Reviews Are In!

While there are still some reviews to be published, here are some of our favourite quotes from the ones that have been already:

From Colin Thomas of the Georgia Straight:

“Rent is full of infectious enthusiasm”

“Director Ryan Mooney has cast some tremendous talent.” 

“Anton Lipovetsky delivered a performance of charismatic enthusiasm and DeCarlo seductively filled in Roger’s moody rock-star contours. Both singers execute their roles’ vocal pyrotechnics with admirable ease.”

“As Joanne, Jenn Suratos combines a powerful voice and powerful stillness. Jacqueline Breakwell’s Maureen is deliciously sexy, assured, and playful. Joanne and Maureen’s duet, “Take Me as I Am”, is a highlight of this production.”

“Cesar Erba’s falsetto rings pure as Angel”

“Everybody in this cast gives their all. That enthusiasm is infectious and there’s a lot of excellent work here”

From Peter Birnie of the Vancouver Sun:

“Fighting Chance Productions puts up its dukes, comes out swinging and scores a knockout with a raucous Rent that rocks the cramped confines of Presentation House Theatre. The show that started ‘way off Broadway in 1996 before becoming an international hit now returns to its humble roots, feeling far more current and even electric than it has in years.”

“Fighting Chance reaches the right notes in every case. Ryan Mooney directs a stellar cast of young talent, many of the 15 people on stage so good as to beggar belief that their professional credentials are still pretty slim.”

“Nick Fontaine, for example, brings a singing voice of deep, rich resonance to the role of Tom Collins, lending a great basso timbre to such songs as Santa Fe. Fontaine’s solid work as Collins is beautifully counterpointed by Cesar Erba as Tom’s lover Angel, whose shining countenance belies the pain inside this HIV-positive bright light of Manhattan’s Lower East Side.”

“Anton Lipovetsky has all the beans needed to project the eager energy of this bright-eyed videographer”

“Jenn Suratos and Jacqueline Breakwell, as lesbian lovers Joanne and Maureen, offer exactly the right tone to their pairing —Suratos singing with ringing clarity and Breakwell knowing just how to nail the inherent overeager “artistry” of Maureen’s hilariously awful performance piece, Over the Moon.”

“Both Craig DeCarlo as Roger and Christine Quintana as Mimi are fully in command of their character”

From Mark Robins, GayVancouver.net

“The Fighting Chance Productions version currently playing at Presentation House in North Vancouver is so obviously full of passion and great performances that it still manages to rock.”

“Where this production really shined, due in a large part to Director Ryan Mooney, was in eliciting some powerful performances from his actors in the smaller, more intimate numbers.”

“The most pleasant surprise during the evening was Nick Fontaine’s voice as one certainly did not expect such a full and almost blues-like sound to come from this young man and indeed his I’ll Cover You Reprise almost had me searching for my tissues.”

“Other highlights included the Lipovetsky and Suratos duet Tango Maureen and Breakwell’s hilarious turn as performance artist in Over The Moon.”

“The full company nails both of the more memorable tunes from the show: La Vie Bohème and Seasons of Love and special mention must go to Cathy Wilmot for both her overall ensemble work and her Seasons of Love solo”

From Matt DiMera, VanMusicals.com

“Trying to pick the high point of the show is near-impossible, as there are so many from which to choose.”

“Jacqueline Breakwell’s Maureen is fiery hot and oozes sex appeal. My theatre companion was completely and utterly enamoured with her. Jenn Suratos as Maureen’s current girlfriend is a great foil to Maureen’s ex-boyfriend Mark in “Tango Maureen.””

“Anton Lipovetsky is boyish and likeable as Mark and Kholby Wardell drips attitude as Mark’s yuppified ex-roommate Benny.”

“Craig DeCarlo as Roger has a voice made for rock and easily powers through his multiple numbers.”

“Nick Fontaine’s Tom Collins and Cesar Erba’s Angel are an adorable couple, and their voices are perfectly complementary in “I’ll Cover You.”

“Ryan Mooney and Fighting Chance Productions are persistently making a name for themselves as real contenders in local theatre and Rent will only further that cause.”

From Mark Robins, GayVancouver.net

“So obviously full of passion and great performances that it still manages to rock.”

