RENT
at Strathcona High School

Reviewed on April 23, 2016

Kayla Warkentin
Millwoods Christian School
Submitted for publication to Edmonton Journal 1

Ravaged by drugs, crime, and the AIDS epidemic, the New York of 1989 was despairingly harsh for many. This backdrop, however, allowed for hope and community to have an augmented influence, and thus provided a perfect, gritty setting for Strathcona High School's recent production of Rent. The musical, originally a workshop production developed in 1993, documents a year in the life of a group of artists and outcasts who find themselves struggling through issues of love, drugs, tragedy, and of course, how to afford the rent.

The incredibly high energy of the musical's opening was sustained throughout the show. There were so many talents showcased in this captivating setting, making the presentation of the story incredibly alluring. A diverse set of characters were represented in out-of-focus portions of scenes, and through this, it appeared as if an entire world was being displayed to the audience.

Film-maker and narrator Mark Cohen was exceptionally portrayed by Ryley Tennant, whose success in this lead role was due to consistently great vocals and strong acting. Daniel Yeh as Mark's roommate, Roger, provided a fantastic counterpart. The duo complemented each other in both vocals and stage presence, and really brought the show to life. J J Park's impressive vocal and dancing abilities adeptly captured the essence of her character, the exotic dancer Mimi Marquez. Park's representation of Mimi was striking and replete with emotion, allowing her to develop significant chemistry with the other characters.

Maureen and Joanne, portrayed by Amelia Moser and Cassie James respectively, were arguably the strongest duo vocally. Moser commanded the stage very naturally, bringing a great dynamic to her strong-willed, indecorous character. Her contributions added much to the calibre of the show as a whole. In the role of Joanne, a public interest lawyer and Maureen's partner, James also demonstrated very strong vocals, especially in the pair's performance of Take Me or Leave Me. The demands of the song and the level at which it was performed were absolutely remarkable.

The technical aspects of the show all subtly developed and enhanced the production. More than 20 mics were utilized, with precision, and the quality of sound was consistently clear and distinct. The lights were natural, yet added to the setting in a notable way. Costumes that casually embodied each character were well chosen, and complemented the set and the period represented.

The societal influence of this musical has reached well beyond original expectations. Its themes of love amid tragedy, hope amid struggle, and the attempt to live life to its fullest are universally powerful and timelessly relevant, especially among younger generations. Advocating for community and acceptance, Rent has proven to be an enduring, engaging example of progressive ideals within a wayward culture.

Stephen Stewart
Millwoods Christian School
Submitted for publication to Edmonton Journal 2

How do you measure a year?

Is it in minutes? Cups of coffee? Laughter? Strife? Strathcona High School's moving performance of Rent gave their audience a chance to answer just that. The cast invited people from all walks of life on a journey that showed what it means to live your life, not in fear, but in love.

Loosely based on the opera La Boheme, Rent originated as a workshop production in 1993, then transitioned to Broadway in 1996. Written by Jonathan Larson, the show tells the story of a struggling group of artists trying to survive in New York's East Village. Through the course of a year, Rent deals with concepts such as HIV/AIDS, drug addiction and equality. The show won multiple Tony Awards, including Best Musical, ran on Broadway for 12 years, and was adapted to a movie in 2005.

The cast's polish and perfection throughout the performance established a level of professionalism that would have been unattainable otherwise. The versatile ensemble drove the show as they transitioned from upbeat songs such as Rent or La Vie Boheme to emotional songs like Will I? and Seasons of Love. Even though the cast was over 40 students, each performer successfully managed some quite challenging choreography.

As Mark, Ryley Tennant led the cast with a strong voice and unwavering commitment to his character for every moment onstage. Tennant connected with the audience consistently, making him notable in every aspect. J.J. Park took on the challenge of breathing life into Mimi, and lived as her in every action. Park's realism ran high as she embodied Mimi's struggle with AIDS and her heroin addiction. Park's voice demonstrated vocal prowess as she belted difficult songs like Without You and Out Tonight.

