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 Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:29 pm
If you truly belong in this guild you know that RENT was strongly influenced by Giacomo Puccni's opera La Boheme. I've been very interested to learn more about La Boheme latley, so I just went looking and would like to share my findings with you all. Things in red were taken directly from Wikipedia as not to impede on copyright laws, which Jonathan Larson didn't know how to do.
La Boheme
Rodolfo, a poet
Mimì, a seamstress
Marcello, a painter
Schaunard, a musician
Colline, a philosopher
Musetta, a singer
Benoît, their landlord
Alcindoro, a state councillor
RENT
Roger, a songwritter
Mimi, a dancer
Mark, a filmographer
Angel, a musician/drag queen
Collins, a philosiphy teacher
Maureen, a performer
Benny, a skank/landlord
Joanne, a lawyer
and AIDS=teberculosis
Café Momus=Life Café
Act I. In the four bohemians' garret. Marcello is painting while Rodolfo gazes out of the window. As they have no fire, they use the manuscript of Rodolfo's drama for fuel. Colline, the philosopher, enters shivering and disgruntled at not having been able to pawn some books. Schaunard, the musician of the group, arrives with food, wood, wine, and money, and he explains the source of his riches — a job with an English gentleman. Nobody listens, but they fall ravenously upon the food, which is removed by Schaunard, leaving only the wine. While they drink, Benoit, the landlord, arrives to collect the rent. They flatter him and give him wine. In his drunkenness, he recites his amorous adventures, but when he also declares he is married, they thrust him from the room in comic moral indignation. The rent money is divided for a carousal in the Quartier Latin. The other Bohemians go out, but Rodolfo remains alone in order to work. Some one knocks, and Mimì, whose candle has been snuffed out, asks Rodolfo to light it. She departs, but returns in a few minutes, saying she has forgotten her key. Both candles are extinguished; they stumble in the dark, and Rodolfo finds the key, which he pockets. They relate the story of their varied experiences in the two arias. ("Che gelida manina — What a cold little hand"; and "Sì, mi chiamano Mimì — Yes, they call me Mimì.") The waiting friends call Rodolfo impatiently. He wishes to remain at home with Mimì, but she decides to accompany him. Departing they sing of their love. (Duet, Rodolfo and Mimì: "O soave fanciulla — Oh gentle maiden")
Act II. Quartier Latin. A great crowd on the street, sellers praise their wares. (Chorus: "Aranci, datteri! Caldi i marroni — Oranges, dates! Hot chestnuts."). The friends repair to Café Momus. While they eat, Musetta, formerly beloved of Marcello, arrives with her rich government minister admirer Alcindoro. She tries to attract Marcello's attention with a risque song (Song, Musetta: "Quando me'n vo — When I go along"), and succeeds after many efforts. To get rid of Alcindoro, she feigns suffering from a tight shoe and sends him to the shoemaker. During the ensemble, Musetta and Marcello fall into each other's arms and reconcile. The friends wish to pay the bill, but to their consternation find Schaunard's riches gone; the sly Musetta has the entire bill charged to Alcindoro. The police appear, and they rush in all directions. Marcello and Colline carry Musetta out on their arms amid the applause of the spectators. When all have gone, Alcindoro arrives with the shoe seeking Musetta. The waiter hands him the bill, and horror-stricken at the amount he sinks upon a chair.
