Local Theatre
Group Reimagines Rent As Nineteenth Century Opera
by Maury Levine
A local
theatre group in Atlanta has made the "bold
and artistically courageous'" decision to
reimagine Rent as a nineteenth century opera.
Fathom Montague, Executive Artistic Director of
Peachtree Community Theatre Playhouse, explained,
"Rent is a beloved jewel in the world of
musical theatre. After thirty years, we thought
that the jewel could use a little polishing."
"We've presented Rent here four times over
the past seven years," Montague continued.
"Inexplicably, attendence has dropped with
each subsequent staging. Clearly audiences love
Rent, but the diminishing attendence tells me
that they want to see it in a new iteration."
"As I watched the world participate in the
Nineteenth Century Opera Challenge on TikTok, I
realized that I had found the path forward for
Rent. We will remove the late twentieth century
trappings of synth rock and out of tune guitars,"
Montague said. "In order to move Rent
forward, we must move it back to the opulent days
of nineteenth century France."
"I majored in Operatic Studies at Juilliard.
I've always been passionate about opera,"
Montague continued. "After recently
conducting extensive research on nineteenth
century opera, I became reacquainted with the
greatness of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville,
Verdi’s Nabucco, and Wagner’s Das
Rheingold. Those timeless works will shape our
new vision for Rent."
"I've been writing the new book, music, and
lyrics for Rent. Audiences will be refreshed and
enthralled by my take on the piece,"
Montague explained. "Here's the new synopsis:
Mark and Roger are struggling barbers and singers.
The story opens outside their barbershop as they
make plans to woo their respective love interests,
Angel and Maureen. The ladies are the popular
comic duo Deux Frenchies, but what they really
want to do is sing. In classic opera buffa
tradition, the four would-be star-crossed lovers
frantically run through the twenty squeaky doors
of the merchants near the barbershop. As the
chase ensues, the four sing the show stopping You
Okay, Frenchies?"
"After hearing the raucous song, Mark and
Roger's landlord, Benny, appears on the
barbershop's roof," Montague continued.
"Angry after hearing their loud singing, he
proceeds to throw rock-filled berets at the four
would-be star-crossed lovers. After climbing off
of the roof, Benny chases them through the aisles
of the theatre, which will be a real hoot! Benny
will then sing a rousing waltz called One Song
Beret."
"Next, we take a peek inside one of Angel
and Maureen's hilarious Duo Frenchie comedy
routines as they perform the hilarious Stomp-inspired
extravaganza Light My Baguettes," Montague
said. "Their drum sticks will be freshly
prepared baguettes! At the end of the routine,
their final and largest baguette drum sticks will
be set ablaze! The show-used baguettes will be
sliced into bite sized morsels and available for
sale during intermission!"
"We next learn that the local opera house is
in financial peril. Building owner Benny has been
continuously raising the rent to pay for his
eclair addiction. There's only enough money for
the opera house to operate for one more month, so
opera executive director Tom decides to write a
new opera as a fundraiser," Montague
explained. "At the casting call for singers
to perform in the opera, Tom laments the lack of
talent among the townspeople. Frustrated at the
small number of people auditioning for the show,
Tom changes costumes fifteen times as he plays
all roles in the opera. Audiences will be tapping
their toes to his hilarious song - Seasons of
Opera."
"After learning of Tom's unsuccessful
auditions, Mark, Roger, Angel, and Maureen, all
show up at the opera house to audition for Tom.
Because it's a blind audition, Tom doesn't
realize that he's hearing the voices of the four
would-be star-crossed lovers," Montague
continued. "After the individual auditions,
Tom blindly pairs Mark with Angel and Roger with
Maureen as they all sing the show stopping ballad
I'll Lover You. Realizing he's found the perfect
leads, Tom announces that the new opera will open
a week later."
"Finally, or should I say finale, it's
opening night! The town is abuzz for the new
opera and it's a packed house," Montague
gushed. "The four would-be star-crossed
lovers actually fall in love on opening night and
the new opera proves to be immensely popular!
After only four weeks, enough funds are raised to
save the opera house. In a tribute to the precise
amount of funds raised, the entire company sings
the triumphant polka Five Hundred Twenty Five
Thousand Six Hundred Dollars."
"And - do you know the name of the opera
that they perform?" Montague asked. "It's
called Les Rent! And that's what our new version
of Rent will be called ! It's a show about
producing a show! Theatre audiences love meta
references!"
Not one to rest on his laurels, Montague already
has his theatre's next journey in his sights.
"After Les Rent, we'll be putting a new coat
of paint on another classic," he explained.
"We'll be taking My Fair Lady and removing
all the songs. We'll be stripping it down to it's
bare bones. It will be called My Poor Language."
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