Theater Review: 'Rent' at Connecticut Repertory Theatre

By Nancy Sasso Janis

Connecticut Repertory Theatre, the producing arm of the University of Connecticut’s Department of Dramatic Arts, concludes the 2022-2023 season with “Rent,” with book music and lyrics by the late Jonathan Larson. The students are directed by Nate Bertone, a NTC-based theatrical storyteller.

Based loosely on Puccini’s La Boheme, Jonathan Larson’s revolutionary rock musical RENT follows a group of impoverished young artists and musicians in New York’s Lower East Side as they struggle with gentrification, love, loss, and drug use during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Artistic Director Megan Monaghan Rivas writes that the infusion of emotion audiences receive from music is potent in “Rent.” In Larson’s musical, “The character’s grapple with massive challenges, from keeping roofs over their heads to living with HIV and AIDS. Friendships are betrayed, lovers struggle and doubt, artists chase their muses.”

Through it all, the “ferocious” characters turn to love, “they chase it, name it, claim it and celebrate it…They turn to each other again and again, with support, belief and even forgiveness.”

I thought Robert Liniak did very well with the role of Roger, the filmmaker recording “a year in the life.” Liniak is a senior BFA Acting major from the Washington, D.C. area who played Seymour in “Little Shop of Horrors” last year. UConn junior Danny Kelly stepped up from the ensemble to cover the role of Roger on opening night in his CRT debut; Carlos Fruzzzetti normally plays the role.

Owen Ing, a recent grad of The Hartt School, is strong in the role of Angel. Katelyn Trieu, a Canadian wrapping up her MFA Acting candidacy at UConn, plays the lawyer Joanne and Elizabeth McManus, a senior BFA Acting student, makes her entrance for the stage to perform Maureen’s performance piece.

Kiera “Kee” Prusmack, an MFA Acting student from Houston, Texas, plays the role of Mimi. Tony King, who was the Voice of Audrey II in “Little Shop of Horrors,” returns to this stage to play Collins. King is completing his MFA at UConn this year. Senior BFA in Acting student Ammon Downer plays Benny.

The ensemble includes UConn sophomore Temidayo Garritano, Siommara Guadalupe-Hill, Weimy junior Montero Candelario (in her musical theater debut,) sophomore Donte Warren, junior Charles Rusciano, and senior Megan O’Connor, who played Audrey in “Little Shop”

Songs include “One Song Glory,” “I’ll Cover You,” “Out Tonight,” and the iconic “Seasons of Love.”

Dmitriy Glivinskiy, a Ukrainian vocal coach and conductor who is the music director for the Opera Department at UConn, is the music director of the production, and conducts the musicians from behind his keyboard. Although the band has only four pieces, it seemed that the singers may have had some difficulty hearing the accompaniment.

Costumes designed by Sierra Adamo, who was assistant costume designer for “Ah! Wilderness” at Hartford Stage, conjured up the Bohemian theme. The scenic design by third year MFA candidate Elizabeth Olson is gritty, with ample use of Christmas lights that adorn the entire theater space. The performers make frequent use of the steps in the aisles to sing and be part of the action, bringing the audience along for the ride at points with the help of great lighting design by Kayo Tokkkue. There is good choreography by Brandon Kelly.

“Rent” is presented in the Nafe Katter Theatre, 820 Bolton RD and continues through Apr. 30, with limited ticket availability. Parking is available in any University lot in the evening and on weekends. The performance runs 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission. Seating is reserved. Patrons will need to have a printed or digital copy of their ticket with them to be seated.

RENT contains mature themes including drug use, sexuality, strong language, profanity, references to self-harm and death by suicide, prostitution, homophobia, violence, and AIDs-related topics. This production utilizes haze and bright lights.

All images copyright 2023 by Mattias Lundblad.