Jonathan Larson’s RENT made it’s Broadway debut in 1996 the musical is loosely based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera La Bohème and tells the story of young struggling artists dealing with financial issues, love, friendship and the AIDS epidemic while trying to purse their dreams.
The musical won a Tony award for best musical among other awards, the show closed in 2008, the musical was so iconic that it was adapted into a motion picture in 2005. The movie and the musical have quite a few differences so I thought I’d compare the two, I wasn’t alive in 1996 nor have I seen the show live. (I’ve seen the show on YouTube and have listened to the original Broadway soundtrack religiously)
Mimi Marquez- Mimi is a 19 year old dancer at the catscratch club, she meets aspiring musician Roger and they fall in love they discover that they both have HIV.
The Original Mimi on the left was played by Daphne Rubin-Vega, she was pregnant at the time of filming so Rosario Dawson was cast.
Joanne Jefferson- Joanne is a lesbian lawyer who is now dating Mark Cohen’s ex girlfriend Maureen Johnson.
The original Joanne was played by Fredi Walker, Fredi was too old for the role so Tracie Thoms was cast.
The original Broadway soundtrack has 43 songs while the motion picture has 28.
Today 4 U- Angel is introduced to Mark and Roger in this song she tells the story of how she made money, the song is pretty dark when you really listen to the lyrics it’s basically Angel telling Mark and Roger how her drumming led an Akita named Evita to fall to it’s death for some tax free cash, she then tells the two how she met Tom Collins.
The stage version starts off with Collins bringing a few items for Roger and Mark (“Bustelo- Malboro Banana by the bunch a box of Captain Crunch will taste so good”) in this scene we learn that Collins is a teacher, he then introduces Angel to Roger and Mark explaining to them that Angel was the one that earned the money for the items he brought them, this version sounds like a disco song it’s fast paced and makes me think of a song that would play at a roller rink.
The Movie version- The scene is very similar Mark and Collins hug after not seeing each other in months while Roger awkwardly greets Collins before Collins hugs him as it’s been months, he brings the two some items which includes alcohol and Mark asks Collins if his teaching gig was the reason why he can splurge Collins breaks into song introducing Angel.
A noticeable difference in this song is when Collins says “Gentleman our benefactor on this _ ” in the stage version he says on this Christmas eve whereas in the movie he says on this Christmas day a word is changed in the song out tonight as well instead of “we won’t be back before Christmas day” the movie soundtrack changes it to New year’s day.
Rent- In this song Mark and Roger complain about their living conditions due to no heat, no electricity and having no money, they protest paying rent money to former roomate Benny. (who bought the place before getting married who is now demanding rent money) We learn that Roger is a musician with the inability to write a song and Mark is an film maker who is making a documentary, we also meet Tom Collins who gets beaten up.
The stage version- we see Joanne calling Maureen from the performance space to tell her about equipment problems you hear Joanne trying to calm down Maureen then exclaiming that she doesn’t want her to call Mark for help. (which she does anyway, Mark and Joanne meet during the song the tango Maureen)
The Movie version shows Mark riding his bike home where Roger attempts to write a song when the power goes out, this version doesn’t include Joanne calling Maureen.
You’ll See-In this song we see Benjamin Coffin III otherwise known as Benny ask Roger and Mark for the rent (even though he promised them they wouldn’t have to pay) and tells them about a cyber studio he wants to build he gives them an ultimatum, they can stay for free if they convince Maureen to cancel her protest.
The stage version- this version includes Collins and Angel (which means it’s after Today 4 U) who is listening to the ordeal, they offer an invitation to a life support meeting which Mark accepts and Roger declines, in the movie this happens right after Today 4 U the stage version also has this iconic line from Collins and Angel “I like boys, boys like me.”
The movie version- the song takes place 2 songs before Today 4 U and doesn’t include Collins and Angel, Roger sings the line “Happy Birthday Jesus” but in the Stage version Collins sings it.
Songs that were cut out:
You okay honey?- This song is where Angel and Collins first meet.
Voice mails 1-5- Mark, Roger and Joanne’s voicemail.
Tune up #1- Roger attempting to write a song
Tune up #2- Collins calls and asks for the two to throw down the key before saying he might be detained you hear him getting beat up, he hangs up and the phone rings again Mark answers it thinking it’s Collins but it’s Benny who is on his way to collect last years rent money. We learn that Mark, Roger, Collins, Benny and Maureen lived together and that Maureen dumped Mark for Joanne.
Tune up #3- Roger is tuning his guitar when Mark asks if he wants to go out but Roger doesn’t have any money we also learn that Roger contracted AIDS from his girlfriend April who slit her wrists in a bathtub after receiving the news.
On the street- The movie actually shows this scene it’s just not being sung, Roger, Collins, Angel and Mark have just left a life support meeting and Mark records a police officer who is being rude to a homeless woman the homeless woman then tells him off because her life is not for him to make a name for himself on, Angel tries to defend Mark but the homeless woman isn’t having it she says Mark is trying to use her to kill his guilt she asks if he has a dollar- he doesn’t proving her point.
We’re Okay- Joanne on the phone to her father, a co-worker and her father.
Christmas Bells- People prepare for Christmas, Mark and Mimi make up after their argument in the song Another Day the song ends with Maureen getting on stage for her performance.
Happy New Year- The gang get ready to celebrate the new year.
Happy New Year B- They gang celebrate the new year until they see Benny who wants to squash the beef, he implies that Mimi was flirting with him and that the two had sex at his place which pissed Roger off, the group celebrate their friendship.
Contact- The couples try to have sex but it’s just not happening, Angel dies at the end of the song whereas in the movie he dies during the song without you.
Halloween- A deleted scene from the movie
Over 20 years later and RENT is still as relevant as it was in 1996, Thank you Jonathan Larson.
Forget regret, or life is yours to miss.- Jonathan Larson, RENT
Lena Turtle 