Rent Live Review: Why the Events of the FOX Production are More Poetic Than You Realized

Jonathan Larson died tragically only hours before the first Off-Broadway performance of the now legendary rock musical, Rent. Larson never had the chance to see the show he worked so hard on for years prior.

That night, the preview show still went on, though it was agreed that it would be an intimate performance with the cast simply sitting on the stage and singing through the musical for Larson’s family and friends. 

Considering that those were the circumstances of the beginnings of Rent, the events that unfolded for Rent Live on Fox last night seem either poetic or eerie, depending on how you look at it.

During the dress rehearsal on January 26th, cast member Brennin Hunt, who played Roger, injured his foot, leaving him unable to perform for the scheduled live performance on Sunday, January 27th. There was no understudy for his character, so the solution that was decided on was to air the majority of the dress rehearsal the night before, with only the final portion of the show being shown live.

So, the television audience watched, mostly, a dress rehearsal that was never intended to be seen on television. Meanwhile, however, there was a different show happening entirely.

In order to have something for the audience who showed up to the live production in person, the cast performed a concert rendition of Rent. 

I’m not sure why that’s not what we were shown instead. The idea of doing it that way is exactly in the spirit of “the show must go on,” and it’s that much more significant considering how that first preview show was performed in 1996. Performing a concert version is in the spirit of Rent itself.

It’s too bad we didn’t get a chance to see the concert rendition, though some clips of it have already been released. It’s devastating for a die-hard Rent fan to know that was happening and that we didn’t get to see the true live version. I’m gutted just thinking about it myself. It would have been a beautiful thing to see, with Brennin in his wheelchair and everything.

There is something somewhat poetic about the fact that we didn’t get to see the thing as it was intended, though. And while it is ultimately unfair to review a production that wasn’t meant to be shown on television, that’s what we were were given, and despite its imperfections, it nevertheless managed to evoke the kind of joy and heartbreak that Rent fans should expect.

There were performances that were underwhelming, particularly those of Angel (Valentina) and Benny (Mario). What we don’t know is whether that’s because this wasn’t the version we were supposed to see. It stands to reason that some of these performances would have been a bit muted on purpose, to save energy for the big night.

Still, there were standouts, and many of them, including the performances of Jordan Fisher as Mark Cohen, Vanessa Hudgens as Maureen Johnson, and Brandon Victor Dixon as Tom Collins. Just imagine what a production that wasn’t a dress rehearsal might have been like!

One of the first questions I think most of us had about the way things were handled after the actor playing Roger, Brennin Hunt, was injured, was why the heck wasn’t there an understudy? That should have made the live production a possibility.

But, Hunt’s performance as Roger, both in the dress rehearsal and in the final bit that was indeed shown live, was authentic and captivating, and I’m a little relieved that we didn’t instead watch another actor take his place.

Another criticism that feels a bit unfair to make, but needs to be said all the same since this is in fact what was aired, is that the camera work was at times dizzying and unsettling. The entire thing could have benefitted from less camera movement overall.

By contrast, the final portion that we did see live was much more seamless and thoughtfully done. So many of the problems with this production are simply the fact that we saw a version that was never intended to be broadcast on television.

There is one criticism that I’d have had regardless, and that’s the seemingly unnecessary changes to so many lyrics.

Look, I understand some words had to be changed in order for this to air on network television. So I’ll accept “Super weird” and “yeah, she cheated” even though different replacements might have had more of a punch.

But changing “poo-poo it” to “regret it” or “three years ago” to “six months ago”? Or removing the classic food-order in “La Vie Bohème”? Those changes were distracting and disappointing. I missed the “meatless balls” line and I feel cheated.

I’m also not entirely sold on why Mark and Roger needed to crowd surf during “What You Own.” The audience’s excitement throughout the show was part of what made this special, but at times, it was overkill and made the overall setup distracting. 

We could talk all day about what the network could have done differently, or why we’re upset at the choices that were made. But that shouldn’t take away from the fact that we were shown a high-quality production of the show. And that production, flaws and all, had me clapping from my couch and filled me with joy in a way that actually exceeded my expectations.

The emotion was real and visceral. The ugly crying happened. The show was still a wonderful thing to watch, from the set up of the stage to the actors’ emotional performances, to the energy of the background actors.

When Mark and Roger busted out with “Rent,” the stage came alive in a profound way. The excitement was contagious, and you felt like you were truly a part of it.

Vanessa Hudgens gave what is usually one of my least favorite songs from Rent new life with her performance of “Over the Moon,” and she and Keirsey Clemons were stellar in their performance of “Take Me Or Leave Me.” Both were truly unforgettable numbers.

And speaking of unforgettable, Brandon Victor Dixon did more than justice to the “I’ll Cover You” reprise at Angel’s funeral.

Even a slightly altered version of “La Vie Bohème” managed to be a highlight, due in large part to Jordan Fisher’s Mark, who was fully realized and endearing in the role of Mark throughout the entire show.

The production felt like a full-on celebration of the show itself, with a few nice moments to honor Jonathan Larson and easter eggs for long-time fans. Among the favorite details are the use of Mark’s original signature sweater in a scene with Angel and Collins (Angel does not approve) and a voiceover from original cast member Anthony Rapp. 

Then, the final portion that we did see live included a powerful appearance from the original cast that carried more meaning that maybe anything else. They appeared, in a line, to sing the iconic “Seasons of Love.”

It was a gorgeous, impassioned performance that spoke volumes about the longevity of the show. It was truly in that moment that Rent Live become more than a network performance of a Broadway classic — it became a way to honor the show in its entirety. 

And to consider the large audience for such an important show — for Rent to be shown on network television at 8pm, more than twenty years after the show’s theatrical premiere — is a very big deal. This story is still significant and it’s still relevant.

For me personally, my introduction to Rent many years ago was a defining moment in becoming a more open-minded person. I hope it had that effect in a broad way last night.

I hope people are rushing out to buy DVDs of the film and the Broadway show. I hope they’re listening to the soundtrack on their way to work. I hope they’re learning about Jonathan Larson and letting the show reach them in a way that will stick with them for the rest of their lives.  

What did you think of Rent (sort of) Live? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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