REVIEW | Rent, Hope Mill Theatre
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| Photo Credit: Pamela Raith |
★★★★★
The Hope Mill's production of RENT has been in the planning since 2019, but the lockdown only allowed the original cast to play five live performances in November 2020 before it was closed and they took the opportunity to stream it online. The show was never given the full stage life it deserved, so I am delighted it is having a limited run back at the Hope Mill Theatre until 19 September. This production has made a victorious return, and Luke Sheppard has only enabled this show to feel more powerful and punchy than before. It really is a remarkable piece of theatre after such a tough year.
The theatre is quite an intimate space, thrusting the audience right into the action of the Manhattan apartment where a group of friends are trying to make a living as artists in 1980s America. Given the current climate the themes in RENT are even more striking than ever before.
Luke Sheppard's production is incredibly engaging and there is an incredible amount of attention to detail in its delivery. On multiple occasions during the show you could hear the audible sobs from other audience members, the outpouring of emotion showed RENT's poignancy and ability to connect with its audiences. There are some cleverly placed singular images that help to make this production powerful, particularly the solitary candles and an empty chair for a lost lover. I have seen this show done multiple times but I think this is the strongest of them all. Although I have seen it done more than once, this production was just as fresh and engaging on an individual level. I found snippets of the show almost humorous, when a show is so deeply moving it can be difficult to find ways of bringing you out of that but this production did that on a great level.
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| Photo Credit: Pamela Raith |
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| Photo Credit: Pamela Raith |
Tom Jackson Greaves' choreography brings great energy onto the small Hope Mill Theatre stage. It is beautifully curated to fit the musical journey in which Jonathan Larson's score does for this show. The storytelling that Jackson Greaves manages to create is gorgeous!
The cast in this show ooze the passion and heart that is needed to make RENT such a powerful production. They are a huge part of the story even if they aren't always on the stage, sitting around the side makes them involved in the action throughout the show. They never break character and their appreciation for the talent on that stage doesn't go unnoticed either.
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| Photo Credit: Pamela Raith |
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| Photo Credit: Pamela Raith |
The characters in this show are so well crafted to become completely their own. They have managed to create characters that I feel like I'm meeting for the first time and I believe every breath they are breathing into this story. Some of the previous cast from last year's cast are back; Millie O’Connell continues brings new life and energy to Maureen’s bounce and spirit. Her rendition of Over The Moon is chaotic but well controlled much to the audience's delight, Tom Francis’ Roger oozes the rough and vulnerability whilst Maiya Quansah-Breed grew on me in her take on Mimi, her performance of Without You is really beautiful. Jocasta Almgill brings a superb level of fierce energy as Joanne, enabling me to thoroughly enjoy her performance, particularly in Take Me Or Leave Me.
Although I am delighted that Dom Hartley-Harris and Alex Thomas-Smith regain their distinct relationship between Tom Collins and Angel instantly. Hartley-Harris' absolutely steals the show with his rendition of I'll Cover You Reprise; the vulnerability and grief in his voice leaves the audience hanging on every note. Our narrator, Mark, played by Luke Bayer really shines in his role as the frustrated filmmaker.
The featured ensemble for this show, Issac Hesketh, Iona Fraser, Alison Driver and Karl Lankester definitely established their moments in the show too and helped to add more life to this show. Fraser’s solo in Seasons Of Love will drop your jaw to the floor.
A blazing production from start to finish! Not one to miss!
RENT is performing at the Hope Mill Theatre until 19 Sept. Further information about the show and how to book your tickets here.