Left: Anthony Rapp as Jewish character Mark Cohen Keren Engelberg Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles NI ore people can afford Rent this month, thanks to Revolution Studios. The production company opened a film version of the Jonathan Larson rock opera this week, directed by Chris Columbus, and starring most of the original Broadway cast. Set against the backdrop of NewYork's East Village in the late 1980s, and based on Puccini's opera La Boheme, Rent tells the story of a group of bohemian artist friends struggling with poverty, heartbreak, drug addiction and AIDS. Perhaps because of its gritty "real" themes and characters, the show has been credited by some with creating a renewed interest in musi- cal theater among younger generations. Rent, co-produced on stage by former Oak Parker Jeffrey Seller, is currently the eighth longest-run- ning show in Broadway history, with a large fan base, affectionately called "Rent-heads:' Missing Piece Notably absent from the film creation is . Larson, himself, who died tragically of an aor- tic aneurysm on the eve of the play's first pre- view. Larson's sister, Julie, is a co-producer on the film, which should help ease fans' minds about the filmmakers' desire to do justice to the show that has won both Pulitzer and Tony awards. Indeed, the film is quite faithful to the staged play. The sound and feel of Broadway's Rent are kept intact, even while the music is given a slightly edgier rock core, and some dialogue lines are spoken in the film rather than sung. Jewish Rent-heads can also rest easy, as the little nods and throwaway lines Larson wrote for Jewish character Mark Cohen are still there, too. Mark still mentions his bar mitzvah and talks about learning to tango with Nanette Himmelfarb, the rabbi's daugh- ter at the Scarsdale Jewish Community Center. The filmmakers also kept the part where Mark's mom calls him on Christmas to wish him a happy holiday. That may sound-strange, but actor Anthony Rapp, who revives his role of Mark from Broadway, explained that Mark's char- acter was drawn from Jewish writer Jonathan Larson's own experience. "I know that Jonathan did celebrate Christmas in their house, but I think they also had a menorah," Rapp said. It seems loyalty to Larson's vision was at the heart of all those involved in creating a film version of Rent. "We're here to serve Jonathan and the play. And we're here to serve all the fans that were touched and moved and saved by the play:' said Tracie Thorns, who plays Joanne in the film. The movie cast of Rent alsb includes Jewish performers Idina Menzel (Tony Award nomi- nated for Rent and a Tony winner for Wicked) and Adam Pascal (also a Tony nominee for Rent) in the roles of Maureen and Roger, respectively. Both created these roles in the original production. ❑ Below: Idina Menzel as Maureen Rent is currently playing in theaters. A n New American Bistro ... endue restaurant W. Big Beaver Road • Troy side City Center Building (248) 362-2221 vvww.meltingpot.corn Classic American Bistro I Live jazz piano Fridays & Saturdays "An omen of flavor & variety—a new hot spot" -Molly Abraham "An imaginative menu of Tapas style dishes" -Hour Magazine Hours : Mon-Thurs 11-10 • Fri 11-11 • Sat 5-11 33316 Grand River Ave. I Downtown Farmington Lower Level I 248.478.2355 Was your mug in the Jewish News? Would you like a copy of the photo or article for framing? You can order reprints of photos and articles that have appeared in any of our publications. For price and size information, call Pam at 248.354.6060 ext. 219 or use the online order form at: www.detroltjewishnews.com/reprints ni November 24 2005 53