Amid stories and photos of the return of Broadway’s original stars of Rent (Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp) comes less hyped news of a retooled version of Rent being created in the West End.

Variety reports that William Baker has conceived and will direct a contemporary version of Rent to be presented at The Duke of York’s Theatre. Previews begin October 2 and the show will open October 16.

Until now, all productions of Rent have recreated the original production, which is nearing its 5,000^th performance at the Nederlander.

Baker is best known for serving as creative director for highly theatrical pop concerts such as Kylie Minogue’s 2001 “Kyle Fever” Tour.

Details about the new project are vague at best. This “contemporary” version of Rent is described by Baker as a “digital production for a digital world — more a pop opera than a rock opera.” He says the early 90’s grunge style of music will be replaced by songs that are “individually re-orchestrated according to each character.” Carajoy at Full Force Theatre Musings wonders what exactly that means.

Like Chris Caggiano at Everything I Know…, I saw Rent at the “gypsy dress” the night before it opened. Though it was very exciting to be engaged in that part of theatre history, and though I was glad to find some hope within this depiction of how HIV/AIDS was devastating the arts community, I didn’t find myself falling head over heels with Rent like many of those around me. (Mr. Caggiano had a much different experience).

Revisiting the show recently through the film version, I found that it has really become a period piece (though I was still very moved by Aaron Lohr in “Will I”). I’m glad we are beyond the “AIDS years”—though the worldwide pandemic is far from over—and I do think it was an important story for its time. Mr. Baker says that the original was “very much for the MTV generation,” and he sees his job now as making it appeal “to the iPod generation.”So as the original Mark and Roger return to sing about living in America at the end of the last millennium, I hope Mr. Baker and his team across the pond will find success in retelling the story of Rent to a new generation at the beginning of a new millennium.

Write a comment