It takes a great deal of talent and perseverance to modernize a play or musical without it seeming tacky, which is why Johnathan Larsons adaptation of the 19th century opera La Bohème is something of a wonder. The classic story of a group of impoverished bohemians struggling to create art and find love in a society slowly turning against their lifestyle found a new importance in the zeitgeist of 90s New York, and has since gone on to become one of the most awarded and critically-acclaimed musicals in history. Rent first premiered on Broadway in 1996 with the film being released in 2005 and belongs to the same Culture War that created Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Rent does not contain any of the gore or graphic images of previous entries discounting the often racy song Contact - but instead finds its place in this article through its unflinching portrayal of modern relationships and the realities faced by sufferers of HIV/AIDS. With four of the main characters suffering from HIV/AIDS as a result of sex or drug use, the knowledge of death hangs over the entire cast, and as the story progresses, many of the characters are forced to acknowledge their fear at the potential loss of their own lives or their loved ones. Set against a backdrop of an economically failing city on the edge of a riot, this musical takes grief, disease, drug addiction, infidelity, suicide and death, and structures them into one of the most heartbreaking musicals of the modern era. It has had a significant effect on the pop culture consciousness, being referenced in a variety of media, including mentions in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and an infamous parody in the film Team America: World Police.
A writer, actor, teacher and musician from New South Wales, Australia. His first play/musical "Hipster Apocalypse: A Zombie Cabaret" will be hitting the stage in Wollongong, Australia later this year. If you have any questions or just want to chat, you can contact Bradley on Facebook, Twitter and Google+
