Somehow, the culture people of Portland got my email address, and now I’m at their mercy. I get periodic emails that show up with special price offers at irritatingly convenient times, like Just In Time For Christmas Gifts!
I’ve mentioned before that Tara is crazy about Broadway shows. I sent them a text last Fall. “Hey, Finding Neverland or RENT?” The response was 19-year-old appropriate: “Duh.” I should have guessed that they would want the classic show inspired by La Boheme.
“Classic” sounds kind of funny, because I actually saw RENT not too long after it came out, and that wasn’t terribly long ago. Right? Ahem, the RENT 20th Anniversary Tour is what we went to see. Apparently, I’m old enough to be classic.
The first time I saw the show was in rural Arcata, California, in the late 90s. I remembered that the storyline addresses AIDS, which was still a national scare in those days. And racy for the time and location were the homosexual relationships on stage. Most of all, I remember Angel, the dynamic cross-dresser who was the voice of love and reason for the group of young, desperately poor New York singles.
Arcata is a college town, but most of the audience was made up of patrons of the arts in their 40s or older, who didn’t know the story. And don’t forget that I said “rural.” The audience first sees Angel dressed in masculine clothing, when he meets and falls in love with Tom Collins. But soon comes the big entrance as *Angel!* with glitz and glitter and makeup. Angel pranced out on stage in a white and silver skin-tight costume, ruffles, high heels, red lips, and a dazzling smile that lit up the theatre. She came right up to the edge of the stage – so close I had to tilt my head – and struck a pose.
You could hear a pin drop.
I think I could actually hear people snapping their mouths back shut when they realized they were gaping. There was no cheer, no laughter. Total paralyzed silence. Maybe a muffled sneeze in the back. I had been just about to give a “whoop!” but then realized something was wrong and held it in.
This time the show was different for a few reasons. Notably, I’m in Portland, which is like a baby San Francisco, for all the tolerance we’ve got. And furthermore (it’s apparently 20 years later, and) concepts like homosexual love, drug use, diseases that kill you, and breaking into empty buildings because you’re homeless are not as shocking to find on the stage anymore.
This audience was fully on board. No, not just on board, but cult followers or something. The scene when Angel comes out in drag was preceded by raucous cheers before I even knew what was happening. The outfit was different this time, but the people went crazy for it!
The production still uses telephone answering machines to bring in missing characters (like parents) and to make connections in the story line. And it still works. The difference is that the first time I didn’t pay it any mind, and this time, it caught my attention every time. Answering machines! I remember those!
The first time I saw RENT, there was one relationship that carried it for me. The interactions between Angel and Collins are lovely at every stage, from the joy in the beginning, to their successful negotiations to unite their friends in times of trouble, to the heartbreaking hospital scenes when Collins takes care of Angel. Their love is pure and immense – big enough for all of us.
This time the relationship that carried it for me was between Roger and Mimi. He’s a musician struggling to be true to his art. However, his bigger struggle is with self-worth. He doesn’t really believe he’s good enough to be a musician, so he never finishes a song. And then he and Mimi fall in love and he suspects he’s not deserving of her either, so they break up. She’s an addict and really really wants to quit, but just can’t admit to herself or to Roger that she is weak, and she wants to be loved and forgiven despite that. They wrench apart, and fall together, and wrench apart again.
It was just awful, watching their pain, and knowing we so often bring our pain upon ourselves like that. We are happy or satisfied or loved purely based on our perception of who we are. Arggh, humans!
The ending is sad and hopeful, and Tara and I were still wiping the backs of our hands across our cheeks when the actors bowed. I wonder if art is supposed to make its audience find a truth? Maybe that’s why the same story hit me two different ways at two times in my life. When the artists don’t use direct words, we have to give it our own meaning, and then, it has a distinctly personal message for the most dramatic impact. Oooh, those artists. So clever.
Conscious Engagement 
Good review of the play. I have not seen that one since I don’t go out even to movies most of the time. Always looking for something happy and this one sounds just real life all over it. We have come so far and still so far to go. It’s like 2 steps forward and one back. Hope you are enjoying your day and getting to stay inside.
You are exactly right: real life all over it. I was more in the frame of mind to see something light, but… you buy the tickets four months in advance, and watch it when it arrives. I do get a kick out of watching Tara’s reaction to shows. I wish I had more chances to see this kind of stuff when I was young, but I do still remember two plays and a concert my step-mom took me to. They made an impact. If parents only have a chance to do just a little bit, even once or twice, it could be something the child always remembers.
Your mind is always grinding at things, isn’t it Marlene? I love that about you. You are sharp and unrelenting, and challenge me to stay sharp. Much love to you. All will be well! Not sure how…but it will.
Art and truth? Hmmm.
The Greeks said there 3 things worth considering:
Beauty (Art?), Truth and Good. 🙂
Great comment! The Greeks were brilliant, then! (but of course we already knew that). Beauty, Truth, and Good. Those sound like a road map to a satisfying life.
Simple isn’t it? Three words… 🙂
Social history as lived
Astute comment Derrick. Thank you
I was thinking about the three steps forward and two steps backward as I read this, Crystal, and thinking we are in the two steps backward phase now, but maybe not. I saw a Zales commercial tonight, you know, the diamonds are forever people. I would think that the business would be as conservative as they come… and then they showed a pair of young women happily getting married. That would not have happened 20 years ago. –Curt
I am so glad you shared that story, Curt. And I think I know what you mean, about feeling like we’re in a 2 steps back phase. But…the change over 20 years is UGE. (heh heh) It really is. Tara’s first semester at OSU was in a dormitory just for people of alternate lifestyle, and there were unisex bathrooms. I fill out survey forms that sometimes ask if I’m male, female, or other. People with disabilities are finally starting to be welcomed into mainstream society. I heard a story of a local Rabbi telling his temple of his idea to stand in solidarity with their Muslim neighbors. The ACA has been around so long it’s now impossible to erase it completely. And heck, smart phones mean that answering machines have no place in the future! We’ve come so far it’s really going to be impossible to go all the way back.
In fact, Crystal, I am sure that the primary reason for Trump’s election is that we have gone so far and fast that lots of people have been left behind. The truth is, barring some major catastrophe, we won’t be going back, however. The challenge is how to bring people along while still moving ahead. –Curt
One of my favorite plays / movies and I listen to the soundtrack frequently.
Really?! That is very cool. Tara had a lot of the songs memorized too because they have a Broadway station on Pandora that goes all the time. RENT is really good, and worth seeing again, so many years later.
I have watched Rent about four times since it came out. So many good songs, such a great play and musical. Oh, by the way, I liked Sean Penn in serious biography, “Milk.” Also, for fun and acceptance I recommend the play, film and musical, “Kinky Boots.” You probably already have seen these, Crystal. I bet Tara would love at least the positive vibes from “Kinky Boots.” Take it easy and thanks for the really beautiful photographs in all of your posts. 🙂
I am envious that you’ve had the opportunity to see it four times. And also Kinky Boots. Tara and I have only seen the movie Kinky Boots, but not the show, though we would both love to see it. It’s a great story! I don’t know anything about Milk, but now I will look into it. Sean Penn is an actor I have admired for years.
I meant to say, “Rent” is poignant and very contemporary even after all these years. Powerful and moving love story, as well as lifestyle “portraits.” It holds up to the test of time, Crystal.
It certainly does hold up. Worthy of being called a Classic!