Rent: Written From Experience

Jonathan Larson
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In a 1996 article published by the New York Times, music critic Anthony Tommasini reflects on Jonathan Larson’s conception and creation of the Tony Award-winning musical sensation, Rent.

For those who don’t know what Rent is, it is an amazing show about bohemian starving artists in New York who are struggling to keep their heads above water with the underlying conflict of HIV and AIDS. In a moving piece of remembrance, Tommasini reflects on the struggles of this “composer with sad brown eyes.”

The man credited for this piece, Jonathan Larson, didn’t just write this to show the world his work, he wrote this in honor of his friends. So much of Rent is pulled from his own life. Tommasini mentions how he used to throw down his keys to friends who by his apartment to see him, just like Mark does in the show. It was also mentioned that Larson had the experience of watching his friends die from HIV and has even supported a few friends by going with them to life support meetings (the Rent equivalent to meetings at Friends in Deed).

After trying to write a hit show for so long, Tommasini explains how Larson came so close to

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experiencing the greatness that came with Rent, but he never got the chance. Three days before previews started for Rent off-broadway, Larson was feeling some pain and went to the emergency room. He was sent home, the doctors saying that there was nothing they could do. Two days later, Larson continued to not feel well, which resulted in another trip to the ER and another doctor sending him home. The show began previews and Jonathan had started to experience the thrill and excitement of his new hit show.  And just a few hours after his interview with the New York Times about his show, Larson passes due to an aortic aneurysm, causing a minor delay of previews. In this time of sadness, Tommasini discusses how Larson’s friends reflect on how characters and plot points from Rent were pulled from his personal life. One of his friends, Mr. Rosenstein, said, “This was his funeral, and Jonathan had written his own score for it. Listen to this show; Jonathan has prepared us for his death.”

Rent Opening night
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In reading Tommasini’s piece reflecting on Jonathan Larson’s life and his masterpiece, I realize how real the struggle with AIDS and HIV is even today. Luckily today, we have medication that can help to save a person’s life from these diseases, but back then not so much. Even today, I am sure not everyone gets the treatment they need and lose their life to this illness.

I also got a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the musical I love so much. I almost picture Larson himself throwing down his keys and helping his friends who are going through these horrible illnesses. I can now see where Larson came up with Rent, and it makes me love this show even more than I already do.

Tommasini, A. (March 17, 1996). Theather; “The Seven-Year Odyssey That Lead To ‘Rent’”. Retrieved From http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/17/theater/theather-the-seven-year-odyssey-that-led-to-rent.html 



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