F.F.S. FROM STAGE TO SCREEN: "RENT"

Unfortunately, this is going to be another brief and condensed post this week. I should be back to true form for next week's blog post.

The screening for our second week of the From Stage to Screen Freedom Film Series will be Rent.

"Rent" made its Broadway stage debut in 1996 to a great deal of critical and public praise and adoration. It was labeled as a modern-day rock opera and has become near and dear to as many theatre lovers as "The Phantom of the Opera" or "Cats." It also garnered numerous awards and nominations. It pulled in four Tony Awards (the Oscars for Broadway), including Best Musical and Best Score. It also earned its writer and composer, Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer Prize in Drama. Larson put his heart and soul into writing and composing one of the most memorable musicals we are likely ever to see.

The story focuses on a group of friends struggling to live in New York. They fight against poverty as struggling musicians, film-makers, and artists. They fight against hate, discrimination, and disease, but also find time to fight for love. Heavy prices to pay for trying to follow one's dreams. Larson's work sheds new light on this facet of New York society who have taken to calling themselves Bohemians. The path that these characters walk is not what draws us into the story, but it is the complexity of the characters themselves. We are given unforgettable and sympathetic characters along with amazingly powerful and memorable songs.

The Broadway sensation made its way onto the big screen in 2005, almost ten years after its Broadway debut. Rent is directed by Chris Columbus, director of the first two Harry Potter films. He pays considerable homage to the original stage version and does an admirable job turning it into a musical to fit the silver screen. What truly makes the movie a good adaptation is the fact that they were able to get most of the original cast members of the stage version to star in the film. Only two of the characters had to be recast (Rosario Dawson and Traci Thoms step into the roles of Mimi and Joanne.) Unsurprisingly, not all of the songs were able to make it into the movie; the movie would have been quite long if this had happened. The ones we know and love, however, are there: "Seasons of Love," "La Vie Boheme," and "Rent." After seeing this movie, these songs will be stuck in your head for a good while. But that's not such a bad thing.

I hope you'll be able to join us this Wednesday night for our screening of Rent. The screening will begin at 6:00pm in the Freedom Regional Library Community Room. There will free popcorn available for those in attendance. Come out for a good film, good music, and a good time and bring some friends with you!