Rent Live: You'll See / Voice Mail #2 / Tango Maureen

638 words

5 minute read

Tune Up #1 / Voice Mail #1 / Tune Up #2 / Rent / Tune Up #3 / You Okay, Honey? / One Song Glory / Light My Candle / Today 4 U

You'll See - We see Benny’s back again, yelling at a person experiencing homelessness to stop leaning on his car.  Mark points out that Benny’s attitude toward the homeless is exactly what Maureen is protesting tonight.  Benny counters that Maureen is protesting losing her performance space.

Mark wonders what’s happened to Benny’s heart and the ideals he used to pursue.  Benny insists he still needs the back-rent, and Roger says he’s wasting his time because they’re broke and Benny broke his word.

Benny informs them that if they can convince Maureen to cancel her protest, they won’t owe him back-rent after all.  This is when Benny shows Mark and Roger his plans for the studio he wants to build. (But he’s going to wipe out an entire tent city in the process.)  According to Benny, it will be worth it...

Finally, Benny leaves and Collins reminds them that he and Angel have a support group meeting to go to.  They try to invite Roger, but Roger tells them to “let it be, boys.”

Our favorite aspect of this was Mario’s amazing vocals as Benny.  Plus, Mario made Benny likeable and not just a jerk.  We also loved Collins and Angel flirting with each other.  So cute. The relationships between those present were obvious and believable.

Voice Mail #2 - Joanne’s parents call her and leave a message, about her mom’s upcoming confirmation hearing.  It’s clear, in the message, that Joanne’s parents have very specific expectations for her - they don’t want her there with her girlfriend.  It even extends to them telling her how to be dressed.  

It made us really sad for Joanne.  Her parents want her there, but only if she appears in a certain context.  (It’s also clear from the beginning, that the majority of this friend-group are estranged from their parents for one reason or another…)

Tango: Maureen - Next, we see that Mark’s made it over to Maureen’s performance space to help her with the sound equipment.  Maureen (Mark’s ex) isn’t there, but Joanne (Maureen’s current girlfriend) is.  

Joanne tells Mark that she told Maureen not to call Mark, but she had anyway.  Mark confirms this is like her.  And asks, “but can I help since I’m here?”  Joanne says she’s hired an engineer, but she’s three hours late.  So, Mark gets to work on the sound equipment.

Making no secret of her distaste for dealing with broken equipment and freezing and being with her girlfriend’s ex.  Mark says it all sounds very familiar to him - that it’s called the Tango Maureen.

[Jordan Fisher as Mark, "Has she ever pouted her lips and called you 'Pookie?']

They tango together as Mark cautions Joanne in her relationship with Maureen and asks if Maureen is acting a certain way or using certain pet names.  It’s through this process that Joanne realizes that Maureen’s cheating on her.  Mark fixes the microphones and then tells Joanne that “I feel great now!”  Joanne says she feels “lousy.”

Historically, this has not been a favorite number of ours, but honestly, seeing it performed by Jordan and Kiersey here?  It’s amazing.  Their comic timing was everything, and Kiersey’s dryness was perfect - the push and pull of the dance was great and interesting to watch.  We love seeing the innate respect each character has for each other, regardless of who’s dating who.  (Mark is still offering to help his ex’s girlfriend…) and not only that, but cautions her in her relationship with Maureen.  Which is overstepping a bit in a sense, but seems somehow sweet and thoughtful at the same time.

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