"Rent": From Stage to Film

“Rent” the musical broke social norms with its taboo subject matter and mixed up musical genres (dance pop, R&B, salsa and rock ‘n roll) when it debuted on Broadway in 1996.  The powerful story encompasses artists’ experience with love, friendship, AIDS, drug addiction and death and is loosely based on the opera “La Boheme.”

The movie version was released in November of 2005. Many of the orignal actors from of the broadway production performed in the movie.  The cast included, Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Rosario Dawson, Jessie L. Martin, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Idina Menzel, Tracie Thomas and Taye Diggs.

“Rent” takes place between the years 1989-1990, when the AIDS epidemic was at its height.  All but two characters, except Joann and Benjamin (Tracie Thomas and Taye Diggs) who are a lawyer and a business manager, are bohemians as indicated by their costumes.

Mimi Marquez (Rosario Dawson) dances at the Pussy Cat Club to pay for her drug addiction.  She is bold, in your face and so are her colorful clothes.  Mimi pairs silver shirts with turquoise tights, purple, red and green skirts, a leopard print coat and an endless parade of mini skirts.  All fabrics that look itchy but fun.  She matches perfectly with her rock star boyfriend Roger Davis (Adam Pascal), who grunges it in jeans, tees, and a leather jacket daily.

The caring, supportive Angel Dumott Schunard (Wilson Jermaine Heredia) is a drag queen who looks attractive as either sex.  His most out landish costumes are a furry mini zebra and red Christmas coat and a pink and black plastic new years eve outfit. You’ll never know what wig she’ll be wearing next.  Her costumes provide a solid contrast against her significant other Tom Collins (Jessie L. Martin), fired MIT professor, who boasts a rough male image with baggy jeans, flannel plaid button down shirts, and courdory vests.

Maureen Johnson (Idina Menzel), is the bisexual flirt who leads everyone on.  Her pleather skin tight pants and studded jacket look inexpensive and are accompanied by her ripped logo t-shirts. Judging from here costume alone, she was too much to handle for ex-boyfriend, Mark Cohen (Anthony Rapp), a quiet Jewish boy who wears coudory pants and sweaters.  Maureen opted for the lawyer JoAnn instead who typically wears suits.

All costumes are very late 80s early 90s and as tacky as these costumes sound, the film versions are better than those worn in the Broadway show.

The original show closed on Broadway in September of 2008, but it continues to tour and can be seen on DVD.

 (www.siteforrent.com/)

Costumes Out Perform Actors at CSC

Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya” recently opened at the Classic Stage Company in New York City with Maggie Gyllenhaal, Denis O’Hare and Peter Sarsgaard among the popular cast.  Unfortunately, the show was not complete when it went into previews early February. 

This play, which takes place in turn of the century Russia, was dark and depressing and the actor’s didn’t add many levels.  It was confusing with a foggy plot, characters motives were unclear and blocking seemed to be unmotivated making the production appear to be a rehearsal.

The well known cast, which also included, Cyrilla Baer, Andrew Garman, Mamie Gummer, Delphi Harrington, George Morfogen and Louis Zorich, was practically out shined by the 1900 period costumes they wore.

The floor sweeping dresses for the female characters were more intricate and interesting than the men’s.

Yelena Andreevna (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is the main female character and was the only one who changed costumes during the three act play. Although Yelena is married to Professor Alexander Vladimirovich Serebryakov (George Morfogen), she was also lusted after by Uncle Vanya (Denis O'Hare) and Dr. Mikhail Lvovich Astrov (Peter Sarsgaard) whom she attempts to have an affair with. 

Both of Yelena’s costumes were bright and created an airy feeling about her in opposition to the darker tones worn by other characters who are more grounded than she is.  Her beige and white dresses are also made out of lighter, more delicate fabrics and featured details that were very intricate.

Sofia Alexandrovna or Sonya (Mamie Gummer), who is plain and looks after the country house year round with Uncle Vanya, wears a gray plaid tweed skirt. And a flower decorated cotton button down shirt that is reminiscent of a cowgirl.

Maria Vasilevna Voinitskaya (Delphi Harrington), who also lives at the country house with her son, Uncle Vanya, and Sonya, is glad to have the professor visiting. She is also dressed in brown tweed long skirted suit.  Her tan lace shirt decorated by a golden locket which is very visible to the audience.

Considering the amount of work that went into the costumes, the character development and direction of this production of “Uncle Vanya” have a long way to go.

(photo from Playbill.com)