Cassie James executed the role of Joanne, the uptight lawyer who was seemingly always at odds with her lover Maureen. Her stunning voice and chemistry with any other actor onstage laid out her talent, raw and vulnerable for everyone to see. Opposite James was Amelia Moser as Maureen. Moser was the ultimate highlight of the night as she perfected Maureen. Her stage presence, vocals and the depth of her characterization all established the supremacy of her performance. The duo shone especially strong in the song Take Me or Leave Me as they blended their voices with skill and power. The song's vibrant, yet difficult vocal demands were met with perfection and brilliance.

Rent was also a treat for the senses in all aspects. The versatile set allowed for many levels to spread out the diverse group of performers. Student-called lighting cues were expertly designed by Keiran Rolfe and team, creating a wide range of moods to complement the actors.

Strathcona's Rent was a legendary piece of theatre that laid the timeless life-truth on their audience; there's no day but today to live and to love.

Mark Jones
Jasper Place High School
Submitted for publication to Edmonton Journal 3

With lessons on sickness, love, and how we find meaning in life, performing Rent was a daunting task that students at Strathcona high school met with vigour.

A modern twist on the opera La Bohème, the concept of Rent was first conceived by Billy Aronson in 1988. Jonathon Larson later collaborated with Aronson on the project, eventually making RENT his own and developing it into the production we see today. Making its Broadway premier in April 1996, RENT ran for over 5,000 performances and won four tony awards, having been nominated for ten.

Set in New York "at the end of the millennium," Rent follows Mark and Roger, two friends sharing a small apartment, as they struggle to find a purpose in their dissatisfying lives. As Roger struggles with AIDS, his failing career, and opening his heart, Mark films it all, hoping for a meaning. Drugs are commonplace, the AIDS epidemic runs rampant, and Mark, Roger and their friends must band together to find beauty in the storm.

Ryley Tennant, as Mark Cohen, led the show with solid vocals and a clear confidence in his acting ability. Paired with his physicality and clear character arc, Tennant was a pleasure to watch. As the troubled Roger Davis, Daniel Yeh showed incredible consistency in both vocals and acting. With a clear chemistry, these two created a convincing friendship.

Mimi Marquez, Roger's lover diagnosed with AIDS, was wonderfully portrayed by J. J. Park. With songs such as Light My Candle, Out Tonight, and many others, Park showed that she could manage soft, tender songs just as well as she could belt out others. Continuing the vocal magnificence were Amelia Moser as Maureen Johnson, Mark's ex-girlfriend, and Cassie James as Joanne Jefferson, her new lover. While both more than held their own individually, when they came together for their brilliant performance of Take Me or Leave Me, it also seemed like the song could more than hold its own against a professional piece.

Technically, it was near perfect. The live band rocked all night long, although at times it overpowered some of the vocalists, despite their microphones. The set, made up of several stories of scaffolding, was impressive, and utilized well. When the ensemble gathered for group numbers, spread out in front of the audience and all around the set; the effect was magical.

Rent is an ambitious piece that few could pull off as well as Strathcona High School. For every technical flaw or missed note, a wave of brilliant choices and songs more than made up for it. There may be five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes in a year, but Rent shows us that love is timeless.

Adam Lachacz
Holy Trinity High School
Submitted for publication to Edmonton Journal 4

How should one go about measuring a year within the span of a life? In daylights, coffees or inches? Strathcona High School's production of Rent depicted with charged conviction that a year, or five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes, would most definitely best be measured in love.

Starting out as a New York Theatre Workshop, Rent opened up in 1996 as an Off-Broadway production and was finally adapted into a film in 2005. The rock opera spins the tale of a group of impoverished friends striving to survive in New York's East Village despite the seeming insurmountable odds. The narrator, Mark Cohen, is a videographer who chronicles the story of his closest friends with ties thicker than blood. His roommate, Roger Davis, a musician who is HIV positive, struggles to find meaning in his life until he meets Mimi Marquez, a dancer with a tenacious drug addiction. Completing the circle of friends is lawyer Joanne Jefferson and her romantic interest Maureen Johnson. The group is threatened with eviction from their building as Benny Coffin III dreams to start a visionary multimedia corporation in the same building. Despite being in grim circumstances, each character finds warm consolation in the company of another.

