Reader Reviews
Rent (Prince of Wales Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | I remember this show and it was awesome, the cast rocked, the band rocked, please bring them back - Viv Haughton | 23 Jul 10 |
| I really like "Rent", but this time it was nothing but average. This performance was so loud, I really could not listen without being afraid of damaging my hearing abilities for good. As to the cast: Good (except for Caprice) but definitely not as fabulous as the first production in London I saw about five years ago. Frankly speaking, I was a bit disappointed. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (80.145.91.202) | 05 Mar 03 |
| Saw the show last night for the 6th time, but the first time without Debbie Kurup as Mimi. Krysten Cummings, her alternate, is also stunning although doesn't appear to have the same ease with Damien and her other co-stars but I think this will come with time. Caprice is still appalling, and having Jane Doyle who played Maureen last year sitting behind me made it even harder to put up with, I just wanted to force Jane on stage instead! Wendy-mae and Mykal were the best I've ever seen them, and Damien was on fine form especially considering he's had a few days off for illness this week. I'm already planning to go another few times, and I think you should do the same! You can't fail to be touched by this show if you have a heart, and it's messages are all the more poignant because tomorrow is simultaneously Rent's 7th birthday and the 7th anniversary of Jonathan Larson's(Rent's Creator) death. *No day but today* - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.98.83.143) | 24 Jan 03 |
| The gorgeous guys and girls at Rent all deserve awards...well, all the genuinely talented young theatre performers do (this does not include one blonde, bimbo model). Debbie and Damien have the best onstage relationship I've seen for a long time, and Dougal Irvine's Mark is refreshingly different (in other words, a lot better) than Adam Rickitt's last year. Everybody rush to Rent! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.98.83.131) | 10 Jan 03 |
| go celebrate. this show is amazing. powerful, alive and kicking. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (193.16.163.158) | 06 Jan 03 |
| there is a theatre god - or caprice heard me - I went to the 5.00 performance on friday 3rd january and she was not performing thank god, mimi's understudy 'krysten cummings' had taken her part, I assume she is the understudy swing! she was very good and the whole cast were very good too. Exceptional performances from Mimi, Angel and Collins and the best Mark I've seen yet, Roger is just a hunk! The theatre wasn't very full but then it was the 5.00 clock performance, it took the cast a while to get going and we who were there gave them lots of applause and it just got better and better - I had to giggle when, in the second half when they're in the street they have a newsvendor rack and the magazine at the bottom had caprice on the cover - now do they put this out when she's in the show or is the the cast's joke when she's not there?!?!?! I just keep hearing more horror stories as time goes on and that woman just shouldn't be allowed to perform.... - USER: Whatsonstage.com (80.193.222.20) | 04 Jan 03 |
| The best Rent I've ever seen. Every cast well creats own character, and there are some of original direction. (Compareing with NY RENT) I LOVE it. THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY POWERFUL. Dougal is talented. Keep it up!!!!! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (218.139.162.19) | 03 Jan 03 |
| brilliant. best 'rent' cast i've seen for years. the show in itself is amazing already, but this cast just brought the house down. caprice was totally out of place though. they should get someone else. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (217.154.47.70) | 03 Jan 03 |
| Love it. Love it. Love it. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (80.59.66.226) | 31 Dec 02 |
| Esciting, imaginative and amazing! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.93.34.8) | 30 Dec 02 |
| without caprice, it'd be a straight five stars, brilliant cast, superb chemistry between damien & debbie, wendy mae brown - wow, mykal radn the same, dougal&mig both good but not outstanding - caprice obviously miming-unvbelievable they cast her! all in all a thoroughly good show! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (194.8.197.205) | 20 Dec 02 |
| No! the one work is "Excellent" - USER: Whatsonstage.com (149.254.120.136) | 19 Dec 02 |
| First time I'd seen Rent and thoroughly enjoyed it. Wonderful score. Paid particular attention to Caprice because she's come in for such a hammering, but I thought she carried off her role very well, though lacking the vocal power of some of her colleagues. There was certainly no evidence of miming. Keep at it girl!! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.166.17.214) | 19 Dec 02 |
| One word describes this show - "crap" - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.49.186.66) | 18 Dec 02 |
| One word for this " Brilliant" - USER: Whatsonstage.com (149.254.120.136) | 18 Dec 02 |
| Amazing, I saw it on Saturday and was moved by this pwerful piece of theatre. The cast are all extremely talented, (Ifor one didn't hear any click tracks) the band sound amazing, the set was remarkable. Go see it and celebrate. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.93.50.8) | 15 Dec 02 |
| Quite frankly I've been disgusted by some of the things written on here about 'Rent'. To me, it is the most astoundingly wonderful piece of musical theatre in the world. Messages like "No day but today" and "forget regret or life is yours to miss" are ever more necessary as this world is seemingly falling apart. For those of you that hate it, don't judge what you don't understand. This cast is amazing (all bar one and I don't think I need to mention her name!) and in the words of another cast member, you shouldn't have to use sex to sell a show this good. If you haven't seen it, go! And if you have, go again!!!!! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.98.83.21) | 14 Dec 02 |
