"We're Not Gonna Pay?" Well, You Should

By Quinn Kelley

What is rent?

Everything. At least according to seven struggling friends living in the East Village in New York City.

RENT, written by Jonathan Larson, closed in 2008 after a 12-year run on Broadway. The show's fans, as well as students who missed the Broadway version, were buzzing when news came that not only would the University of Maryland be putting on the show; it would also be directed by former RENT cast member and university alum Alan Mingo Jr.

Luckily for such fans and students, the characters of RENT may be short on money and luck, but the actors who play them are not short on talent.

Although most college students do not have to go through the difficult life experiences many RENT characters do, like struggling through the AIDS epidemic, drug addiction, and living on the streets, the bohemian spirit of the play does capture many widespread challenges of college students and aspiring artists, like the student actors in the show. These are characters that struggle with self-acceptance, create their own families in friends, and pursue their passions, which is why UMd.'s production of a 15-year-old show still manages to be both fresh and moving. After all, "How're we gonna pay?" is a sentiment all college students can relate to at one point or another.

While the students who play all seven central characters are talented, Matt Hill plays narrator Mark Cohen to perfection, keeping the narrative and sometimes friendships together. His convincing performance of a documentary filmmaker, conflicted about "selling out," is supported by his strong vocals.

Jenay McNeil and Kathryn Pace play dynamic duo Joanne Jefferson and Maureen Johnson, perfectly portraying the hot-and-cold relationship between the women. McNeil and Pace do great justice to one of the standout songs of the show, "Take Me or Leave Me." Although the relationship has come to its breaking point, you hope the song never will.

Patrick Grant, who plays Tom Collins, gives perhaps the most deeply moving performance of the evening with "I'll Cover You-Reprise," a song that needs no bells or whistles thanks to Grant's stunning voice and the painstaking emotion behind losing his lover, Angel, played by David Todd with the sassiness and sensitivity the role requires. (Todd also eerily resembles Wilson Jermaine Heredia, who played Angel on Broadway, in the show.)

Supporting cast members, while backing up lead vocals to create powerful group numbers, also provide welcome anecdotes throughout the show. Similarly to how the main characters are able to share joy with each other despite their circumstances, the supporting "homeless" characters always make the audience laugh when they mockingly sing, "Christmas bells are ringing."

Yes, the ending of RENT is corny and unrealistic, when Mimi essentially comes back to life after being revived by the song Roger has been struggling to write for a year. But UMd.'s production stays true to the original, the ending that Larson has been criticized for included. However, in this situation, it doesn't really matter. We're hopeful, idealistic students, after all, and so are these bohemian spirits — They may be struggling to get through each day, but it's because they still believe there's something better out there, somewhere like Santa Fe, one perfect song, worth fighting for. After all, there's "no day but today," and that's reason enough to go see this excellent performance of RENT.