The entire cast exuded emotion helping the stage come to life. No corner of the stage was neglected and even in one's peripheral vision, action was taking place. Each of the players committed to their roles by always staying in character. When the focal action was shifting, the supporting cast maintained robust tableaux. One could easily become lost in the ever-engaging and evolving stage presence that was created by the cast.

Each actor sang clearly and together they harmonized as a unit. J. J. Park, as Mimi Marquez, performed provocatively and powerfully while demonstrating her diverse vocal range. Daniel Yeh, as Roger Davis, persuasively presented his character's crippling situation and then dynamic development. The chemistry shared between Park and Yeh was intensely authentic throughout, but especially during the musical number I Should Tell You. Ryley Tennant, as Mark Cohen, grounded the musical and carried the story. The most memorable performance was given by Hassan Khalaf, as Angel Schunard, especially during Today 4 U.

Balancing the levels of 25 microphones and the rock band, while also initiating sound effects, was no easy task. Despite this, Ramnik Sekhon, Frieda Wang, Jenna Gilmor and Olivia McDonald successfully rose to the occasion. No sound cues were dropped and only a few minor microphone issues could be detected.

The attention to detail helped create a realistic atmosphere for the musical. The added touch of having tattoos on some of the cast could have been avoided, but care was taken to include them. The props created by Dorian Oliver-Lyons and Callum McCabe were appropriate for the time period and enhanced the experience.

Strathcona High School's performance of Rent was filled with emotional climaxes, effective props, impressive sound management and powerful vocal performances. All of these elements gelled together to produce a memorable spectacle.

Emily Vilcsak
St. Albert Catholic High School
Submitted for publication to Edmonton Journal 5

The impassioned tale of a group of day-by-day artists living to make ends meet and leave their mark has found its home in the hearts of many audiences. Rent is chock-full of lively characters from Manhattan's East Village, and Strathcona High School took on the challenge of portraying each staple individual to a tee.

The award-winning rock musical, Rent, had a rocky road to success, but the praise the show received is a direct parallel to the nature of the story. As the author, composer and lyricist, Jonathan Larson described, Rent is all about a community celebrating life at the turn of the century. What better way to celebrate than producing a Broadway smash hit? With two weeks of previews in 1996, it took Broadway by storm four months later, winning four Tony Awards.

Rent has brought a more powerful meaning to the term "starving artist" and empowers the cultural and creative side in many. It follows a group of friends, with wavering hope hungry to discover love. Among them is Mark, a filmmaker, and his best friend Roger, a struggling musician and victim of HIV. The band of artists unite to save the relationships and love that they cling to.

Mark and Roger are both iconic characters, and with their perfected spin on the scarf-wearing, guitar playing duo, Ryley Tennant and Daniel Yeh respectively, masterfully took the characters to a new level. They managed the roller-coaster of emotions confidently, inviting the audience to ride along with them. Together the pair brought fervour and powerful vocals to the roles and allowed themselves to mould into the characters, which they maintained throughout.

Hassan Khalaf as Angel Schunard balanced the drag queen role with poise, in his struggle with disease and was complemented by Tom Collins played by Jack McLay. Side by side, their journey in love was delivered with full commitment to the characters and a powerful chemistry that brought sniffles and tears to the audience.

The company tackled the popular song, Season of Love, with crisp harmonies and a raw emotion which was showcased by the student sound crew of Ramnik Sekhon, Frieda Wang, Jenna Gilmor and Olivia McDonald. The sound cues were precise and well executed, which helped to magnify the stage. Partnered with diverse lighting accredited to Kerian Rolfe, Jadyn Buchanon, and Jill Zheng, the cast filled the never-a-dull-moment stage and encaptured the realism of the production.

Strathcona High School shared the empowering story, allowing the audience to connect with the characters and brought light to love and life, which ultimately drive us all.