“Where this production really shined, due in a large part to Director Ryan Mooney, was in eliciting some powerful performances from his actors in the smaller, more intimate numbers.”

“The most pleasant surprise during the evening was Nick Fontaine’s voice as one certainly did not expect such a full and almost blues-like sound to come from this young man and indeed his I’ll Cover You Reprise almost had me searching for my tissues.”

“Highlights included the Lipovetsky and Suratos duet Tango Maureen and Breakwell’s hilarious turn as performance artist in Over The Moon.”

“The full company nails both of the more memorable tunes from the show: La Vie Bohème and Seasons of Love and special mention must go to Cathy Wilmot for both her overall ensemble work and her Seasons of Love solo”

“One of Vancouver’s most accomplished actors said during an intermission discussion it is simply enough to see groups like Fighting Chance Productions take chances and tackle a show like Rent.  With theatre in Vancouver during the summer almost non-existent, coupled with the relatively small ticket price, the trip across the bridge is worth it.”

From John Jane, reviewvancouver.org

“Overall, the undertaking is successful mainly due to the quirky and charmingly nebbish performance of Anton Lipovetsky as Mark who steered the show through his central narrative role.”

“The biggest surprise of the night (at least to me) was Christine Quintana. Ms Quintana takes on what is arguably the toughest role and is emphatically feline as the drug-addled exotic dancer Mimi Marquez. In the raunchy strip bar scene, her rendition of “Out Tonight” makes one of show’s songs – unforgettable.”

“Other performers worthy of special mention are Cesar Erba as Angel Dumott the flamboyant transsexual with a big heart and Nick Fontaine as Angel’s love interest (the unimaginatively named) Tom Collins. Their duet “I’ll Cover You” (I’ll be your lover) re-vitalized things on stage just when it was needed.”

“The mercurial Maureen (Jacqueline Breakwell) and her lesbian partner, the complicated and temperamental Joanne (Jenn Suratos) share the most dynamic and emotionally charged relationship. The pair really sizzle n’ fizzle with their passionate sparring in the second act song “Take Me or Leave Me.”

“Mimi Abraham and Tracey Lynn Chernaske’s deliberately austere set fits perfectly with the gloomy plight of Rent’s characters. The combined efforts of Christine Quintana, Jacqueline Breakwell and Rielle Braid taking on the additional responsibility of the production’s clothing proffered both imagination and flair”

From Mercedes Grant, The Vancouver Observer

“From the vibrant opening number of the first song, called simply “Rent,” it is apparent that this cast of performers are eager, excited, nervous and quite obviously, talented.”

“With such a varied group of performers, from the husky, intense voice of Craig DeCarlo (Roger Davis), to Cesar Erba’s confidently flamboyant Angel Dumott Schunard and the irrepressible Jacqueline Breakwell as the passionate and exasperating Maureen Johnson, one can only imagine the fun these folks have been having rehearsing and toiling for Rent.”

“The musical talent is multi-dimensional both in the range of the performers voices and in the sound of the Rent House Band, led by Musical Director, Sarah Jaysmith.”  

“The sound resonates throughout the theatre, accompanying Jenn Suratos suffering-for-love lawyer, Joanne Jefferson and Anton Lipovetsky’s spirited filmmaker Mark Cohen, in the fantastic number, “Tango Maureen,” all the way through Christine Quintana’s sensual introduction to Roger Davis as exotic dancer and AIDS infected Mimi Marquez in “Light My Candle.”

“Cathy Wilmot, who plays a number of different characters, shines in each role with a voice that will knock you off your feet and Kholby Wardell is convincingly slick in his suit as Benjamin Coffin III.”

“The atmosphere is achieved by uncomplicated lighting and set pieces with the help of Graham Ockley, Mimi Abraham and Tracy Lynn Chernaske, with the performers kitted out in costume styling by a few of the multi-talented cast ladies.”

“While the entire cast is strongly suited to each role, you can still feel the nervous excitement of a group of actors on the verge of breaking through. Each performer becomes stronger and progressively more comfortable with his or her voice as the storyline progresses, leading to a jubilant and thrilling finale. For the characters of Rent there may be “No Day but Today,” but for the performers, the future is looking awfully bright.”

Advertisement