Rent Question. *Spoilers*- Page 2
Rent Question. *Spoilers*
#25re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/7/04 at 10:22pmElphie, I think what we're all saying is that it's never directly mentioned HOW Roger contracted AIDS (sex or drugs) or whether he gave it to her or vice versa. Spider is saying that Roger probably DID get it from drugs, as did Mimi. Be that the case, Roger could've given it to April.
#26re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/7/04 at 10:23pmHmmmmmm. HIV can be passed but it is not exactly the same as AIDS. Like, Magic Johnson (the basketball player) is HIV positive, but does not have AIDS
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
#27re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/7/04 at 10:25pm
Gotcha. I guess I always assumed that since Roger didn't know and April told him (...his girlfriend April left a note saying "we got AIDS" before slitting her wrists in the bathroom...) and then Roger gets all down and depressed and stuff that she gave it to him. I'm glad I read this, if I see the show again I think I'll look at it a bit differently 
Idina: Somehow I got myself to the stage, came out at the end of the show, and I had some kind of closure.
Some guy: You looked great!
Idina: Thanks...I WAS SO HIGH! 8/21/05
Some guy: You looked great!
Idina: Thanks...I WAS SO HIGH! 8/21/05
#28re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/7/04 at 10:26pmCool Beans
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
#29re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/7/04 at 10:26pmI was just thinking about that... the note. Maybe she did have it first. Who knows? It isn't directly mentioned, so we can speculate all we want, I suppose. Either way, the "we've got AIDS" implies that one gave it to the other... but that could be through sex or by sharing needles. We just don't know...
#30re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/7/04 at 10:28pmthat's true too, I didn't think about April and Roger sharing needles
Idina: Somehow I got myself to the stage, came out at the end of the show, and I had some kind of closure.
Some guy: You looked great!
Idina: Thanks...I WAS SO HIGH! 8/21/05
Some guy: You looked great!
Idina: Thanks...I WAS SO HIGH! 8/21/05
#31re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/7/04 at 10:28pmYep. Jonathan Larson is the only one who truly knows the anwer to this question.
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
#32re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/7/04 at 10:30pmWell, they were dating, so they probably had sex. Roger must have got it from when he was a druggie, and gave it to her.
You know it and you want it... you just can't believe you've got it.
#33re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/7/04 at 11:15pm
Wow. This is one of the many RENT mysteries that I've not thought about yet! There are many others such as:
-What does Angel mean when he says "boys like me" after Collins says "i like boys"? Does he mean that boys like him, or that Collins like boys like him?
-Does RENT literally mean the rent or "torn apart" which is rent's other definition?
Wow- I'm pathetic... I'm surprised I haven't thought about who gave who AIDS. I think it's one of those mysteries that we will never find out. I think that maybe April gave it to Roger because she was the one who found out first, so maybe Roger knew and never said anything, or neither of them knew and she was tested and found positive. I don't know...
I have my books and my poetry to protect me...
#34re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/7/04 at 11:20pm
Ah, the mysteries.
As for the word "RENT," I'd like to think it's a double entendre.... both the Rent that Mark and Roger can't pay AND the less common meaning "torn apart."
I guess one of the things I love about the show is that no matter how many times you see it, listen to it or think about it, there's always something new, partly because the characters seem so real. Amazing show. 'Nuff said.
#35re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/7/04 at 11:20pm
Broadwaydiva I totally didn't know Rent meant torn apart...I think the show might take both meanings. Their lives through the show become somewhat torn apart but in the end everything does work out.
As far as ...boys like me, my interpitation is that angel is saying boys like him as in boys similar to him opposed to like/dislike. I this just because of the way that Angel presses himself into collins when he sings the line.
Idina: Somehow I got myself to the stage, came out at the end of the show, and I had some kind of closure.
Some guy: You looked great!
Idina: Thanks...I WAS SO HIGH! 8/21/05
Some guy: You looked great!
Idina: Thanks...I WAS SO HIGH! 8/21/05
#36re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/7/04 at 11:26pmWith the word RENT, I see it as them fighting over them having to pay rent, even though Benny told them they wouldn't. The second being that we are on this earth just a little while so we RENT the person we are in love with, because one day they will not be around anymore. Like when Collins sings "I think they meant it, when they said you can't buy love...but I know you can rent it, and at least you are my love" when Angel dies (Which by the way I cried at this part when I saw RENT in the theatre). It is a great, romantic thing when you think about it.
