This week the curtain came up as Basingstoke Amateur Theatrical Society (BATS) brought Rent to Basingstoke’s Haymarket stage. Under the direction of Louise Travis, with musical direction from Jonathan Eiø, BATS’ production of Rent hit all the right notes and brought everyone to their feet.
I was left eager to see the finished show after watching their wonderful rehearsal, and I was not disappointed. It is everything I’d hoped for, and more.
The main focus of Rent is primarily on the music, story and characters, but the set and costumes all aid to bring everything together just that bit more; Maureen’s cow boots are something I was genuinely tempted to jump on stage and grab right off her feet! Moreover, a part that really made me smile was during La Vie Boheme, where the waiter (Craig Saunders) was wearing a Moondance Diner t-shirt. This is the shirt worn by Andrew Garfield in the recent movie Tick Tick Boom, in which he played Jonathan Larson, the very man who wrote Rent but died before seeing the first performance. This is such a small detail but a great Easter egg for the theatre fans (aka, well, me).
It is these extra details that really elevate the show and make it a feast for the eyes and ears. Rent showcases an explosion of sound, colour and energy so strong you can feel it in the air. The band being on stage was a brilliant addition, giving them the chance to shine in their own right and the recognition they deserve by being onstage during the performance. La Vie Boheme alone had me bouncing in my seat!
The leading cast were made up of Jack Baldwin and David Honeywell stepping into the shoes of Mark and Roger respectively; James Young and Tom Boncey taking on the roles of Tom Collins and Angel, with Luannsa Goodman, Jade Williams and Laura Burrell completing the group as Mimi, Maureen and Joanne. These characters are not easy ones to take on, but take them on everyone did, making each role their own. It’s all well and good standing there singing Rent, but it’s nothing if you don’t bring the complex characters to life, and everyone in this cast did just that every second they were all on stage, not faltering for a moment.
Baldwin oversees the whole show as a narrator of sorts, and although Mark is a bystander to a lot of the events, Baldwin is able to display the emotional turmoil Mark goes through as the show unfolds. When acting, I think what is not said but shown through acting choices is just as important as the text, and Baldwin’s acting choices through facial expressions, body language and affection toward other characters on stage spoke volumes in a way that was subtle yet very effective.
Honeywell gave a stellar portrayal of the complexity of Roger’s character, with his ongoing anguish and battle with grief, fear and the critical diagnosis looming over his head. Their poignant rendition of ‘One Song Glory’ was haunting and enthralling.
Boncey as Angel lived up to their characters’ namesake, shining every time they walked on stage. Their performance of ‘Today 4 U’ was so joyous and I couldn’t help but smile at their passion, which made their journey throughout the show that much more hard-hitting; Boncey found the perfect balance between the lovable Angel that’s known and loved so much in Rent who has a combination of both humour and vulnerability to their character.
Young’s performance of ‘I’ll Cover You (Reprise)’ broke hearts with the sheer emotion poured into every note; you could have heard a pin drop with how entranced the audience were. They had a brilliant stage presence as Collins, bringing alive the open-hearted nature that makes Collins who he is.
Whilst the cast were all fantastic individually, they all also had this authentic chemistry with one another that is unmatched; this chemistry cemented the found family aspect of the group and all together they showed the undeniable love they all have for each other, as could be felt continuously throughout the show.
Honeywell and Goodman worked well together as Roger and Mimi; the pair effortlessly brought a tenderness to their relationship during ‘I Should Tell You’, and the love between the two was incontestable. Similarly, the pair then went on to perform ‘Without You’ breathtakingly in act two. Matched with the staging of various other characters in the show being present throughout, this song in particular pulled on the heartstrings.
They were not the only couple to win over hearts – Boncey and Young’s ‘I’ll Cover You’ was faultless at showcasing the adoration Angel and Collin have for each other and it was heartwarming to witness such a beautiful display of affection and moving performance of such an iconic musical number.
Usually, Rent is made up of a small cast; BATS have extended the cast – presumably to get as many people involved in the show as possible. Whilst this is not traditional for Rent, for this production it works well as it amplified that feeling of community and togetherness, and gave everyone a moment to shine. The soloists in ‘Season of Love’ (April Fost, Jade Hollingshead, Benedict Kennedy, Eronwy Selwyn, Chloe Watts) really took their moment and showed off what they could do. Furthermore, I have to mention that the subtle occasional inclusion of sign language within ‘Seasons of Love’ made my heart very happy to see.
Rent is weird (‘Over The Moon’, I’m looking at you), chaotic and at times messy. But that’s what makes it what it is. Whilst the production wouldn’t mind some polishing, this does not make it any less enjoyable. There’s something in the fact that all these years later, Rent is still being performed and loved by people of all ages and upbringings and walks of life. I would say it’s damn near impossible to sit there watching this incredibly hardworking and devoted company pour their hearts and soul into the show, out there on the stage for all to see and not feel anything. They are all marvels and have created something really special here.
Rent could not be more relevant a musical, with the ever-present themes of community, living for every day, love, hope and so much more. The company of BATS as a whole should be proud of what they’ve accomplished with their production of this musical and for bringing these themes to the show so skillfully. By the end of the Finale, there was not a dry eye in the house – and rightly so. The ability to both warm and break hearts at the same time is not one everyone possesses, but clearly this company does. Rent requires a level of maturity to stage it at all, let alone do it right, but BATS have done it, with understanding, compassion and real sensitivity. For a few hours, they succeeded in making the world outside fade away and I was lost in this beautiful story, beautifully told.
Leyla Demirel
One Show at a Time
