‘We’re not gonna pay rent!’
The scene is a studio theater in Poblacion in Makati. It is a media event-cum-rehearsal by 9 Works Theatrical. All of a sudden, a gaggle of some 20 young dancer-singers-actors (triple threats) charge into the room, dancing up a storm, singing and shouting, exuding anger and defiance.
At first one could not make out what the fuss was all about, and then one exclamation became clear: “We’re not gonna pay rent!”
Ah, so they were playing the roles of bohemians, artists who were depressed financially, too poor to pay the rent, facing eviction, as in Giacomo Puccini’s opera “La Boheme” and, more to the point, Jonathan Larson’s 1994 seminal musical play “Rent.” 9 Works Theatrical first presented the rock musical some two decades ago and is restaging it, again directed by Robbie Guevara.
After that adrenaline-rush production number, the actors settled down for a chat with the media. They were all young and apparently many were appearing for the first time in a professional play, for there were only a few familiar faces, like Markki Stroem and Reb Atadero.
The hit Broadway play is about a group of artists living in New York’s East Village during the 1990s, enduring discrimination, poverty, illness, the scourge of HIV-AIDS and drugs, not to mention bickering and jealousy within their ranks.
Kapuso singer Anthony Rosaldo plays Mark, a struggling musician who is HIV-positive, and his love interest is Mimi (Thea Astley and Molly Langle). Garrett Bolden is Tom, Atadero (with alternate Ian Pangilinan) is Mark, the narrator, and Stroem (with alternate Guji Lorenzana) is Benny.
Famous songs from the now-classic musical include “Seasons of Love,” “I’ll Cover You,” “Another Way,” and “What You Own.”
New insights
Guevara first listened to the cast recording back in 1998, and wasn’t too impressed then; the only song he liked was “Seasons of Love.” He began to like the material only when he read the script while listening to the cast recording again: “It made so much sense!,” he said.
Now, after the passing of the years, “There are still so many issues we can relate to despite the time frame,” said Guevara. “More importantly, I thought we needed to dig deeper into those issues and make them more pronounced this time around. Which is why we actively sought partnerships with groups that advocate for HIV/AIDS education and prevention. It’s one of the many issues we want to push forward.”
The misfits during the 1990s were not as accepted as they are today, the director said. “So we want to show how much more difficult life was for these misfits back then. The problems back then affected each and every one, equally affected by sex or AIDS. They were badly treated but they survived, living together.”
Guevara added, “Yes, like the recent pandemic we just had, everyone was affected by HIV/AIDS in the 1980s and 1990s. No one still knew how to deal with it. So victims only survived because they banded together, which actually sparked the beginnings of the LGBT movement.”
So what message can the rock musical impart to today’s audiences, especially the young? As the director put it: “The same old message that needs to be retold—love wins!”
This was echoed by the actors during the Q&A with the media: “‘Rent the Musical’ is a celebration of love and of life.” –-CONTRIBUTED INQ.Show runs until June 1 during weekends at the Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City. Contact Ticket2me.net or call tel. 0917-5545560.
