By Elizabeth Rodriguez, Courier Staff Reporter
The musical production, ‘Rent’, was performed at our very own Performing Arts Center here at James Logan High School.
All over the world, the musical “Rent”, an iconic rock musical based on Giacomo Puccini’s Opera La Bohème, has been performed by different high schools, colleges, universities and professional theaters.
Jonathan Larson composed the whole musical by himself, acting as the playwright, lyricist, composer, as well as book writer. Larson’s musical has won over eight awards including Tony Award for Best Musical, Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics, etc.
Playing a role in this musical can be big shoes to fill for the actors. One is bound to be skeptical of how the production will play out, but Logan student actors did quite a splendid job filling in these shoes.
Each and every actor, no matter how long or short the role, had their moments. The role of Angel Schunard by Marques Magnaye was so alive and vivid! The performance in Act 1 of “Today For You” will forever be in the photographic memories of those lucky enough to have seen it.
James Logan high school senior, Elena Guimar, stated “I think the actors did an excellent job with their roles. They had lots of energy to present themselves with.” Logan student actors Jerrald James Sarmentino and Erik Dylan Matibag had exactly that: pure energy. They filled the lead rolls of Mark Cohen and Roger Davis with such energy and passion that was inevitable to ignore. Even with the long on-going singing throughout the musical, their light never blew out.
The show of course, is made up of more than just the actors; their performance relies on stage production and management, choreography and, of course, director. Directed by our very own Robert Richardson, the musical utilized choreography and musical direction so actively that no audience member blinked during the performance of “La Vie Boheme.”
The vocal quality, style, costume, sound effects and volume tied everything together wonderfully. James Logan high school senior, Virginia Ibarra, stated, “I admit, sitting through a two hour long play wasn’t my initial Friday night plan, but I’m glad my friends convinced me to go because the musical turned out to be pretty good. I’m glad I didn’t miss it.”
Overall, the musical “Rent” presented at James Logan high school on November 17th, 18th and 19th was one you should be sorry to have missed. If you didn’t miss it, however, I’m sure you were far from sorry, since the two hour long show was full of eye-opening and heart-opening moments.
James Logan high school senior, Virginia Ibarra, admitted “I felt a lump in my throat towards Act 2 when Angel died… I swear I could have cried.” As more productions are to come, I suggest that you keep those eyes open or you’ll probably miss a good cry.