RENT

An absolutely cracking musical beased in 80's/90's New York, influenced by the opera La Boheme. Defined as a "Rock Opera", the guitar riffs are addictively catchy and the lyrics are inspiring. From tearjearking scenes to laughter, passion and inspiration, RENT is a rollercoaster ride of emotions and you will, guaranteed, want to watch it again. It takes you through stuggles of life without money, AIDS and the fear of tomorrow; hope, life, living for the moment and acting without regret. There are currently 3 versions of it - Film, USA Broadway and UK West End. If you have any sense, you will only go to see the Broadway version, as the West End producers have totally destroyed the music in some of the songs, especially "Out Tonight", which changes from a driving, fastpop/rock song to a badly composed, sleazy jazz rendition at about half the original speed. Whilst the film version is good, it misses out some of the songs to shorten it, plays with the order of things, and is obviously not sung throughout as it would scare newbies to musicals. Overall; bollocks to the West End, jump on a plane and go see it on Broadway. Oh, and buy the DVD to give you a general gist if you've never seen it, before you jump on that plane. You wont regret it.