REVIEW: "RENT" PAYS. (listening various indie bands on mp3.com.) First thing. Atlanta's Fabulous Fox Theatre is visually stunning. If you haven't been there. Change that. I've been wanting to see this musical for quite some time, but didn't know the specifics about it. The specifics about "Rent". Pop-culture rules. Ever since I began seeing show's on London's WestEnd as a teenager, the contemporary-musical always captured me. "Rent" is no different. Riddled with modern late 90s pop-culture, humor and technology, "Rent" is now by far a better phenom than I'd ever known. Strong ensemble of well-developed NYC bohemic characters included: Roger, the struggling HIV+ songwriter; Mark, the filmmaker; Angel, the dragqueen; Maureen, performance artist; and Mimi, the hot S&M dancer with a drug problem. Each persona oozed with the epitome of its stereotype like we've seen in contemporary film in recent years, with Tarrintino and Avary and Aronofsky. Fav Parts - Mimi's cutely sexy, "Light My Candle" duet with Roger. She loses then finds her stash. - Maureen's "Over the Moon" performance art piece. - Mimi's erotic anthem, "Out Tonight". - "Tango Maureen" Roger and Maureen banter. - and any full ensemble piece ie "La Vie Boheme" The skinny... WRITING: * * * * * CHARACTERS: * * * * * STAGE USE: * * * * * MUSIC: * * * * * TECHNOLOGY: * * Would I see it again? YES! Lesson to self: Sound Guys Suck My ASS. The dialogue was well-written, and clever... gotta buy the CD. Unfortunately, the first act, I really struggled to hear the dialogue and lyrics over the music, the Fox is HUGE. Seems to be an on-going issue here in Atlanta. It's not like I had crappy seats... but next time, I'm going to attempt to buy seats on the lower tier. Just word of warning. peace- seanrox