Back in the late 1990s, I was bowled over by Jonathan Larson’s boundary-breaking musical “Rent.” But three decades, and many, many “Rent” productions later, I’d come to see it as a well-written but seriously dated time capsule of New York’s past.
But I was bowled over again Saturday at the opening of Diversionary Theatre’s reimagined “Rent.” Although the musical’s crime-ridden Lower East Side neighborhoods, answering machines and AZT drugs are now gone, its progressive characters’ fight for affordable housing, health care and arts funding are once again in the national conversation.
Andres Heimos, left, David McBean and Allen Lucky Weaver in Diversionary Theatre’s production of “Rent.” (Xing Photo Studio)
Co-directed by Diversionary artistic director Sherri Eden Barber and Coleman Ray Clark, this new “Rent” production embraces the musical’s ’90s setting and situations, but updates how the story is framed for the audience.
This production tells the story through the lens of the musical’s narrator, Mark, an aspiring filmmaker. Instead of having Mark carry around an old hand-cranked 16 mm film camera, he now sports a gimbal-equipped digital camera that frequently streams live to eight large video screens onstage.
Operated by Mark as well as an offstage technical team, the cameras offer peeks inside never-seen spaces at the two-story Diversionary building, including the dressing and orchestra rooms. There are two scenes transmitted from the downstairs patio, and another where two singers filmed in different locations harmonize perfectly in song.
Jonathan Sangster as Mark in Diversionary Theatre’s production of “Rent.” (Xing Photo Studio)
There’s also an immersiveness to this production that makes the audience part of the world of AIDS-stricken 1990s New York City. During intermission, the audience moves downstairs to Diversionary’s patio and cabaret bar to see Maureen’s performance art piece and the rousing “La Vie Bohème” ensemble number. Then the audience return upstairs for the second act.
With all the new technology and immersive elements in this “Rent,” there’s a sense of propulsion, urgency and grittiness that have been polished away in many of the “Rent” productions I’ve seen in years past. This “Rent” is also very diversely cast, reflecting Diversionary’s history as the nation’s third-oldest LGBTQIA+ theater company.
The characters and situations in “Rent” were inspired by Giacomo Puccini’s opera “La Bohème,” a tragedy about struggling artists in 19th-century Paris. Leading the Diversionary cast as the out-of-work roommates Mark and Roger are Jonathan Sangster, who brings a sweet vulnerability to the role of Mark, and big-voiced tenor Gio Coppola, who is fierce and wary in the role of the despondent HIV-positive songwriter Roger.
Nio Russell is a vocal standout as Joanne, the brainy but long-suffering girlfriend of the promiscuous and self-absorbed performance artist Maureen, played with endearing confidence by Michael Amira Temple. Their confrontation duet “Take Me or Leave Me” duet is a second-act highlight.
Michael Amira Temple as Maureen, left, and Nio Russell as Joanne in Diversionary Theatre’s production of “Rent.” (Xing Photo Studio)
Maya Sofia Enciso takes her character Mimi, a strip-club dancer and addict, on a powerful and realistic performance arc. Andre Heimos and Allen Lucky Weaver bring playfulness to the love story of Tom Collins and Angel Schunard. David McBean is surprisingly empathetic as the usually villainous landlord Benny Coffin. And ensemble member Faith Carrion and Adelaida Martinez complete the cast in comic, dramatic and musical roles.
The production features musical direction by Jerrica Stone, choreography by Nigel Semaj, costumes by Claire Peterson, scenery by Mathys Herbert, lighting by Annelise Schultz-Salazar, sound by Kevin Anthenill and projections by Nicholas Hussong.
Diversionary’s “Rent” is a highly ambitious, technology-heavy show, so mistakes can happen. On opening night there were technical snafus that included the sound and video being off-sync, underpowered microphones and camera issues. But with more performances, those little kinks will surely be worked out.
Most performances of “Rent” are already sold out, but a waiting list is available.
“Rent’
When: 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through June 28
Where: Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd., San Diego
Tickets: $41-$75
Phone: 619-220-0097
Online: diversionary.org