Act III. At the toll gate. Clothing peddlers come to the city. Mimì, coughing violently, wishes to speak to Marcello, who resides in a little tavern near the barrier where he paints signs for the innkeeper. She tells him of her hard life with Rodolfo, who has abandoned her that night. (Mimì: "O buon Marcello, aiuto! -- Oh, good Marcello, help me!") Marcello tells her that Rodolfo is sleeping at the inn. He has just awakened and is seeking Marcello, and Mimì conceals herself. Rodolfo first claims he left Mimi because of her coquettishness, but finally lets on that he fears she is consumed with a deadly illness and should be comforted by a wealthier suitor. Marcello, out of charity for Mimì, endeavours to silence him, but she has already heard all; she is discovered by her coughing. Marcello joins Musetta, Rodolfo and Mimì are about to separate (Mimì: "Donde lieta uscì -- From here she happily left"), but are finally reconciled. Musetta approaches with Marcello, who is jealous. They depart after a fierce quarrel. (Quartet: Mimì, Rodolfo, Musetta, Marcello: "Addio dolce svegliare alla mattina! -- Goodbye, sweet awakening in the morning!")
Act IV. Back in the garret. Marcello and Rodolfo are seemingly at work, though they are primarily bemoaning the loss of their respective beloveds. (Duet: "O Mimì, tu più non torni" -- O Mimì, will you not return?) Schaunard and Colline arrive with a very frugal dinner. They parody a plentiful banquet, dance and sing. Musetta appears and says that Mimì is back, but she's very weakened by her illness, and all assist the dying girl. Musetta and Marcello depart to sell Musetta's earrings to get money for medicine; while Colline and Schaunard leave to pawn Colline's coat (Colline: "Vecchia zimarra -- Old coat") Mimì and Rodolfo, left alone, recall their past happiness. (Duet, Mimì and Rodolfo: "Sono andati? -- Have they gone?") The others return, and while Musetta prays aloud, Mimi dies. Schaunard checks on Mimì and sadly says that she's dead, Rodolfo is horrified, cries out Mimì's name and starts sobbing.
The similarities make me grin. Now I just really want to see it done live.
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:57 am
Ugh. ROGER. RO-GER. No "d". Christ.
Anyways, I almost got to see it live, but ended up not having the money. To redeem it, the money went towards the RENT 10 Benefit ticket instead...
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:37 am
At least it went to a good cause.
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 6:09 pm
La Bohéme is pretty much my favorite opera. Which is part of why I like RENT so much. 3nodding
Anyone else notice the parallel between Parpignol (the toy seller) and "The Man"? blaugh
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 6:57 am
O_O
Really?
Wow.
I thought it was an orginial idea.
Well, there's another ..Opera?
I need to see.
...
Actually, it'd be my first.
...
I wonder, though.
Is it still running?
Doubtfull...TwT
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:01 pm
I doubt the origonal is still going as most or all of the cast is probably dead but I'd bet all the Gaia gold I have, which right now is 1276, that there are reenactments goinig strong.
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Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:06 pm
Asaj I doubt the origonal is still going as most or all of the cast is probably dead but I'd bet all the Gaia gold I have, which right now is 1276, that there are reenactments goinig strong.
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:46 am
there was a poster for la boheme in my old music room, and i had been seeing it for a year without realising what it was... then i found out about la boheme being the inspiration for rent, and from then on i spent whole music classes just looking at the poster (music was boring...) and one day i walked in, and on the chalkboard was the names of all the main characters from rent next to the names of the la boheme characters they came from. i almost died. and in my spanish room (which is also a french room) there was the plot of la boheme in french, which is how i figured out some of the parrallels of the two plays... it was hard though, as i don't speak french.
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:38 am
I doubt the opera will be showing in the UK, which sucks, because im really interested in it now crying
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:28 pm
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 6:29 pm
THERE"S A BOOK!!!
[runs to book store[looks on amazon]]
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:20 am
my firied's opera thing does La Boheme ever four years. They did it right before RENT came out in theatres, so i didnt get to see it then because i didnt know about it..
... just... three.... more... years....
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 2:47 pm
Where do you live?!
I need the date of the show as soon as you get it.
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:32 pm
So I knew there were similarities but... wow.
Apperently Lawrson really DIDN'T know how to read copy right rules.
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:36 am
I saw La Boheme when it came to my town in November! I was so grateful they put subtitles on a nearby screen! I loved every moment of it, and I loved Colline and Schaunard!
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