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
#37re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/7/04 at 11:32pmJon Larson was an absolute genius making us think like this. Too bad he died so young! Just think of all the things he could have done today... Only he knows the real answers.
I have my books and my poetry to protect me...
NativeNewYorker
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/03
#38re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/7/04 at 11:33pm
This reminded me of when I was coming home on a bus back to my campus after a day in NYC...many of the students on the bus had seen Broadway shows that day.
A couple gets on the bus.
Guy: Okay, can somebody help us out? Has anyone seen RENT?
Me: I have.
Guy: Okay! Good. Question. Why does Angel die?
(At first I thought he meant, "WHY DID ANGEL DIE? THAT WAS SO SAD!, but he was asking how he died)
Me: S/he had AIDS.
Guy: WHAT? Angel had AIDS?
Me: Yeah...most of the characters had AIDS...except for Benny, Mark and the lesbian couple.
Guy: Really? I thought just that girl April had AIDS.
Me: She did.
Guy: How about the guy with the guitar? Did he have AIDS?
I thought it was so funny that he remembered APRIL but not ROGER...it was funny...but the couple said the show was great and they really enjoyed...don't understand HOW when they missed the whole plot :)
#39re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/7/04 at 11:38pmI want to go see RENT right now, but I have to wait till the next tour. WHY MUST GOD TORTURE ME SO. But, yes.........Larson was a genious who was taken too early. But, he will always be remembered.....if not from future broadway fans, then the ones who love RENT right now. I mean, there will always be a place in my heart for RENT.
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
#40re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/7/04 at 11:40pm
Wow that's weird NNY! How do you remember a character who's name was mentioned twice, and not one of the leads whose name was mentioned a lot more than twice??? That's just strange!! But maybe the guy has one of those memories that only remember little details...
RENT is amazing. Long live RENT!
I have my books and my poetry to protect me...
Updated On: 7/7/04 at 11:40 PM
BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#41re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/7/04 at 11:59pmForgive me for being stupid...but I have a question too...what exactly is Benny's purpose in wanting to stop Maureen's protest. Why does he even care about it so much, if he's convinced that she's just protesting losing her performance space?
#42re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/8/04 at 12:00amDoesn't he want the space for himself?
NativeNewYorker
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/03
#43re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/8/04 at 12:06amor because he knew Alison's father was coming that night?
broadwaystar2b
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/04
#44re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/8/04 at 12:06amHas anyone else noticed that Mimi NEVER says Roger's name in the whole show but he says her name constantly?
#45re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/8/04 at 12:06ambecause if they protest, then maybe mark and roger will get the deal that was originally made. I mean verbal agreement is liable in court.
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#47re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/8/04 at 1:20am
So yeah, I'm a little late. I think April gave Roger AIDS through having sex, not sharing needles, but perhaps both. At any rate, I think neither of them had it when they got together, but April was obviously a very unstable person and she probably cheated on him. The moment she found out she had AIDS she killed herself so she was not a well woman.
It is possible to have AIDS or HIV and not transmit it to others, but you have to be safe. I don't think you should always assume it will be transmitted, because you are then denying yourself the possibility of falling in love with someone who has it, but at any rate you do have to acknowledge that your chances of contracting it are much higher. But, as always if you use protection it's the same odds as with pregnency. 50%.
Becky
Broadway Star Joined: 5/14/03
#48re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/8/04 at 1:21am
What if April wrote the note and killed herself because the only way she could have been exposed was through Roger? Suppose she hadn't had any other partners or used drugs so she was confident he passed the disease on to her? Never really thought about it that much.
BTW, Benny wanted to stop the protest because his investor (Mr. Grey) would be at the building that night and the "performance protest" would certainly cause problems for him. He needed Mr. Grey's backing. ***this was cleared up in "Christmas Bells" when Benny yells "Which investor is coming? Your Father? Damn!"
BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#49re: Rent Question. *Spoilers*
Posted: 7/8/04 at 1:27am
Thanks Becky.
I think one of tha major flaws with this show (unfortunately) is that it doesn't communicate the details of it's plot very well. When I saw it for the first time, I missed a LOT of information (the people I went with were just as clueless about certian things)that I later learned through listening to the recording. Hence all the questions on this thread, haha.
Updated On: 7/8/04 at 01:27 AM
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