Director says issues and lessons in ‘Rent’ remain relevant today

By Chris Brown on May 10, 2019.

NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
Cast from the upcoming musical "Rent" rehearse last month at a downtown church. The musical is being put on by Top Hat Productions and is showing May 16-19 and 21-23.

cbrown@medicinehatnews.com@MHNBrown

When Elaine Jeffery made her final decision on the spring show for Top Hat Productions it came down to two factors: Topics and timeliness.

With subject matter that deals with sexuality, drug use and homelessness, and the recent 20-year anniversary of its Broadway debut, “Rent” was an easy choice. The show runs at the Esplanade from May 16-19 and 21-23. Shows are at 7:30 p.m.

Jeffery said the topics “Rent” covers are all prevalent in society today. She hopes bringing the show to Medicine Hat will make it a little harder for people to sweep uncomfortable issues under the rug.

“I don’t think you deal with things by not talking about them. I think understanding comes from conversation and communication,” she said. “We don’t have to agree with everybody’s lifestyles but to accept people for who they are is going to get us further in this world.”

The rock musical tells the story of struggling artists trying not only to make it but also survive in New York City’s East Village as HIV and AIDS move in to the public’s consciousness. Jeffery said the play is based on the real-life experiences of writer Jonathan Larson.

“He came from a place of hardship and homelessness, he lived all of that and brilliantly put it into a musical,” she said.

Jeffery called the music captivating and powerful said it will emotion out in anyone in the crowd.

“I challenge anybody to go to this show and not be moved by the message of genuinely to take everybody for simply what they are and not judge them,” she said. “You can’t help but realize that despite our current situation of people having such hatred and bigotry … that the people who are hardest done by on life really have so much more acceptance because they take people for who they are.”

Proceeds from the show will go to the Medicine Hat SPCA. Top Hat chooses a charitable organization to receive the proceeds from each production.

For tickets and more information visit tophatproductions.ca. Discretion is advised as “Rent” contains adult themes, coarse language and explicit content.