Viva La Vie Boheme!

Source: Rent: Live (2019) (imdb.com)

Not how I was expecting to spend my Sunday afternoon.....

6 months after it aired, I finally had the chance to watch Rent Live in full (or at least found something that worked in the UK which wasn't bits posted on YouTube).
When it aired, it actually sparked a huge debate over the future of live TV musicals; not just that it was one of, if not THE lowest rating ones in a while, but that most of it wasn't even live!

The night before, Brenin Hunt, who was playing guitarist Rodger Davis, broke his foot and was unable to perform. Of course, at the time, the main thing was hoping that he would get well soon - and they couldn't postpone the show when everyone worked so hard on it - but there was a lot of controversy about the decision to put out a pre-recorded version of the show. Should that have happened? Should an understudy have taken over instead to keep the "live" authenticity?

Anywho, let's stay away from that for now, and focus on what was actually broadcast.

I have talked about Rent before, so I'm not going to go into the story, and will just be commenting on this version too.
With it being a dress rehearsal run rather than the real thing, it seemed like the majority of the cast were holding something back, saving it for the "live". However, having said that, there are 3 people I would like to mention, as they were brilliant even then: and oddly enough, all 3 of these have done "live" musicals before.

They are Brandon Victor Dixon as Collins, Jordan Fisher as Mark, and Vanessa Hudgens as Maureen (ironic as her Mimi some years ago was not considered her best...). Victor Dixon was Judas in NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar: Live in Concert, whilst Fisher and Hudgens were Doody and Rizzo respectfully in Fox's last "live broadcast", Grease: Live.
Their moments are definitely worth checking out, from Fisher making Mark 100% his own, Hudgens letting loose in Over The Moon and Victor Dixon ripping your heart out in I'll Cover You (Reprise). Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman) is also always worth a watch, with a cameo as the Seasons Of Love soloist/support group leader - sadly it was clear that the others were not at the same standard as those 3/4.

Rent Live is unfortunately one of the weaker "live" musicals; like Hairspray Live, you can tell its trying but it doesn't quite pull it off. The audience were off putting, it was toned down a bit too much for me (with it being aired before the watershed) and it just felt a lot weaker than it should be. Being a rehearsal rather than the real thing as well wouldn't have made too much, if any, of a difference.

I would stick to watching just a few bits on YouTube. You're not really missing out if you decide to not watch it all the way through.