Leicester Amateur Operatic Society (LAOS) return to the Curve Studio theatre with their production of “Rent”, originally postponed from 2020 and now brought back to life, albeit with an entirely new production team, cast and venue!
“Rent” transports us to 90s New York, and follows a group of friends amidst the AIDS crisis. The first Act takes place across a week, beginning on Christmas Eve, with film-maker Mark (Ed Turner) and musician Roger (Tom Urch) struggling to make ends meet and keep up with their rent. The musical kicks off in style with the song “Rent”, with the full company joining in for a huge dance number choreographed by Carl Robinson-Edwards.
Amidst the excitement of the opening number, as cast members express their anger at being unable to afford the cost of living, Mark and Roger’s friend Collins (Dan Rowberry) is mugged, and found by drag queen Angel (Dan Brewer). So begins Collins and Angel’s relationship, as they form a strong bond after discovering they are both HIV-positive.
Mirroring this storyline is the relationship between Roger and Mimi (Charlotte Kennedy). Roger is also HIV-positive, and tries to push Mimi away for fear of infecting her as well. This storyline is incredibly moving, with Urch and Kennedy’s undeniable chemistry and strong vocals keeping the audience engaged throughout. I particularly enjoyed their meeting in the song “Light my candle”, and their repeated “I should tell you” lines throughout the show perfectly encapsulate the couple’s inability to be honest with each other.
The third couple to take the focus is Joanne (Mia Dobney) and Maureen (Charlotte Brown), whose rocky relationship leads to an interesting dynamic in the second half. Dobney gets a fun tango to perform with Turner whilst they lament Maureen’s promiscuous behaviour (“Tango Maureen”), whilst Maureen’s entrance is extensively teased through mysterious phone calls. When she does finally make an appearance, Brown is more than capable of living up to expectations, delivering a whirlwind performance of “Over the Moon” (and trying to get the audience to moo, in what is one of the more bewildering parts of the show).
The musical is based loosely on Puccini’s opera La Boheme, and the extensive character work in the first act reflects this, slowing the action down with lengthy songs that explore the backstory of the characters. Thankfully, this only helps to make the more shocking moments of the second act (which I won’t spoil here) even more meaningful.
The second act moves quickly across an entire year, showing how the relationships between the characters change over the 12 months. This is set in motion by the song “Seasons of Love”, which remains one of my favourite musical numbers and is performed beautifully by the cast, with members of the incredibly strong chorus getting opportunities to take centre stage. The second act is definitely more story-focused, although lacks many of the group dance numbers that had been seen in the first act.
The band, overseen by musical director Steven Duguid, is always in full view of the audience, making them feel as much a part of the action as the actors. The set design is simple, with multiple scenes being brought to life thanks to effective projections designed by Richie Phillips.
Overall, this is a lively, energetic show with some extremely heartfelt and heartbreaking moments. The vocals from the LAOS cast can rival any professionals, and I strongly recommend seeing this before it finishes at Leicester Curve on Saturday 8th June.
Tom Morley, June 2024
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