Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway features the last on-stage performance of the long-running, Tony Award-winning musical that follows a group of young artists and musicians in New York's Lower East Side. The story is an adaptation of Giacomo Puccini's opera La Boheme; in addition to updating the date to the 1980's, the musical also replaces Tuberculosis with AIDS, a disease that most of the characters are suffering from and is a major binding point for their lives.
The plot primarily follows Mark Cohen, a struggling filmmaker who acts as the narrator for the show. The show opens with Mark filming a documentary on the lives of his friends, who prove to be a motley bunch. We're first introduced to Mark's roommate, Roger, a songwriter whose girlfriend, Maureen, just dumped him for another woman, Joanne. Roger eventually strikes up a relationship with Mimi, a 19-year old S&M dancer and heroin junkie, who lives in the downstairs apartment. Then there's Tom, a professor of philosophy who is gay and recently tested positive for HIV, which eventually leads to him meeting (and falling in love with), Angel, a drag queen who is also infected with AIDS.
The group's plight begins when their landlord and former roommate, Benny, informs Mark and Roger that they need to pay rent, breaking a promise to them that they could live in the building rent-free. This causes a rift between the former roommates that grows when Maureen begins protesting Benny's desire to develop on the nearby empty lot where many homeless people are currently living.
Based on the character list alone, Rent offers up some rather controversial subject matter and themes. Most of the characters have AIDS or are HIV positive and there are numerous gay characters. Although offensive to some, the character mix works and is relatable. However, when it comes to the story, there is a bit of a generational gap that needs to be hurdled. The overall tone reminded me of the 1994 movie, Reality Bites. Rent speaks to a more idealized, liberal, youth-oriented culture. Younger viewers, namely children of the 90's and younger, will find some sort of touchstone, while older viewers will, for the most part, simply respond with, "Just pay the rent already." I found myself in the latter group. That's not to say it isn't a good story, but there was a personal detachment, particularly when solutions to the problem pop up and aren't acted upon.
For me, the more interesting aspect of the DVD is that it is a live theater performance. While it doesn't come close to actually seeing the performance live, the DVD's presentation comes about as close as it can get to being there; maybe closer, since there are angles and close-ups that theater-goers would never get to see.
As for extras, the DVD version doesn't feature quite as many interesting features as the Blu-ray version, although one or two are worth a look. For me, the more interesting feature is The Wall, which looks at the wall that serves as the show's backdrop. Second to that is, "Rent: The Final Days on Broadway," a retrospective on the show's run that will likely appeal to long-time fans. Finally there's "The Final Curtain Call," which brings current and past cast members together for a performance of the show's signature song, "Seasons of Love."
As an overall package, Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway is a good buy for theater fans, though looking at the extras included with the Blu-ray version, I would suggest paying extra for the upgrade if you have a Blu-ray player. For those not familiar with musical theater, but interested, Rent is a great introduction (especially if you're not sure about going to a live performance just yet), though be mindful of the themes if you're looking to get younger viewers hooked.
