Rent

How do you measure? We’re given five stars to award in these reviews and at times five seems so hopeful, such a tall order. Then at other times they seem so few. Last night at The Old Market they were too few. BRICTT (Brighton Institute for Contemporary Theatre Training) is a fairly new organisation and last night they certainly proved their worth.

Rent is 20 years old and this revival is a timely reminder of how poignant it was and in part still is. A reworking of La Boheme, with a few stylishly plucked phrases from the Puccini, it is the conflict of poor artists against the oppression of commercialisation, poverty and AIDS. Yes it is set in a bleak world of deprivation and illness and prejudice – but from that it finds a way to celebrate a struggle for survival.

This cast of young performers, mainly without professional experience, deliver it with remarkable skill and energy and apart from some technical sound problems this is as good as any professional production of the show that I have ever seen.

Mykal Rand, who performed in the original West End production, has directed and also plays the part of Tom Collins. He brings to the whole a professionalism that one might not have expected and also a raw energy that is captivating too. That rawness works at almost every point although at times in the ensemble pieces it does become somewhat muddy in terms of vocal performance and could perhaps be pulled back to the benefit of both the melody and the lyric. His personal performance is faultless and what a voice!

Archie Crane plays Roger with a real sense of tragedy, a broken soul with a golden voice. Edd Berridge delivers geeky survivor Mark with confidence and skill, he is utterly believable in the role. Inti Conde has a stunning voice that adds a sinister edge to his role as the exploiting yuppy Benjamin and Lara Sweeney’s Mimi is brittle, sluttish and fascinating and she gives the part real depth. Charlotte Parvin’s Maureen is a firecracker performance of raunchy precision and Joanne Jefferson gives it back as Lucia. Finally but not least, Ethan Creek who gives the role of Angel a confidence and vulnerability that one might not expect from someone so young. His part is fabulously realised, a balance of restraint and outrageous camp that makes him so believable, the role is the linking thread of hope throughout the work and Ethan makes it really come to life and ultimately to death.

The whole company are excellent, well drilled, driven and committed and I will certainly be there to see what they do next. As for those stars… well by now that should be obvious. The stage is full of future stars!

BRICTT at The Old Market

29 November

Andrew Kay

5 stars