The 1996 hit musical RENT stars an amazing cast, each with his/her own powerful voice. This musical, Jonathan Larsons first produced show, has become one of the biggest things ever on Broadway. The concept of the show is nothing immaculate. RENT is a musical updating La Boheme and setting it in NYCs East Village on Christmas Eve. In the opera, the Parisians are afflicted with tuberculosis. This plague was modified to todays equivalent of the AIDS virus. This rock musical has a majority of its cast living with, not dying from disease. We start out learning of Roger Davis who is an ex-junkie and a struggling musician. His girlfriend April left a note saying weve got AIDS before slitting her wrists in the bathroom. His main drive is to write one last meaningful song before the virus takes hold. He feels as if his life is a wasted opportunity, since he once had the world at his feet, but now all he has is death in his future.We learn of a man returning to NYC named Tom Collins who struck gold at MIT, but was expelled for [his] theory of actual reality. It frustrates him that his computer age philosophy students would rather watch TV and blames America for these values. Collins falls in love with a transvestite street dancer named Angel Shunard who gets a Band-Aid for his knee, because someone had mugged him. They both have AIDS.To contend with their affliction, they attend life support meetings, which are designed for people coping with life. This group is especially helpful if the participants body provides a comfortable home for the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. It is for those who are determined to live without fear. The groups acclimation is: forget regret, for life is yours to miss.Another way to deal with having your own blood cells betray is drug use. Mimi Marquez is a dancer at The Cat Scratch Club, a junkie who is also infected with the AIDS virus. She holds great priority in feel[ing] good from getting d...
