Viva La Vie Boheme!

I have a friend who has seen RENT 11 times in the theatre. It's been a few years since I have gotten to experience it live, but it popped up on my iPod this week, and I got hooked again. I've been listening constantly for the last week and jamming along in traffic to the top of my lungs.  Before I saw it, I never understood why.  When there are so many musicals out there, why spend so much money on one show?  About 3 songs in I got it: the minute "One Song Glory" started, I was hooked.  Before seeing it, I read the plotline and came across the completely heartbreaking story of the show's writer and lyricist. 

Jonathan Larson spent years working on a modern day version of Puccini's opera, La Boheme.  It was the early 90s and his friends were dying of the AIDS virus so he chose to set his story in the housing projects of Alphabet City NYC, amidst the AIDS crisis.  RENT,the show that became his life's work was due to open in January 1996.  On the morning of the day the show was to open, Larson collapsed and died shortly thereafter of a brain aneurysm.  His vision went on to win Tony and Drama Desk Awards as well as the Pulitzer prize for drama.  But, he never got to experience what his vision became.  There are certain lines or notes in Larson's score and lyrics that just get to me. They (as cheesy as this sounds) hit me straight in the heart and I can't help but get goosebumps. When this happens I think of Jonathan Larson and how unfortunate it is that he never got to experience this for himself.

Now, you must know by now (if you've been paying attention), I cry at the drop of a hat.  So hearing that story, did nothing for my desire to see the show.  I tend to avoid movies/books/TV shows that I know will make me cry.  But, it was my friend's 21st birthday and we wanted to make it special for her so I sucked it up and bought the tickets.  Her go-to description was always "hearbreaking and uplifiting".  But I never understood how it could be both of those things, however, like I said earlier, until I saw it.  The moment I realized (spoiler alert!) Angel (the cross-dressing lover of Tom who was infected with HIV and the heart of the show) had died, I was an absolute mess. I cried like a baby. I tear up everytime it happens. I always know it's coming and I always cry.  But later, when Roger finally confesses his love to Mimi, I'm crying because I'm happy.  It's all very confusing. 

I've noticed that there are 2 types of peeps out there: those that have seen it and those that haven't.  If you haven't seen it, you're never going to understand why I would waste an entire post on my love for a musical that's almost 2 decades old. Until you see it, you're never going to get it. If I've piqued your interest even slightly and you have decided to see it, you can't cheat and see the terrible movie of the same name (with all the stars you'd think it would have been good: not so much!)  You need to see it live in a tiny dingy theatre surrounded by people who are mouthing the words with the actors.  Then you will truly become a RENT-head and you will be a better person for it (in my opinion anyway.)  After all, "there's no day but today", so "forget regret, or life is yours to miss!"

Viva La Vie Boheme!