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RENT - PLOT HOLE?

wafflehouse2005 Profile Photo
wafflehouse2005
#1RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 4:17pm

I saw the off-Broadway production of RENT a few days ago, and although I was really energized by certain aspects of the production, some of the choices made by the creative team really highlighted some of the flaws within the book/score, etc.

One major plot hole (I think) that I caught for the first time during this performance was Mark's response to helping Maureen with her equipment.

Mark and Rodger are in their apartment, Mark asks if Rodger would like to "catch Maureen's show in the lot or grab some dinner", and then departs the apartment - to go where? He can't possibly be going to help with Maureen's equipment, because after One Song Glory, Light My Candle and Today For You, Mark is back in the apartment and now has "a protest to save" and then moves on to Tango Maureen, in which he actually saves it.

Where does Mark go during his original departure before One Song Glory?

Updated On: 2/22/12 at 04:17 PM

themysteriousgrowl Profile Photo
themysteriousgrowl
#2RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 4:44pm


Out for a pack of smokes.

Does it matter?


CHURCH DOOR TOUCAN GAY MARKETING PUPPIES MUSICAL THEATER STAPLES PERIOD OIL BITCHY SNARK HOLES

#2RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 4:46pm

RENT - PLOT HOLE? Yes. It is.

blaxx Profile Photo
blaxx
#3RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 4:51pm

The biggest hole in ReNt is that the characters film, fall in love, get evicted, get beaten up, dance, meet each other, have their first fight, light candles, moan, change into full drag, fix a sound console and a trillion more things in ... 3 hours. They should have gotten an award for time management.


Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
Updated On: 2/22/12 at 04:51 PM

wafflehouse2005 Profile Photo
wafflehouse2005
#4RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 5:09pm

Thanks guys. I'll make sure to answer your questions about broadway credits, **** I've heard in the theatre, or what my opinion is for best play with the same amount of sarcasm and helpfulness that you've given me

Anyone with real thoughts?

Jane2 Profile Photo
Jane2
#5RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 5:13pm

Not being sarcastic, but I don't see why it matters. He went out.


<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

Calvin Profile Photo
Calvin
#6RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 5:19pm

I haven't seen the show in years, but doesn't he go out to look for Collins? Or maybe he was just in the john.

themysteriousgrowl Profile Photo
themysteriousgrowl
#7RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 5:23pm


Okay, maybe my response was a little snarky, but really, I meant it. Why does it matter? As in, why even ask the question? And even if you can justify asking the question, it's certainly not a "plot hole."


CHURCH DOOR TOUCAN GAY MARKETING PUPPIES MUSICAL THEATER STAPLES PERIOD OIL BITCHY SNARK HOLES

Mister Matt Profile Photo
Mister Matt
#8RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 5:33pm

Mark doesn't actually tell Roger where he's going, but he says he'll be back to check up on Roger. Hence, Mark returns and later meets up with Joanne.


"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

exedore
#9RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 6:07pm

I always took it as Mark leaves to go to the lot for Maureen, meets up with Angel and Collins, and goes back with them before heading out again.

Simplest answer so far...

rorschach37
#10RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 6:13pm

In the 2005 movie Mark tells Roger he's going out to look for Collins.

TonyVincent Profile Photo
TonyVincent
#11RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 11:00pm

I always took it as Mark leaves to go to the lot for Maureen, meets up with Angel and Collins, and goes back with them before heading out again.

Simplest answer so far...


That's how I always took it, too.

FindingNamo
#12RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 11:13pm

Blaxx, Larson (or probably more accurately Billy Aronson) based the structure on that of La Boheme. Act One: one day in which impossibly magical things happen. And Two: One year. I think that's about how fast love goes and how fast time goes. Even in hundreds of thousands of minutes.


Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none

blaxx Profile Photo
blaxx
#13RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 11:20pm

Yeah, too bad instead of magical it turned out nonsensical.


Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
Updated On: 2/22/12 at 11:20 PM

darquegk Profile Photo
darquegk
#14RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 11:22pm

Well, chalk that up to being one of the things that the movie definitively DID help fix- expanding Act 1 from being three hours of madly compressed events to a whole week.

Phyllis Rogers Stone
#15RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 11:36pm

I thought that was a terrible change for the movie. All urgency was lost by stretching it over three days

There are a lot of things in ReNt that make no sense. Like Maureen's eulogy for Angel. She knew him a few months but she has that line about the tablecloth dress and how next year they were mass producing them at the Gap.

Fosse76
#16RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 11:38pm

Before One Song Glory, Roger asks Mark where he is going and Mark responds "Maureen calls.". So he is definitely headed to the lot. I assume he runs into Collins and Angel on his way. Keep in mind we aren't actually watching the show in real time. We don't know what amount of time lapses between scenes, or if certain scenes are occurring simultaneously.

blaxx Profile Photo
blaxx
#17RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/22/12 at 11:44pm

Keep in mind we aren't actually watching the show in real time.

We're not?


Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE

Fosse76
#18RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/23/12 at 12:21am

Nope. If it were in real time, we'd be in the theater for 1 year. I think it's enough that it feels like a year.

ActingIsLovee
#19RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/23/12 at 12:35am

if you want something that heightens Rent's plot holes (and a good laugh) read the broadway abridged script for Rent. http://www.broadwayabridged.com/scripts/rent.html

Phantom4ever
#20RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/23/12 at 5:58am

I think one of the most common misconceptions about RENT (which was mentioned in this thread) was how too much happens in too little time. This is simply not accurate because the entire show takes place over one year, from Christmas Eve to Christmas Eve. Act II does a better job of making the passage of time more clear, by mentionthing things like Valentine's Day, the spring season, and the fall season. In Act I, some audiences members may be tempted to think that the show is happening in real time. But that is somewhat of a ludicrous idea. Why is it so hard to believe that During One Song Glory, more than several hours have passed in "real time"?

Mister Matt Profile Photo
Mister Matt
#21RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/23/12 at 9:08am

Rent must be the only musical ever written that doesn't take place in real time. Where more than one thing happens to people in a year. People exit the stage and then come back later. WTF is that all about?


"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

Phyllis Rogers Stone
#22RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/23/12 at 9:34am

Why is it so hard to believe that During One Song Glory, more than several hours have passed in "real time"?

Because within the parameters the show sets up for itself, there are only three hours from the beginning of the show until Maureen's performance.

Mister Matt Profile Photo
Mister Matt
#23RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/23/12 at 10:39am

There are a lot of things in ReNt that make no sense. Like Maureen's eulogy for Angel. She knew him a few months but she has that line about the tablecloth dress and how next year they were mass producing them at the Gap.

To me, it didn't sound like she was speaking literally, but just in a general sense to make a point. Sort of like saying, "And the next thing you know, everyone is wearing it".

I guess I just never had a problem suspending disbelief for this musical any more than for any other musical. I mean, look at West Side Story, which take place in roughly 48 hours. Everything before One Hand One Heart happens in a matter of hours. The rest occurs the next day, starting in the late afternoon. And like Rent, the leading lady doesn't die in either show as in the original source materials on which they were based.


"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
Updated On: 2/23/12 at 10:39 AM

blaxx Profile Photo
blaxx
#24RENT - PLOT HOLE?
Posted: 2/23/12 at 1:07pm

I think one of the most common misconceptions about RENT (which was mentioned in this thread) was how too much happens in too little time. This is simply not accurate because the entire show takes place over one year, from Christmas Eve to Christmas Eve.

As Phyllis mentioned, most of Act I takes place within 3 hours. Just the main couple goes through so much in 3 hours than a lot of people throughout their whole marriage, not to mention the rest of the cast. The characters must also run very fast from one place to the other.


Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE


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