As an unabashed theater lover, I have, of course, seen RENT before. The huge cultural phenomenon that is this musical probably has one of the largest and most dedicated fan bases I have ever encountered. The RENTheads range from those who have seen the show dozens of times and are on a first name basis with two of the Maureens and three of the Marks to those who have only seen it once but have had to purchase multiple copies of the soundtrack because they’ve played it too much. Ok, well, now we have mp3s, but still.

RENT, entirely written and composed by Jonathan Larson, is inspired by Puccini’s La Bohème. The 1996 musical takes us through the trials and tribulations of a group of young artists in Alphabet City, New York. You have the filmmaker, the musician, the cabaret dancer, the performer, the lawyer, the philosopher… but above all, you have a tight knit group of friends who have to deal with love, loss, creative and financial struggles, and survival at a time when people were succumbing to AIDS left and right. And while thankfully, medical progress has brought improved treatment for the disease, the musical is still very poignant today, as demonstrated by the hoards of people who keep coming back and who keep bringing people to experience this show.

What is unique about RENT is not only the drastically innovative musical score and risk-taking, defiant story, but also the fact that there is very little spoken dialogue. It is a true-blue musical, sung pretty much all the way through. You might think, ‘Oh dear, two and a half hours of nonstop singing and prancing around the stage,’ but let me stop you right there, because in this case, it works. And the fact that you remain in the same ‘language,’ as it were, the whole time, avoids brutal moments of transition that sometimes plague other musicals. The lyrics are smart, meaningful and delivered with subtlety and conviction. Clearly, the actors are aware of the responsibility they have in communicating Jonathan Larson’s message, which is not one of sadness and loss, but of celebration and hope.

With Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, the original Roger and Mark, headlining the production, the show is guaranteed to be amazing. But it’s better than that. Composed of RENT veterans and newbies alike, the rest of the cast is positively stellar. Nicolette Hart brings the house down as Maureen, the bisexual drama queen. She doesn’t appear until the end of the first act, but man does she command attention. Her musical numbers “Over The Moon” and “Take Me Or Leave Me,” a duet with her lover Joanne (Haneefah Wood,) are two of the strongest numbers. Lexi Lawson is smoking hot as Mimi and Justin Johnston is absolutely devastating in the part of unifying member Angel. What he can do in gazillion-inch heels and a sexy Santa costume is absolutely beyond this world. The original soloist of the epic song “Seasons of Love,” Gwen Stewart, completes this cast and ensures multiple chills throughout the show.

Particularly memorable moments include when Adam Pascal sings “One Song Glory,” one of the most moving songs of the show. The oblique lighting creates an impressive shadow on the back wall of the set, matching Adam’s commanding voice to his now magnanimous shadow. “La Vie Bohème,” led brilliantly by Anthony Rapp, is the perfect closing to the opening act. It is extraordinary how much commitment Anthony communicates in his role. Surely this commitment is what makes Anthony and Adam pull off their roles so naturally, despite now being well above the age of the characters they play.

By the end of the show, I had witnessed (and taken part in) a lot of loud clapping and vocal appreciation, I had seen a woman give a standing ovation after every song, and heard quite a decent bit of sniffling, coming from both the sheer power of some of the pieces and the crushing moments of the plot. I also sat in awe as Anthony managed to raise over $2,000 in a Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS auction to shadow the stage manager for the rest of the performances. If you want to donate as well, keep an eye out on the website and on eBay starting November 24th for the auction of a unique and autographed RENT imprinted electric guitar, specifically designed for the show’s run in Seoul. Or just give a couple of bucks when you exit the show.

Here’s where I admit that I would have probably loved the show even if it had only been mediocre. So I am more than happy to share that this production is truly spectacular and proves that even a 13+-year-old show can be fresh and genuine. The cast keeps in mind the people who are seeing the show for the first time, as well as those who are parting with a very important part of their lives. And I finally got to buy that t-shirt I never bought the first time I saw the show.

Grade: A+

Catch RENT at the Providence Performing Arts Center, from November 17-22, 2009. You can purchase tickets at the PPAC Box Office, located at 220 Weybosset Street, online at ppacri.org, or by phone at 401-421-ARTS (2787.)

And for those of you with tighter budgets, go try your luck for $20 lottery seats, located in the first and second rows of the theater. The lottery takes place two hours prior to each curtain time. Good luck!

For some quick insight about the show, listen to the podcast Nicky G and I recorded with Nicolette Hart.