Review: "Rent" by GetUp Stage Company

Naugatuck CT

14 August, 2021

9:12 PM

Description

New Britain - The GetUp Stage Company presents "Rent" this weekend on the stage at Trinity on Main in New Britain. Director Lindsey Dipietro names "Rent" as the show that started it all for GUSCO. In 2010, the company presented the "school edition" of the musical by Jonathan Larson at a little church in Bristol. The director had hoped to do "Rent" in 2020 to celebrate the group's tenth anniversary, but rights were denied to them for the past two years because of national tours. Tina Johnson was part of that "Baby Rent" performance, a little firecracker who sang the "Seasons of Love" solo. The young actress wanted so badly to be part of an anniversary production, but at the age of 27, she lost a long battle with brain cancer this spring. A portion of each ticket to this year's show is being donated to The Dana Farber Cancer Institute in loving memory of Tina Johnson (GUSCO 2010, 2011, 2012) and a video tribute to her is shared at the curtain call. Nick Sanford is the onstage music director of the performance and Belle Pons serves as both stage manager and choreographer. The small band, seated at the back of the stage, made the beloved score sound amazing. I thought that the look and sound of this version of "Rent" was adult enough without heading into potentially embarrassing territory for the many teens in the cast. In the role of film maker Mark Cohen, Weston Pytel of Meriden makes his GUSCO debut and wow, what a performance he gives. Pytel is studying at Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. Jordan Cyr ("Spring Awakening" with GUSCO, "A Chorus Line" with Landmark) makes the most of every moment in his portrayal of the nurturing Angel in his fourth GUSCO show. Cyr is a graduate of Greater Hartford Academy of Arts and is heading to The Hartt School in the fall. Cayden Descoutures, currently attending The Greater Hartford Academy, does very well with the role of the tortured musician Roger. Also a student at this academy is Kaydin Younger, who plays Benny. Kristi Yurko shines in the role of the sexy Maureen and rising high school senior Lauren Wiedenmann sings powerfully as her latest partner Joanne in her GUSCO debut. Teagan LaShay, a NVCC graduate now continuing her education at WCSU, is one to watch. She tackles the role of Mimi with just the right amount of well, everything. WCSU student Marcel Paige is also very convincing in the role of Tom Collins. Ariana LoCascio ("The Radium Girls: A Jaw Dropping Musical at WCSU) plays a coat vendor and sings the "Seasons of Love" 2nd Solo #1. The leading players rose to the challenge of appearing older, and the ensemble members who all stepped up to play supporting roles and/or soloists should be congratulated on their fine performances. It was a treat for me to see Claire Roberts on the stage again in her GUSCO debut and she did a wonderful solo in the "I'll Cover You" reprise in the second act. Ms. Roberts is an alum of Naugatuck Teen Theater and Blessed Sacrament Children's Theater and is already a rising high school junior. "Rent" closes on Sunday at 5:00pm at Trinity on Main. Tickets are $23 to see this very well-rehearsed cast in action.