The national touring company�s production of Rent, by Jonathan Larson, is a story about a year in the life of a group of young adults living in New York�s East Village. The story explores their joys, their challenges, their sadness with the theme of "No Day but Today." This production was performed at the Shubert Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

Overall, this was a very strong performance. The enthusiasm and energy in this show were endless from beginning to end. The set was basically immobile and multifaceted. The set was always in view and the stage curtain was never used. The singing was very strong, and there was very subtle, yet clever choreography. These elements were the most distinguishing of the performance, and helped to make the show unique.

There were also many other details that contributed to this enjoyable show. The acting was excellent. All actors were well cast in their respective roles, and the ensemble performed well together on stage. For a story line with so many challenging roles, such as people with AIDS, which were at least four of the characters, cross-dressers, gays, and lesbians, the actors performed well in their different stories. Many times throughout the play, one actor played two or three very small roles. For example, the actor who played the role of Paul, who was a group therapist in the beginning of Act I, also was a waiter at the end of act one. In Act II he played the role of a pastor. In addition to these roles, there were also homeless people on the streets and extra dancers in the background. These characters are not as noticeable to the audience, but play a substantial role in the show. The energy on stage from all of these actors, no matter the role, was enormous and was felt by the audience throughout.

The set design was fairly simple, yet very cleverly used. The same space was used to represent many different locations. The set only pieces that moved were several tables and chairs. For example, when the set was Mark and Roger�s loft, two tables were right next to each other. Later they moved into a restaurant setting, and two more tables were added to make one long banquet table. There were also many levels for the actors to use in various ways. On stage right, there was a platform about eight feet high, that looked somewhat like scaffolding. The band, which was used instead of the traditional pit orchestra, was situated on the stage underneath this platform. There was a narrow set of stairs on center stage, that led up to a small platform and door, and more scaffolding at stage left which was scattered with miscellaneous items such as street signs, Christmas lights and old hub caps. This structure was used for actors to climb on and basically hang or jump off of. A small cutout in the bottom of this structure was used as a doorway to Mark and Roger�s loft.

The costumes for the show were very representative of each character, and the present time period. The overall colors of the costumes were basically neutral. Most of the colors were very toned down, with the exception of Angel�s dress in Act I (it was bright red.) There were not many costume changes, however, most characters wore a jacket when they were supposed to be outside. Most of the changes were subtle, where a character may only change a skirt or shirt, or put on a hat or coat.

As for the technical aspects of the performance, it was extremely complex. Not only were there many lighting cues for spots and stage lighting, but the amplified sound, microphones, electric guitars and keyboards, and a film strip at the end. There were many extension cords and speakers all over the stage. They were functional and they gave the audience an impression as to how technical the production actually was. Every actor wore a visible wire microphone. The band being actually on the stage, used mostly electric equipment, like keyboards, guitars, and drums. At the end of the show, a movie was shown of different scenes from the past year. The projector is actually out on the stage and is visible to the audience. All of these effects helped to portray the message as to how technology-oriented our world has become, and how important it is in our daily lives. All of this also contributed to the rock musical effect that Larson was seeking as he wrote this production.

In this show, the songs, both the composition and the singing, were the strongest aspects. With about thirty-five songs, and minimal dialogue, the songs really told the story. The characters sing about everything from going "Out Tonight" to saying "Goodbye, Love." About cows jumping "Over the Moon" to the song about "Seasons of Love." Various melodies, instruments, voices, and subjects captivated the audience, and told a well-woven story. Another strong aspect of the production was the story, script, and the lyrics themselves. The addressing of present day issues gave the audience something to relate to on the stage. The story caused the audience to laugh and cry. The impact of the theme "No Day but Today" really affects the audience showing how short and precious life really is. In the song "Glory," Roger, played by Manley Pope, sings about how he just wants one song to leave behind before he dies. The story talks about love as being the way to measure a year in your life. The story-line consists of three or four different sub-plots, all woven together by the main character, Mark (Anthony Rapp.) All of these stories coming together show a cross-section of the community and that how everyone comes together for one cause � to celebrate life.

This production would attract anyone with a love for musical theater and someone who appreciated and accepts our world today. The play accomplished its purpose by entertaining and pleasing the audience while touching their hearts and emphasizing "No Day but Today."

Note to reader: I wrote this for theatre class, so it is a bit detailed and cheesy, so to speak. Sorry.