The Ateneo Blue Repertory is performing their own rendition of Rent, the groundbreaking musical created by the late playwright and composer Jonathan Larson, from April 4-21, 2018. The musical was revolutionary during its first run because it featured a variety of genres like rock, tango, and show tunes. It also tackled issues that were both controversial and uncomfortable to talk about during those times, such as the breakout of aids, sexual orientation, and drug use.
This production is directed by Richard Magno, with musical direction by Abi Sulit and choreography by Franco Ramos. Instead of the typical proscenium setting, the set—designed by Trency Caga-anan—encapsulates most of the theater, with the audience seated around the stage. At times, the actors would go to the audience, giving them a closer look at the action to fully absorb and take in the gritty reality of the story.
The story of the play is as relevant now as it was twenty years ago during its original run. Against today’s tumultuous political landscape, the themes explored in the musical and the problems the characters face are the same ones at the forefront of today’s social issues. “This show survives in the hearts of so many people, not just because of the sheer power of its music, but because people latch on to the different characters that inhabit its world,” shared LJ Galvez who plays Angel Dumott Schunard, a drag queen suffering from aids. He likens the play to an education of sorts—one where the audience truly sees how a person copes when faced with such problems like a life-threatening disease or being homeless.
This is why Galvez was determined to really know his character before performing on stage. He confessed that although he’s been a fan of the musical since childhood, he never really understood his character in essence because the play was conceptualized in a different era. He said, “That research was truly invaluable because the truth was none of us really quite knew the period or setting so well. This was the Ronald Reagan’s America and most of us weren’t even born at the time the main action of the show supposedly happens.”
Galvez thinks audiences might appreciate Angel more as she embodies many of today’s social issues, specifically with ethnic minorities and the LGBTQ community. “I believe the reason why Angel was generally considered such a “groundbreaking” character at the time RENT first opened is that she is a convergence point—an intersection for several sectors that were consistently othered,” he emphasized. “Angel is an HIV-positive queer person of color who doesn’t conform to the gender binary, and expresses herself as a drag queen.”
Although drag queens have found a mainstream presence in the present, when Angel Dumott Schunard was first introduced onstage, they were rarely seen outside the gay nightlife circuit. It was huge for a stage as famous as Broadway to welcome a character that was practically an anomaly in society at the time. Suddenly, people were faced with a character they may have been uncomfortable seeing but had to accept that they exist.
Beyond the representation, Galvez stated that he and the rest of the Repertory want their performance to convey a message of resilience. “This show is about resilience and how to push back when it seems our problems are swallowing us alive, just as the characters’ struggles threatened to swallow them alive. We need it to be able to stand up for ourselves, and for the people around us because injustice is always just around the corner, and we need to fight back.” Within this context, they’re making the stage their own political podium.
The play is currently running in the Rizal Mini Theatre at the Ateneo De Manila University in Quezon City. Their matinee shows are at 2:00 pm while their evening shows are at 8:00 pm. For ticket inquiries, you can contact Dee Catimpo (0917 790 0451) or Adrie Amante (0917 524 0498).
