Rent The Musical review, Tabard Theatre

Don't rent, buy.

Rent is the Americanisation of a European operatic sob story, La Boheme, in which a group of poverty stricken artists in a French garret, carouse their lives away. Then one of them loses the girl he loves, first to a richer man, and then to consumption. Mouthy New York squatters on the eve of the Millennium are light years away from the elegant hysterics of 19th Century Left Bank intellectuals, and that's something to be thankful for in this production. Every time something knocks them down, they jump up. What we have is a cast in rude health giving a highly charged, high octane, high camp, two fingers to society and to HIV Aids, which replaces the more archaic TB as the killer.

Adam Scown's big production of Jonathan Larson's musical fills the tiny stage at The Tabard, a theatre with a growing reputation for hosting fabulous musicals, and his direction is super sharp. On a stage the size of sitting room, thirteen cast with a live band in the wings, perform with passion and precision with just a balcony and two tables for a set. Action happens on, under and around both and inevitably there was a small bump and a glass fell and broke mid-dance, but with a slinky seductress, a mooning red-eyed Bojo lookalike, and a giant transvestite all in movement, it seemed small beer. As  the space and the moves get steadily hotter, Rent brings a smile to the face and, more than once, a tear to the eye.

It remains hard to believe in the characters' poverty despite an updated script and it's testament to the cast that without believing their hardship for a minute, one cheers them on. Be warned: proceedings are very loud. The ladies in the row behind had a moan, but the full ensemble pieces, and the duets especially, are an absolute knock out - literally thrilling. It was like being at a rock concert. If that's your thing, grab a ticket. If not, still grab a ticket, but take ear plugs.

In conclusion: Particular mentions for singing go to Charlie Royce as the narrator, Mark; John Sandberg, as his HIV stricken roommate, Roger; Jodie Steele as Roger's junkie girlfriend, Mimi; Michael Quinn as their gay friend, Tom; and Kirby Lunn as Mark's lesbian ex, Maureen. The sound would benefit from tweaking as Steele's words get lost on the low notes.

References
Tabard Theatre, Tickets

Tabard Theatre,  2  Bath Road,  London W4 1LW           Run ends 31 August