| IF ONLY they could chuck out Caprice, this would be a 5* show! the rest of the cast is superb, the show itself is a modern american classic. Shame about the cuts they've felt necessary to the act 1 closer- La Vie Boheme. they've cut about 6 lines and changed the order of the verses- why? Caprice is an unmitigated disaster. She can't sing, she certainly can't act, for crying out loud, the woman can't even stand properly- she shuffles her way through the show, hunched over and looking very uncomfortable about performing onstage. GET RID OF HER! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (172.186.133.54) | 14 Dec 02 |
| Saw the show on friday night , was totally moved by it - people may say its dated but then how dated are the other shows which dominate the west end ? Rent may not be that up to date but it is a tremendously powerful piece of musical theatre. Debbie and Wendy Mae both have astounding voices , as does Mykal . Caprice is frankly awful but the rest of the cast make up for this so well that it doesn't matter - USER: Whatsonstage.com (213.1.183.88) | 13 Dec 02 |
| WOW - USER: Whatsonstage.com (149.254.120.136) | 13 Dec 02 |
| Saw it last night, mind blowing, Box of kleenex needed. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (149.254.120.136) | 13 Dec 02 |
| Stale and out dated... This is the most up to date musical on Broadway and the Westend, It tackles the issues of homelessness, gay issues, HIV, how up to date can a musical be. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (149.254.120.136) | 13 Dec 02 |
| Lets just face it - the Prince of Wales is just a jinxed venue .... one dire musical after another ... - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.49.186.66) | 12 Dec 02 |
| Saw it the other night - what a dissapointment! The cast didn't have an ounce of talent between them. Rent has had its day .... it is now stale and out dated and the sooner it departs the West End the better. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.49.186.66) | 12 Dec 02 |
| This show and cast are amazing, Debbie, Damien and Mykal are all fabulous. Newcomer Dougal as Mark is a great find. But unfortunately I had to drop one star for the completely dreadful Caprice. It's worth seeing just for the gob-smacking awful performance she puts on - I can't believe it can be allowed on a West End stage. Seeing is believing - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.255.64.5) | 11 Dec 02 |
| When I first saw Rent during it's first London run, I couldn't understand the hype which had been built up. Now, having seen this production, I know why. It has been transformed by a brilliant Director and an equally brilliant cast. The story line is now clearer, but still needs work, but all is forgiven because the company enjoys the show as much as the audience. I don't know if the voices do justice to the score, or the score does justice to the voices. They are brilliant, especially the big black ones. I was genuinely surprised by the Caprice's versatility. She isn't the best singer because the competition is awesome. She's found her niche, on the musical stage. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.85.7.25) | 11 Dec 02 |
| When I first saw Rent during it's first London run, I couldn't understand the hype which had been built up. Now, having seen this production, I know why. It has been transformed by a brilliant Director and an equally brilliant cast. The story line is now clearer, but still needs work, but all is forgiven because the company enjoys the show as much as the audience. I don't know if the voices do justice to the score, or the score does justice to the voices. They are brilliant, especially the big black ones. I was genuinely surprised by the Caprice's versatility. She isn't the best singer because the competition is awsome. She's found her niche on the musical stage. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.85.7.25) | 11 Dec 02 |
| Excellent show, great to see all the old cast back (Except Adam who to be honest will not be that missed) Please Please Please bring Lucy willaimson or Helen York back as Maureen. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (149.254.120.136) | 11 Dec 02 |
| I was at the Prince of wales last night and as always (Yes I am a rent head) is the best. excellent. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (149.254.120.136) | 11 Dec 02 |
| Errrm something tells me the last 3 reviews were submitted by the same person, either that or these 3 people were in the wrong theatre. Damien flood and Debbie Kurup were fantastic, as was all of the cast. I do however agree with reviews about caprice, but this is still a vibrant, exciting musical which in my opinion is timeless. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (149.254.120.136) | 11 Dec 02 |
| I just cant understand why it has been brought back to the west end - were they really that desperate to fill the Prince of Wales over Christmas? It's so dated now ... hopefully someone will see that and not bring it back again. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.49.186.66) | 11 Dec 02 |
| I agree about Damian Flood - charisma free I would say and it says a lot about a performer when even their click track vocal is terrible.... mentioning no names..... easy to work out though ! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (217.34.10.193) | 11 Dec 02 |
| Awful. Debbie and Damian couldn't act, dance or sing their way out of a paper bag. I'd give this one a wide berth if I were you ... - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.49.186.66) | 11 Dec 02 |
| This is the best musical in the world. Debbie is fab, Damien superb, Mykal wonderful, Wendy georgeous and the rest of the cast bar one (Caprice) excellent. Long May Rent Rule. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (149.254.120.136) | 10 Dec 02 |
