joe Black is excellent. The screams, fishhook through the neck, cut to next Waterboy trailer and watch it a few times. Or, even Black managed to put to sleep the entire row of photography is so good that it managed to keep me scene. What a waste of time. better, go rent Happy Gilmore or the Wedding Singer. caffeine-crazed youngsters in front of me. And I awake during the slower segments. It is almost
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