Through 6/26
Cain Park kicked off the summer season with Rent, Jonathan Larson’s now classic (and Pulitzer-Prize-winning) musical about creative artists trying to survive in New York City.
Today, the storyline is less startling than it was in 1996 (we’ve moved on from AIDS to Covid to whatever), but the heart and the feels are still there. We see, once again (as Puccini made clear in La Bohème, the opera Rent is modeled after), being a starving artist isn’t fun.
Despite its focus on tragedy, the Cain Park version of Rent offered tremendous opportunity for emotional solos, rebellious anthems, and general celebration of youth, diversity, and spunk. The talented 17-member cast, under the guidance of guest director Nathan Henry, told the story with spirit.
The company opened Act II with the joyful, yet the ever-nostalgic “Seasons of Love”— the one song in the show that is still a classic (and likely always will be).
Cast members included Benson Anderson (as the earnest Mark, filming everything), Roger (a stalwart Shane Lonergan), Alexa Lopez (lovely as the dying Mimi who doesn’t actually die despite making us believe she had died), Jason Eno (compelling as Tom Collins), and Tobias Yeung (likeable as Angel, Collin’s true love).
Other ensemble members were Joshua McElroy (as Benny), Zoe Lewis-McLean (as Maureen), and Kechante (as Joanne), Dayshawnda Ash, Marius Scheiner, Christian Hall, Gabi Iig, Mary-Francis R. Miller, Danny Simpson, Jabri Johnson, Julia Miller, and Leroy Berts IV.
There’s a small band (just behind the main stage) under the direction of Bradley Wyner. Choreographer Kenya Woods manages to incorporate movement across several stage levels as nimble actors move through bars and up and down steps in a set created by Laura Carlson-Tarantowski. Costume designer Mia Jones added flair with well-designed costumes, especially the Marilyn Monroe knock-off outfit (blonde wig and all) sported by Yeung’s Angel.
Sound, designed by Carlton Guc, was inconsistent, but good for major solos, such as when Jason Eno’s Tom Collins sang his heart out in the reprise of “I’ll Cover You.” Other, more information-packed, songs were hard to understand in the tented Alma Theater.
Cain Park is a lovely venue set in the heart of Cleveland Heights. If you come early, you can picnic at one of the tables outside and/or visit the art gallery by the theater. The gallery shows off quirky, original works by local artists in several mediums. There were paintings, photographs, and the eye-catcher for me, a construction that appeared to be a giant hamburger, made of yarn.
Bottom Line: A heartfelt production of Rent, the musical that broke barriers when it first appeared. A reminder of how swiftly time passes — especially the “five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes” that make up a year.
[Written by Laura Kennelly]
3 Responses to “THEATER REVIEW: “Rent” @ Cain Park by Laura Kennelly”
EDWARD MYCUE
When a niece age 16 going on 17 spent the summer with us a year maybe or two following the advent of RENT she (Katie) knew every song. That summer was the first traveling show of RENT came here to San Francisco (at the ORPHEUM, the grand theater on our Market Street) Richard and I took her to it. We liked it also but Katie was as if on wings from the wings. She is now in her late 30’s, an artist and a designer on the internet living in Brooklyn. The experience will never tarnish nor fade.
Edward Mycue
Pamela Morton
I went on Saturday 6/10.
Run run run to see this phenomenal production of Rent at Cain Park. I went 6/10 and let me tell you I was blown away from the first note to the final bow, this cast is up there with the best. I am somewhat of a Rent connoisseur so trust me this show was great. Nathan Henry did a fabulous job of casting, anytime everyone in the ensemble is wonderful you know you have a good show cast by a great director. Bravo. There are truly 525,600 reasons to see this production.
Michael May
We saw it last night, 6/24, and were blown away with what a top notch production this was in this small lovely venue. Every single cast member was stellar in their energy, talent and range, and it all came together beautifully. The band was tremendous as well. One of my top five musicals ever, and I was not disappointed. Kudos to all involved.