Constitution Club

Re: La Vie Boheme!

Posted in Culture, Entertainment by E the Wise on May 8th, 2008

DFV is without question the greatest authority on theater that this site has.  Whether the production is a local show put on by a community theater company or a huge Broadway musical, DFV has an acute sense of what is great about a production. And that is why it is surprising that he has always been so wrong about Rent.

Rent is an overhyped story of homosexuality, bisexuality, heterosexuality, drug use, homelessness and urban bohemianism.  The rock opera has some great musical licks and touching themes that shed light on the humanity of those afflicted with AIDS.  Yet it is certainly not the “single most powerful and artistic affirmation of the innate humanity.”

Without question, Les Miserable deals with humanity so much better.  Miss Saigon and Phantom also blow Rent out of the water on that subject (I can hardly fathom a fan of theater believing that Rent deals with humanity better than Phantom).  Furthermore, other artistic renderings that are not stage productions make the themes of Rent look rather self indulgent and overacted.  Schindlers List as a work of art is better than Rent for its affirmation of the innate humanity, for example.

I expect better analysis from the man whose only two posts this past month have been about theater.

7 Responses to 'Re: La Vie Boheme!'

Subscribe to comments with RSS or TrackBack to 'Re: La Vie Boheme!'.

  1. Dave - the Infidel Sage said, on May 8th, 2008 at 9:15 pm

    ha.

  2. DFV the Scribe said, on May 8th, 2008 at 9:37 pm

    I actually have to bite the bullet and agree with Eric on this one. I am greatest authority on theater that this site has.

  3. Andre the Defiant said, on May 8th, 2008 at 10:19 pm

    Phantom? Seriously? Talk about the most over-hyped production by the greatest thetrical hack of the last thirty years. Oh wait, I’m forgetting about Cats.

  4. Andre the Defiant said, on May 8th, 2008 at 11:43 pm

    Here’s to homosexuality, bisexuality, and heterosexuality.

    The Tango Maureen

  5. E the Wise said, on May 9th, 2008 at 7:43 am

    Andre talks about a “theatrical hack” while defending a story that was borrowed from La Boheme. Are you serious?

    I anxiously await his stirring defense of Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice for it’s originality.

    The belief that in the pantheon of the theatrical arts, Rent is the climax, is sophomoric. Calling Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber a theatrical hack is downright childish.

  6. DFV the Scribe said, on May 9th, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    Rent is an overhyped story of homosexuality, bisexuality, heterosexuality, drug use, homelessness and urban bohemianism.

    That sounds like it was written by the Church Lady.

    Other E Musings: Pulp Fiction is a tale of heroin addiction and wanton murder.

    American Gangster is a glorification of drug lords.

    Grease is a celebration of street gangs and youthful immorality.

    Les Miserables glorifies criminals and undermines respect for the law.

    Phantom of the Opera condones stalking and kidnapping.

    The plays E cites have never changed anyone’s views of anything. Rent clearly has. One can prefer the subjective qualities of Phantom or Miss Saigon over Rent, but no one can seriously argue that they even attempt to approach Rent’s social signifigance.

  7. pg - your humble messenger said, on May 9th, 2008 at 4:58 pm

    What about Guys and Dolls, or The Pirates of Penzance? I mean they were relevant or something. Besides I know the words to most of those songs, and none from Rent.

    Hey, if Pulp Fiction was not ‘a tale of heroin addiction and wanton murder’, then just what is it about?

    Whose motorcycle is this? It’s a chopper, baby. Whose chopper is this? Zed’s. Who’s Zed? Zed’s dead, baby, Zed’s dead.

    No hair pulling guys!

Leave a Reply