Written by orange• November 9, 2015• 9:41 pm• McCoy Rigby Entertainment, Musical, Review, Uncategorized

McCoy Rigby Entertainment presents : RENT @ La Mirada Theatre of Performing Arts in La Mirada – Review

Written by Patrick Chavis

There are shows, and then there are phenomenons. RENT is a phenomenon. Being popular does not necessarily equate to being a good show or even quality material. In RENT’s case, the two happen to coincide. The popularity is balanced with a story and a “realness” that the happy-go-lucky musical genre doesn’t always tackle. Still, this “realness” does not go that far.

After finding my seat in the La Mirada Theatre Performing Arts Center, I saw the massive set and was impressed. The building in front of me was meticulously crafted to look grimy and unkempt yet incredibly clean simultaneously. It’s hard to ignore the obvious metaphor. RENT takes us on a voyage into the world of the unfortunate but doesn’t live there. I believe that’s part of its appeal. With an exceptional group of actors/singers, McCoy Rigby performs a clinically perfect version of RENT that will satisfy most but lacks the grit that could push the material further.

RENT is the story of bohemian artists living in New York during the end of the 80s (the “end of the millennium,” if you will). The show may be called RENT, but money is only one of the many deep issues this play handles. In this rock musical, we follow characters dealing with AIDS, relationships, drag queens, and human issues in general.

The characters, with all of their quirks, are mostly likable— with the notable exception of Mimi. Mimi Marquez

Rent (Musical) at La Mirada Theater in October 2015, directed by Richard Israel, produced by McCoy Rigby Photos: Jason Needle

is a beautiful stripper, and she dresses to the T, flaunting herself in every scene– which is probably why we forgive her for many of the horrible things she does in RENT. Not only is she a drug addict, but Mimi’s character also has very little moral conviction besides her self-interest throughout the play. I’m being deliberately vague because it’s a spoiler, but if you watch the show, pay attention, and you’ll eventually see what I mean.

It’s hard for me to like Mimi’s character, though I do. She’s one of those people I would hate in real life, but I can’t stop watching her on the stage. Whether attributed to her sexuality or confidence, Cassie Simone (Mimi) has it.

Solid performances all around. There are a few mistakes, though if you blink, you might miss them. One of the recurring errors is that some of the actors appear to be so invested in their singing that the acting loses some of its luster.

Rent (Musical) at La Mirada Theater in October 2015, directed by Richard Israel, produced by McCoy Rigby Photos: Jason Niedle

Sitting there, you can hear what songs and moments resonate with the audience. Examples include “Seasons of Love” (aka the song everyone –even people that haven’t seen RENT –know) and “Over the Moon.” While “Over the Moon” is fun and incredibly silly, it may be the most important song in Rent.

“Over the Moon” is a hilarious, artistic song, and the way that Emily Goglia (Maureen) sings it is both unique and wonderful. It’s a song that sums up what all these characters are dealing with and more. To Quote Jonathan Larson, the creator of Rent.

“Maureen stresses that “the only way to go is up….only thing to do is jump over the moon.” (Larson 68)

Jumping over the moon symbolizes the almost impossible struggle people in these situations face to reach equality in a society that-as, Maureen puts it –won’t let them produce milk. This “milk” could be a lot of things, but in the context of the play, I believe Maureen is talking about art and the struggle to make art when trying to survive. Which begs the question, how much does society value art?

McCoy Rigby’s RENT production has all the right elements, but it lacks that gritty punch from the vocals and overall performance. So what I’m saying is, you’ll love it.