AMATEUR THEATRE REVIEW: Rent - The Little Theatre, Knutsford.

The newly-formed and Cheshire based company, Together For Theatre, are currently presenting their first production at Knutsford's bijou Little Theatre, and it is a very brave and bold choice of show for their debut... a full-scale Musical complete with live on-stage band. Not only that, but 'Rent' (their chosen show), is set in the USA at a time when the AIDS scare was all too real, and being 'artistic' or 'different' was seen as a curse and a scourge on society - and although societal attitudes have changed (and are still changing), the themes here still hold much relevance and poignance in our own contemporary society too.

Written by Jonathan Larson, and based (albeit loosely) on Puccini's 'La Boheme', 'Rent' tells the story of a group of 'bohemians' living in squalor in New York at 'the end of the millennium', and how they negotiate their daily lives trying to avoid the landlord and the 'disease'. Just as there is in the Grand Opera, the musical shows death and heartbreak, and doesn't pull any punches with use of and dependency on drugs, etc. That being said however, the musical is also full of hope and joy, and shows us that even the face of adversity there is still love, compassion, comradeship, and the human spirit will survive no matter what is thrown at it. 

For their first production as a company, Together For Theatre have created something which they can be proud of, and something which they can use to build on and continue to create theatre which inspires. Lewis Baron's direction was secure and intelligent; and the storyline was always excellently signposted. A couple of things which did not work quite so well however, were that because this musical is very fast-moving, it sometimes was not clear what the exact location of each vignette was, and since Baron had deliberately slowed things down a little in order for the dialogue to be fully understood by the audience, the pace of the musical as a whole was a little sluggish at times. This was also true of Ben Evans-Clarke's otherwise excellent musical direction, as a couple of the songs could easily have been given a more upbeat tempo, and so too, they kept the show at a rather pedestrian pace. 

Another concern was the heights of the three levels used for the set. A single composite base of rostra was utilised, giving the cast three levels upon which to work. The steps (height) between the levels however was too great and was causing cast members to worry too much about this and not their roles / singing etc. Smaller steps were needed to connect the heights to make it both safer and easier.

Characterisations were clear and secure from all, and it was clear that much thought and consideration had gone in to finding truthful and sympathetic human beings, all having their individuality, but all working well too as an ensemble. And whilst the acting was overall of a high standard, and we emoted with them, there were a couple who didn't really possess the requisite rock voices to carry off some of the singing demands. The choral singing however was lovely. There was a simplistic naturalism in the ensemble acting / movement which was quite compelling. What was abundantly apparent was that everyone on stage was fully committed to and giving everything to their roles and the show in general, and this gave the show energy and drive. 

Lighting, sound, and costuming were all good, but the scene changes were a little 'clunky' sadly. And I didn't see the need for the constant moving of the brown sofa. Why couldn't it simply find a place on stage where it could stay for the entire show without moving it?

An impressive debut from a new company - one to watch out for in the future!

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 16.8.23