THEATRE REVIEW: Rent - NWTAC Theatre, Moston, Manchester.

Rent is a modern rock opera which takes place "at the end of the millennium" in an impoverished artistes bohemian commune in New York amid what was at that time the greatest killer disease amongst the LGBT community, AIDS. Based loosely on Puccini's opera, 'La Boheme', it features themes that, in a less open society, would be not only sensational but illegal and umimaginable. With the over-riding theme and message throughout being love and acceptance, we also are faced with sex, sexual depravity, breadline poverty, stealing, drugs and drug abuse, drunkenness, thuggery, illness, and death. - It's a really cheery couple of hours...! 

But, for those who have not yet seen this musical, do not despair; like the opera upon which it is based, there may well be death at the end, but there is much lightness too, and director Prab Singh has here brought out some unexpected comedy moments within all the doom and gloom, making the show much more poignant in the so-doing; and there is a lovely message of hope to look forward to at the end. In fact, Singh must be congratulated even further, as his direction of this show signposted certain elements of the story and individuals' characteristics which are often missed by companies / directors of this show, making the overall arc of the show and its narrative drive far more easily understood, as we saw a few truly lovely vignettes between characters happening behind and between others' scenes thus amplyfying and ameliorating the whole. And before we stop mentioning him, he also stepped in this evening as understudy to play the integral role of Tom Collins, and impressed with this too.

The NWTAC Company (North West Theatre Arts), is perhaps unique in the area, inasmuch as they integrate their youth theatre members into their professional productions as much as possible in order to give them the opportunity of working alongside those already in the profession thus gaining invaluable experience that no amount of training could ever give. This production of Rent therefore, saw several adult actors perform equally alongside students, and it is a winning formula.  

The whole company for this production worked superbly as an ensemble, and despite some lacking the powerful rock voices for some of the numbers, the softer more lyrical songs and choral singing were utterly delightful, and I loved the harmonies. (some of which I feel sure I was hearing for the first time despite having seen this musical many times before). The Musical Director, Beth Singh, should here be congratulated. One more thing which also impressed, was the band. In the programme only three band members are credited [Ross Johnson, Josh Brierley and Richard Green], however, until I read this in the interval, I was certain that the company were using professional backing tracks, the sound was so good and full.

There was however, one thing which let the show down this evening. It was opening night and so hopefully this can be rectified before any further shows. The lighting. The stage is quite low, and has an awkward low beam at the front making it perhaps difficult to light the upper part of the stage from the auditorium; however there are plenty of lights behind this bar too, and so I couldn't understand why principals and chorus alike were at various times throughout the show acting / singing in semi or even total darkness. Perhaps the mostly excellent set design didn't really help. The protagonists' flat was a small raised platform right at the back of the stage, which although worked was not optimal. It could easily have been somewhat larger (too small for more than a couple of cast members really), and nearer the audience. The large space at the front didn't really need to be so large and empty, whilst the area of focus for many important scenes was too far away from the audience that we felt somewhat distanced from it and so emoting and being involved in those scenes was much more difficult. 

That being said however, the show was of a truly high standard and very enjoyable, using the cast to the best of their abilities, bringing about a powerful and emotional production with a cast of enthusiatic and indeed very talented youths / teenagers. 

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 1.2.22