By Marc Fortier
mfortier@eagletribune.com

I’m not what you’d call a Broadway musical kind of guy. Unless you count all those Disney movies I watched as a kid, I’d never even seen one until a few years ago.

My daughter, who was probably about 4 at the time, started listening to the CD version of the musical “Wicked” on a nearly endless loop. I have to say, I didn’t hate it. In fact, it was pretty good.

So when I realized that one of the stars of that show, Idina Menzel, was also in the musical and movie version of “Rent,” I decided to check it out.

I loved it, and ever since then, I’ve been meaning to check out the theatrical version. I finally got my chance last week, when I saw “Rent” at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre in Portsmouth.

The winner of four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score, “Rent” follows a year in the lives of seven friends in New York’s East Village as AIDS and its physical and emotional complications pervade their lives.

As I said, I loved the film version of “Rent,” probably in part because it featured almost the entire cast of the original Broadway production.

But seeing it live is a whole different animal. The actors made the tiny Seacoast Repertory Theatre stage come to life with their inspired acting and stunning vocal performances.

Even among this talented cast, Albert Jennings as Angel stood out, strutting around dressed as Santa in drag at one point, and bringing some in the audience to tears with a convincing death scene near the end of the show.

Scottie McLaughlin, as Tom Collins, showcased his incredible voice, as did Ashley D. Kelley, who played a Bag Lady, but also wowed the crowd with her solo during the musical’s signature song, “Seasons of Love.”

Some of the show’s most impressive moments came when the entire cast sang en masse, particularly “La Vie Boheme,” the sarcasm-fueled mock eulogy for Bohemia.

Seacoast Repertory Theatre mainstay Christine Dulong drew the biggest laughs as Maureen, particularly during the performance art piece where she had the audience mooing right along with her.

Natasha Ashworth, playing the role of Mimi the nightclub dancer, was also convincing, cavorting on the catwalk above the stage during one memorable scene.

As you might imagine, “Rent” is not a show for kids, as there is not only plenty of colorful language, but some, shall we say, “sexual situations.”

The show is already selling so well that the theater has extended its run to July 24 instead of July 18. But even if you don’t get to see “Rent,” you’ll have another chance to see this talented cast later this summer. The same actors will be performing in “All Shook Up,” a musical featuring 25 Elvis Presley songs, from July 30 to Aug. 29.

If you go:
What: “Rent”
When: Through July 24
Where: Seacoast Repertory Theatre, 125 Bow St., Portsmouth, N.H.
Tickets: $17.50-$42; to purchase, visit www.seacoastrep.org or call 603-433-4472