Rent is more than a musical – it’s an experience. Written in the early 90s by Jonathan Larson, who tragically succumbed to an AIDS-related illness the night before his masterpiece went on stage. A modern revamp of Puccini’s La Bohème in which Paris becomes New York, painters become filmmakers and TB becomes AIDS, Rent is one of the biggest cult stage shows of all time. When DCU drama society put on their own production of the “rock opera” it garnered such rave reviews that they were offered a slot in the Olympia in June. We spoke to Producer Bob O’Mhurcu about the production’s surprise success, and what Rent means to him.
The production in DCU surprised a lot of people with its professionalism and talent. Was its success expected or was it a fluke?
I’m not sure I like the term ‘fluke’. We put a lot of work into the production, and we knew that the level of talent we were working with was huge. However, I don’t think anyone expected to be offered a slot in the Olympia. The Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) stated that our production was worthy of the West End, which was amazing to hear.
What were the steps in bringing it from the Helix to the Olympia?
The credit for that has to go to the Director John Donnelly, who is highly respected in AIMS, having won their Best Director award five times. He has contacts with the Olympia and pitched the play to them, the decision was made very quickly and we were offered the slot in June.
Do you yourself have a relationship with the play?
I lived in New York for four years, and saw Rent on Broadway twice. “Rentheads” would hang around Nederlander theatre on 14th Street in New York, and to this day there is graffiti on its walls saying “this play changed my life.”
So which character do you relate to most?
I relate to Mark the most. He is the filmmaker who records the story, you might even call him the narrator – the outsider looking in.
Rent deals with AIDS, poverty and drug abuse, and when it was released it struck chords with the youth who lived with these things in everyday life. Has it dated somewhat?
No, it’s not at all dated. The poverty and drug elements are still very prevalent in today’s society. The AIDS element has perhaps quietened in the past 15/20 years as people have become very relaxed about it. I know medication has improved tenfold and it is possible to live a comparatively healthy life – it’s not the guaranteed death sentence it was in the 80s. At the same time, AIDS does kill, and Rent has always had that sense of meaning with sufferers of AIDS.
Rent runs from the 15th until the 20th of June at the Olympia Theatre. Tickets are a cosy €20.
Paul Cleary
