RENT IN CONCERT (UK Tour) Review February 2014

When you consider concert staging of musicals, you come to expect a reduced version of the original full-scale production, usually commemorating an anniversary and often for a similar (and of course, more expensive) price bracket. Les Misérables have done it twice – at the Royal Albert Hall and the O2 Arena for their 10th and 25th anniversary and have done so on a very grand and elaborate scale. For other musicals however, even outstanding performances can perhaps leave you a little underwhelmed with lack of action or set. Rent lends itself particularly well to the genre, as there was never much there to begin with… Traditionally performed with very little in the way of set, this concert production very much keeps the feel of an original production.

This is the 20th Anniversary celebration of Rent, which opened on Broadway in 1996… the initial reading and workshop versions of which came in 1993 and 1994 – hence the anniversary now as opposed to 2016. Date logistics aside, any reason to riff up the incredible score by Jonathan Larson is valid. We should probably expect another tour in 2016 and judging by audience reaction it would be welcomed back with open arms… and plenty of tissues.

Kerry Ellis as Mimi

Emotion was rife, both on stage and off as an incredible cast came together to do the piece true justice. Headlining the cast, Kerry Ellis stars as Mimi. With previous roles including Meat in We Will Rock You, Elphaba in Wicked and Nancy in Oliver, Ellis is used to playing the gutsy and feisty female. Exploring the playful side of Mimi early on and later the frail, Ellis takes us on a believable journey and it's nice to see her ability to perform a much less glamorous role.

Ian Stroughair as Angel

Mykal Rand is a sensation as Collins, his I’ll Cover You reprise brings the evening to a standstill. Joined by Ian Stroughair as Angel, the pair create a true relationship that leaves the heart aching. Rory Taylor surprises as Roger, the former ITV Superstar contestant excels and his One Song Glory is particularly impressive. There's a sweet connection between Taylor and Ellis in Light My Candle. Paul Ayres makes a great Mark - a character who really just guides the story, but is brought to life with charm.

Rory Taylor as Roger

Joanne (Lisa-Marie Holmes) & Maureen (Ruthie Stephens) are both powerhouses and raise the roof with their playfully fierce Take Me Or Leave Me. The lesser seen of the principals, Kenny Thompson completes the cast as Benny and gives the part enough to leave a strong lasting impression.

Seasons Of Love is one of the reasons you love this show, the opening song of the second act feels like the climax to the show and is later featured appropriately as an encore. It is here where Beth Humphreys and Tim Prottey-Jones get their moment in the spotlight – receiving rapturous reactions to their solos.

There are perhaps slight sound issues, it is almost too rock concert-like at times where music is much louder than vocal but it's hardly concerning. A combination of impeccable casting and a very strong band - in all, this concert version of Rent is a triumph.

Cast List: Kerry Ellis, Ruthie Stephens, Rory Taylor, Paul Ayres, Ian Stroughair, Mykal Rand, Kenny Thompson, Lisa-Marie Holmes, David Hinton-Gale, Beth Humphreys, Tim Prottey-Jones, Joel Harper-Jackson, Kate England

DRESS CIRCLE: The End Of An Era.

"Tell me it's not true, say it's just a story..."

Dress Circle, Monmouth Street, heralded as "The Greatest Showbiz Shop In The World" is exactly that, and news of it's closure is a devastating loss for the West End. The delightful shop has been trading all things theatre for 33 years and was open for years before some of our longest running musicals, Phantom Of The Opera and Les Miserables. It began in 1977 in the lobby of the Drury Lane Hotel, soon moving to Covent Garden market before taking residence on Monmouth Street. For many, losing Dress Circle will be just as big a deal for London as would the closure of Phantom or Les Mis, musicals that have shaped our West End, just as this shop has. 

I just wanted to reflect on what has made Dress Circle a much loved part of London and why it's uniqueness will be sorely missed. 

The downturn in the economy is to blame, tragically, a shop representing our theatre world is just not big enough to compete with giants such as Amazon and the download practicalities of iTunes. It such a shame, it's not what the public want, it's not what the staff want and so sad that it must close. I'd much rather have a signed cast album than an iTunes download any day, it's much more special and personal.  It is something Dress Circle have specialised in and at no extra cost to the RRP.

(Jill Halfpenny, Alex Gaumond, Sheridan Smith and Duncan James at the Legally Blonde cast album signing.) 

Dress Circle has not only been a promotional tool for the big musicals who often hold cast album signings in-store but for raising the profile of up-and-coming musical talent such as Chris Passey and Tim Prottey Jones, both Midlands talent taking London by storm. This is the shop to give their work a home, somewhere to launch it from, somewhere credible. Stuart Matthew Price brought out his solo album and through Dress Circle was able to sell it to customers who were otherwise unaware of it. 

(Chis Passey (front) and Tim Prottey Jones (far right) with Lauren Samuels, Ross Hunter, Stevie Webb, Simon Lipkin, Zoe Rainey, Jeremy Legat and Allyson Ava-Brown) (Photo by Roy Tan)

Dress Circle is also notably famous for it's stock of show merchandise. Where else can you get a Mary Poppins umbrella from the production which closed in 2008? Dress Circle for me came in most useful when Billy Elliot ran out of t-shirts at the theatre, I really wanted one. I went to Dress Circle and there they were - you could always count on that. I also find it useful for buying my Broadway cast recordings that aren't often released in the UK. It's rare stock is something the shop offers unlike anywhere else. A reasonably priced import of the Sister Act Hamburg cast recording? The 1994 Original UK Tour Little Shop Of Horrors cast recording? Priscilla Queen Of The Desert programme from the Milan production? Without a doubt Dress Circle, unlike anyone else, brings theatre all over the world together in London.

(Barry Manilow, a customer since the early 80's,  CD signing in store) (Photo by Roy Tan) 

Having trouble with finding sheet music for auditions? Dress Circle was also the place to go with an extensive catalogue downstairs. Even West End legend Kerry Ellis says " Dress Circle has been a part of my life for many years from way back when I was buying sheet music for my auditions." The Queen Mother would even telephone order her Noël Coward recordings from the store. 

(Mark Evans signing in store) (Photo by Phill Cowndley)

Musically talented or not so, famous or not so, but enthusiastic about theatre the variety of customers (myself included) will undoubtably miss the store, but perhaps the silver lining is that it will live on, online. The internet is not just for porn Trekkie Monster, but for helping Dress Circle survive long after its Covent Garden store closes its doors. I am a regular visitor to the website and purchase all my new cast recordings and albums from there. Dress Circle's postage is second to none, you don't get such a speedy delivery from Amazon without seriously paying! An online store will not be the same, but I do hope that it will continue to offer signed and rare goods that are difficult or impossible to get anywhere else. 

That is just my account, I'm sure everyone has many other stories to be told about their experiences in-store, and you should share them too. 

To owner, Murray Allan, and to all the staff past and present, thank-you for giving us this wonderful store for so long, to Stuart Matthew Price and James Yeoburn for the benefit gala that helped raise awareness of the store.  

Visit www.dresscircle.co.uk and continue your support.