Play Review: Rent's 20th Anniversary Tour.
By. Emery W.
Last Sunday, I was extremely fortunate enough to see a Rent: 20th Anniversary Tour show in Dallas. If you read my review of Hamilton then you probably get the picture that I’m a pretty big musical buff, and Rent, written by the late Jonathan Larson happens to be in my top five favorites.
I remember the first time I saw the film adaptation of the play, and instantly fell in love with the story. I spent hours on YouTube searching for videos of live performances, listening to the original cast album, and memorizing the lyrics. It’s also important that I point out that the film adaptation and live musical have a plethora of differences, and my review reflects my thoughts of the stage play, not the movie. It was quite hard for me to push the original casts voices out of my head while watching the 20th Anniversary show, but I managed to do it somehow.
This was the first live musical I’ve ever seen aside from the year my high school’s fine arts department did West Side Story back in 2009. The staging was perfect, and painted the picture of late 80’s, bohemian, New York City. The plot of the musical centers around a group of eight friends, each with different backgrounds and their own personal struggles. I don’t want to give too much away, but it was written for the times (1989-1990) and includes topics of homosexuality, drugs, and HIV/AIDS.
The show opens with Mark, the show’s narrator and resident film maker portrayed by Danny Harris Kornfeld. He brings the character to life impeccably, and is basically the second coming of Anthony Rupp who originated the role. Mark is best friends and the roommate of Roger, former front man of a successful rock band who is a recovering drug addict, and all-around homebody due to some inner demons.
Kaleb Wells, who portrays Roger does an excellent job of exuding the essence of a recovering addict, but personally I was missing the raw, husky rock star voice one comes to expect in a former rock star. But what Wells lacks vocally, he more than makes up for in his emotional acting chops. Every scene he has with his love interest, Mimi (played by Skyler Vope) pulls you in with every word.
Skyler Vope plays a great, 19-year-old Mimi who’s addicted to drugs and Roger. Her voice is unique, and you can feel her emotion in every note. Mimi is best friends with the cross dressing Angel played by David Merino.
Angel may be the most iconic and complex character in the musical, and Merino does him so much justice. He’s exciting, charismatic, and the heart of the group. Angel is in a relationship with Collins, the group’s anarchist and voice of reason. Aaron Harrington is by far, the breakout performer of the entire show. As Collins, his powerful, round baritone voice is booming. The most incredible part is this was Harrington’s first experience on stage.
Both actresses who portray Joanne and Maureen (Jasmine Easler and Katie Lamark, respectively) shined as a couple. Their chemistry on stage is uncanny, and their performance of Take Me or Leave Me rivaled that of Idina Menzel and Fredi Walker who originated the roles.
Of course the supporting ensemble cast members can’t go without recognition. The performance wouldn’t be possible without each of them with standout member Alia Hodge whose solo during Seasons of Love sent chills throughout my body.
All-in-all, there’s never a way to copy an original, and the Broadway cast from 20 years ago will always be the most iconic, but the current touring cast members do not disappoint in bringing Jonathan Larson’s vision to life.
If you have the opportunity arises for you to see this show in your area, I urge you to take in the experience to see the show with a message that has resonated for 20 years, and will continue to for years to come. Jonathan Larson would be proud.
6 Ways to Keep Your Skin Hydrated During the Winter.
by Val N
Hey everyone! Winter is coming and if you’re like me, you probably suffer from dry, chapped skin during the cold season. Kirsten and I have talked about it so many times; we constantly complain about our dry skin and how we can remedy it. Well have no fear! This week’s beauty editorial is to provide you with some tips on how to keep your skin hydrated… even during the winter season so you can look fresh and glowing all year long!
1) Drink Water
This is a no-brainer but the key to staying hydrated is to drink plenty of water, no matter what season it is. Oftentimes, I opt for soda or coffee, which actually dehydrate you. To fix this problem, I bought a water bottle that has marks for 8oz, 16oz, 32oz, etc. I bring that water bottle to work and leave it on my desk so it’s constantly in my sight. And it’s a constant reminder to keep drinking water. There are also apps, such as Waterlogged, that remind you to drink up and help you track your water intake so you can stay hydrated.
2) Exfoliate Once a Week
As contradictory as it sounds, exfoliating once a week helps to keep your skin hydrated. I say once a week because if you overdo it, you’ll end up with even dryer skin or worse… I’ve overdone it before and my skin started breaking out. The point of exfoliating is to get rid of the dry, top layer of your skin and allow newer, fresher skin to reveal itself. I like to use St. Ive’s Apricot Fresh Skin Scrub.
3) Use a Facial Moisturizer
After exfoliating, make sure to apply moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated. Since my skin tends to be dryer during the winter time, I switch to gel based moisturizers. It really helps lock in the moisture compared to cream based moisturizers. One of my favorites is Philosphy’s Take a Deep Breath Oil-Free Oxygenating Gel Cream. For something more affordable, I also like to use Garnier’s SKINACTIVE Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream, which is very lightweight and smells so good!
4) Carry Lotion with You
It’s as important to keep the rest of your body as hydrated as your face. For the last few years, I’ve worked in the restaurant industry as a server. That means I’m constantly washing my hands, which tends to dry my skin out. And it’s worse in the winter time. So over the years, I’ve learned to always carry hand lotion with me and apply it right after I wash my hands. I have a bottle of Yes to Coconuts Protecting Hand & Cuticle Cream on my desk at work and I also keep a tube of the Body Shop’s Wild Argan Oil Hand Cream.
5) Apply Lip Balm
On top of carrying hand cream in my purse, I also make sure to carry lip balm with me. It’s an absolute essential for me throughout the entire year. Sometimes we forget our lips are also considered skin and it’s one of my biggest pet peeves when my lips are chapped and unkissable. My all-time favorite is EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balm in Sweet Mint. It leaves my lips soft, supple, and kissable! It also tastes sweet like mint.
6) Use a Face Spray
This is a bonus tip because I prefer to use a face spray during the summer. But it works just as well in the winter time! During the summer time, I spritz face spray to freshen up and cool off. But during the winter time, you can use face spray to keep your skin hydrated when when it’s feeling dry. My favorite is the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herb, and Rosewater. It’s cheap, portable, and smells just like roses!
Those are 6 tips on how to keep your skin hydrated during the winter time. What are some of your tricks for keeping your skin hydrated? Let us know! Don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.