True musical theatre fans all have their favourite musical. For me, it’s Jonathan Larson’s RENT. One of the main reasons for this, surely, is because of the cast I first saw perform it. That would be the original Australian cast, with Rodger Corser, Justin Smith and Christine Anu as Roger, Mark and Mimi.
As someone who crossed interstate lines to see this latest production by Opera Australia and LPD Productions, it was a thrill to spot the first two aforementioned stars in the foyer at the opening night pre-show drinks.
What was to follow, after closing bows, was a surprise mini, on-stage reunion which saw members of the original Australian cast and creatives join the current cast to perform an encore version of Seasons of Love. (A full list of who was there can be found at the end of this review.)
For anyone else who was around to catch the original production in the ‘90s, they’ll remember just how incredible RENT was to witness for the first time. (Think Hadestown but for Gen X-ers.) The internet and mobile phones were very much a new thing, and all the jokes about – and nods to – technology hit so brilliantly. As did the way Larson perfectly captured a generation. The writing, the songs, and the performances were funny, smart, groundbreaking and heartbreaking in equal measure. It was a musical of its time.
While that experience, certainly for me, will never be matched, I’ll always be up for an opportunity to experience RENT performed for a new audience.
I first caught this latest production in January 2024 in Brisbane as part of its national tour. Shaun Rennie reflects in the program that this was his first-ever directing gig and how privileged he has felt to return to it several times over the last ten years. While many of the cast have changed since I last caught the show, some have returned to their roles.
As Maureen, Calista Nelmes delivers a show-stopping Over The Moon that brings the house down. The number, famously a performance within a performance, becomes a masterclass in fearless stage presence and out-of-this-world vocal control. Nelmes has the audience in the palm of her hand, even slipping in a cheeky Trump impersonation that earns big laughs.
It’s little wonder she took home Best Performance in a Musical at the Time Out Arts & Culture Awards last year for this role, edging out Courtney Monsma in Wicked. That this was Nelmes’ Australian musical theatre debut makes her triumph all the more impressive and signals a bright future ahead.
As Mark, Henry Rollo is immediately disarming. He breaks the ice with ease and draws the audience into the story. Grounded and natural, he provides the production with a sense of stability and direction. He also lands some of the show’s sharpest comic moments.
Harry Targett’s Roger carries both grit and vulnerability, his raw intensity heightening the emotional stakes. His duets with Mimi are especially moving, matched by Kristin Paulse’s layered portrayal. She expertly captures both the fragility and the fight of a young woman battling addiction.
The romance between Angel and Collins is as endearing as it is heartbreaking, with Jesse Dutlow and Googoorewon Knox winning hearts from the moment they appear together on stage.
The cast shines brightest in their group numbers, their voices blending into a single, angelic sound that sends chills through the audience. There is a moment in the finale during Mimi and Roger’s scene when, hidden in shadow from the sides of the stage, the group’s delicate harmonies are truly heavenly.
Dann Barber’s set feels pulled straight from the New York streets, anchored by a towering brick wall that shifts with the needs of each scene. Scaffolding, detachable rostra and scattered urban debris keep the space dynamic and fluid.
Ella Butler’s muted, layered costumes ground the show firmly in the ‘90s, while Evan Drill’s sound design matches the energy with a rock-driven punch. At times the score pushes the cast into near-shouting, but the sheer force of the music suits RENT’s rebellious heartbeat.
Almost thirty years on, RENT still pulses with urgency, joy and heartbreak. This latest production reminds us why Jonathan Larson’s work endures: its honesty, its humour, its humanity, and above all, its music. For longtime fans, it’s a chance to revisit an old friend. For newcomers, it’s a powerful introduction to a show that continues to inspire. Either way, the message is the same as it ever was: no day but today.
RENT runs to 1 November at the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney.
Tickets: https://opera.org.au/productions/rent-sydney/
Website: https://rentmusical.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/rentmusicalau/
Photo credits: Neil Bennett
List of original Australian cast who appeared onstage to sing Seasons of Love:
Rodger Corser – Roger
Justin Smith – Mark
Michelle Smith – Maureen
Genevieve Davis – Joanne
Prinnie Stevens – Ensemble
Peter Murphy – Ensemble
Troy Woodcroft – Ensemble
They appeared alongside the original Australian musical director John Maher and resident director Warren Coleman.
