wayneharada.com

“Rent,” Jonathan Larson’s autobiographical rock opera inspired by Puccini’s “La Boheme,” is a perfect vehicle for collegian actors at the University of Hawaii.

With ease and affection, the two-dozen youthful singers and actors  comprise a company that has embraced the riches of the Larson score and style, while connecting with an enthusiastic and receptive viewership, if the sellout opening-night crowd last Friday night (Feb.  28) was an indication.  

The charmed audience unleashed hoots and howls and hearty applause following favored tunes in the show. The joy culminated in a spontaneous standing ovation at the finale. If “Rent” at its best is all about the seasons of love, the adoration was mutual with the crowd.

“Feel the love,” the company sings late in the show. “Feel the love.”

And the folks did. But such appreciation raises a valid question: why has the Department of Theatre and Dance been neglectful so long, in staging contemporary musical comedy? For decades, Kennedy Theatre was the  fountain to quench the  thirst  for cultural Japanese kabuki and bunraku puppetry,  Peking opera productions periodic Shakespearean classics, plus a Great Plays cycle of notable drama.

Such programming is worthy,  of course, when aligned to the academic theater cherished in Manoa, because of the  plethora of pioneering directorial treasures in yesteryear’s faculty. Think Earle Ernst and James Brandon, for Asian/kabuki, Elizabeth Wichmann-Waltczak for Peking/Beijing opera, and Terence Knapp for Shakespeare.

Enter, “Rent,” repeating this weekend, but held over with one more show tomorrow night (7:30 p.m. Thursday March 6) and playing  three sold outs Friday (March 7) through Sunday (March 9).

Credit director Joshua “Baba” Kamoani‘ala Tavares, now a UH professor who portrayed the Angel character in a touring company of the Larson show, that happened to pause in Honolulu.

It’s Kismet. Not certain who steered “Rent”  to Tavares, but happily, he lured a splendid crew of singing actors, nurturing the production with his insider experience. At last, a modern show with contemporary themes, songs, lifestyle choices and challenges…clearly packaging an explosive sense of wow in the delivery.

There’s no immediate  assurance of a future star in the making here, but “Rent” produced notables. Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp and Idina Menzel were in the original Broadway company, and they frequently pop up in theatrical roles now. That’s the cycle of life in theatre.

Numerous leads stand out in “Rent,” amid constant camaraderie and connections and you possibly need a cheat-sheet to figure out the clusters. Casey Kekoa Lauti, as Angel Dumott Schunard, the gay cutie in a red Christmas outfit, has caught the eye of Keanu Roe, as Tom Collins, an academic figure;  Jack Romans, as Mark Cohen, is a film-making buff never without a camera, and he’s Roger Davis’  best friend, played by Ikaika Mendez, who also is an ex-junkie,  who falls in love with Ainsley Shearer as Maureen Johnson, who’s moved on to Daniella Addeo-Cortes as Joanne Jefferson; and  Ka‘enaaloha Watson, as Mimi Marquez, is a strip club worker who has AIDS, and is the former girlfriend of Dean So‘oalo, played by  “Benny” Coffin III, who’s not interested to commit.

Whew! Lots of motion and commotion abound, and you almost need a love chart to remember who’s who free available, who’s in a relationship, who’s battling AIDS, who’s got a job, who’s making music and movies.

The common ground here is a drab but serviceable two-floor warehouse space owned by the aforementioned “Benny,” whose luckless and broke tenants owe him back payment for rent. Hence, the show’s “Rent” title tune, with the battle cry, “We’re never gonna pay!”

Antonio Hernandez’s set design is a bit spartan, though serviceable, but lacks graffiti or signage that might “place” the East Village location in New York’s Lower Manhattan, where these bohemian artists convene, circa 1980s and ’90s. Caitlin Chavis’ costumes fit the era, and ditto the hair and makeup of Kevin Murata. Sound and audio by Timothy Mahamat  works for the gritty tunes to  heighten the ensemble moments. Aubrey Lee Staley’s choreography is minimal and natural, notable for the engaging group numbers like “Seasons of Love.” Kelli Finnegan’s lighting design is a skosh too dark but suits the bleak the N.Y. zone. Taisamasama Kaiminaauao-Eteuati’s music direction is expansive work, since there are live vocals and instruments on stage and unseen supplemental melodics off stage.

While Larson’s score doesn’t provide songs you hum as you exit, except  for the  emotional and harmonic “Seasons of Love” — the show’s key anthem, performed at the opening of Act 2 (and twice more later) — was a moment to savor, with the cast forming a chorus line that felt like that singular sensation moment depicted in another classic Broadway favorite.

Advisory: the show has mature themes, dealing with sexual abuse and sexuality, plus strong language, so parental guidance is suggested.

“RENT”

A musical by Jonathan Larson, playwright, composer, and lyricist

What: An autobiographical rock-opera, based on the Puccini opera, “La Boheme,” which explores life and challenges of bohemian youths, in New York City at the height of the AIDS crisis

When:  By popular demand, a performance has been added at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow (March 6). Remaining shows (all sold out) are at 7:30 p.m. Friday (March 7), at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (March 8) and at 2 p.m. Sunday (March 9); pre-show chat at 6:45 p.m. prior to Saturday’ shows

Tickets: $25, adults; $22, UH faculty and staff, military and seniors; $10, other discount groups; $15, non-UH Manoa students, youths; $8, UHM

Reservations: http://manoa.hawaii.edu/liveonstage/rent

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Broadway grosses, for week ending March 3

“Othello,” a new Shakespearen tragedy starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, zoomed up to the No. 1 slot in the weekly grosses ending March 3, denying “Wicked” the throne it’s held for weeks.

The production still is in previews, formally opening March 23, in a limited 15-week run only.

Washington plays the title character, the Moor of Venice, and Jake Gyllenhaal is Iago. With average tickets priced at  $361 at the smallish Barrymore Theatre that seats1, 041 — compared to the $153.72 average for “Wicked,” at the larger Gershwin Theatre venue —  the grosses will be astronomical. Add high voltage of star power, a key factor attracting audiences.

In the juggling, “Hamilton” also bypassed “The Lion King”  in the step ladder of success.

1—”Othello,” $2.637 million

2—”Wicked,” $2.368 million

3—”Hamilton,” $1.554 million

4—“The Lion King,” $1,527 million

5—“The Outsiders,” $1.283 million

6—”Gypsy,” $1.246 million

7—”Aladdin,” $1.073 million

8—”MJ The Musical,” $1,056 mullion.

9—”Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club,” $1.038

10—“Sunset Blvd.,” $1.001 million

The complete list, courtesy the Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz…