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It’s the rock musical about love and tolerance, dealing with
such topics as AIDS, drug use, and homosexuality. Things teens are already
dealing with, but which a lot of people don’t want teens dealing with onstage.
Corona Del Mar High School’s production of Rent brought out some local
complaints, some security guards limiting entrance to the campus, and some
incredible performances in Director Ronald Martin’s fiftieth production.
A special show for him not so much because of the milestone number, but because
he lost his own brother to AIDS.
What he and his cast and crew have put together is a show
that rocks both musically and emotionally with nice touches thrown in
throughout. Outside we are greeted by concession workers and ushers dressed as
skid row street people, while inside we get a subtle warning to turn off our
cell phones (Benny’s phone gets sledgehammered), and Maureen reads us a letter
sent to the school by the family of the show’s writer, the late Jonathan
Larson. Then it’s into the skid row apartment  (mostly barebones apartment with
assorted rock posters on the wall courtesy of ensemble members unfurling some
rock posters) where live twentysomethings Mark and Roger – artists struggling
with many things, including their sudden need to pay an awful lot of rent.
That, and a pesky answer machine that picks up Mark’s super-cheesy mom (Heather
Shields, who sledgehammers cell phones when angry) wearing a super-cheesy
Christmas sweater and reminding Mark that his ex-girlfriend Maureen dumped him
to become a lesbian.
Ryan Willison is an exceptional Mark who handles the
loss of Maureen with as much good humor as he can, leads the cast in a terrific
La Vie Boheme, and takes criticism to heart. Max Priestly is
Roger, recently diagnosed with HIV following as predicted by his late
girlfriend in her suicide note. His desire to write One Song Glory
before he dies is well sung and beautifully and creatively staged, with an
interpretive dance by seven dancers who stunningly capture both the possibility
of hope and the specter of death that haunts him.
The possibility of hope, the specter of death, and a lover
of hot wax between her…fingers is all intertwined in the remarkably  talented Hail
Ketchum’s portrayal of Mimi Marquez – a dancer at a local club who likes to
live life to the fullest while she also battles HIV and drug addiction, Hail’s
performance superbly genuine throughout. As is Hayley Palmaer’s as
Joanne Jefferson, the lesbian lawyer trying to deal with her exciting but
difficult new lover Maureen. Hayley and Ryan share a hilarious Tango Maureen
as two fairly sadistic rivals. Rivals over Maureen, played by Erica Schultz
with Over the Moon wit and timing and sensuality. When Joanne isn’t
tangoing with Mark, she’s banging out a terrific Take Me or Leave Me
duet with Maureen.
The cast is unusually strong from top to bottom,
including James Ramsey as a truly loving and kind and fun transvestite
Angel, Brian Silver as Angel’s boyfriend Tom who captures an easygoing
personality and some strong emotions when needed, and Ben Carlson who
takes the usually thankless role of Benjamin Coffin III and makes him real and,
despite his eviction notices, not such a bad guy after all who really was
friends with the others, and still is. While the ensemble includes great
dancing and singing, lots of very effective humorous cameos, a highly
entertaining La Vie Boheme scene, and very powerful Will I and Without
You scenes as hope tries to overcome sorrow and death.
Performs April 23 - May 2, 2009
Photos by www.narmamama.smugmug.com
Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre
~ Cast ~
 Roger Davis: Max Priestley
Mark Cohen: Ryan Willison
Tom Collins: Brian Silver
Benjamin Coffin III: Ben Carlson
Joanne Jefferson: Hayley Palmaer
Angel Schunard: James Ramsey
Mimi Marquez: Hail Ketchum
Maureen Johnson: Erica Schultz
Ensemble:
Jenna Chatillon
Jasmynn Collins
Calli Conti
Monique Danser
Jason Dillion
Matt Funsten
Ishan Ghose
Kevin Hoffman
Christian Lesko
Chanel Lucia
Melissa Mooney
Emily Morris
Sienna Petree
Erica Phillips
Liz Murtaugh
Carlie Rinehart
Sarah Schulte
Heather Shields
Brian Smith
Shane Somerville
Edward Wiklund
Jennifer Yeon
Dancers:
Kate Alvarado
Brittany Bernier
Laura Hanlon
Abi McBean
Anneke Pakvasa
Maddie Simmonds
Taylor Ware
Director: Ronald Knight Martin
Music Director: Rick Heckman
Choreography: Kate Alvarado, Calli Conti, Edward Wiklund
Lighting Design: Sean Small
Sound Design: Jared Bangaru
Costume Design: Hannah Lindt
Set Design: Hayley Palmaer
Scenic Artist: Eric Kehke
Makeup Design: Sophia Dawidoff
Stage Manager: Timothy John Dyess
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