Anthony Callea - Rent - La Vie Boheme

[AndSingForeverToYou]

Oh wow. I went and saw this :D. 

[TheTony2013Rocks]

One thing I didn't like, the end. When the guy playing Mark did all the last line like it was a robot. It didn't seem like he was making it up, more like he was reading it. He was a phenomenal singer though.

[Forwardthinker22]

Commanding performance of that song from Anthony. That's a real singer!

[flatdisco]

courtney act is absolutly horrible as angel.... its not good when the person playing angel makes you want him to die!!! the guy in auckland new zealand playing him is the best angel in the world ever!!!! go cameron clayton FOREVER!!!

[konatasos]

my cast did way better

[Elphie31]

I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion about which Mark/Roger pair they prefer, but I gotta say, Nikki Webster as Maureen? Eugh. She's incredibly stiff, and seems to be doing a bit of "school production" acting - she stands up to say her lines (or sing them, in this case), then sits back down, even when it is inappropriate for her to do so. I noticed this especially when Joanne tells her she wants her to leave. She just sits down again. Just my opinion, but I think she's a bad actor.

[mairanya1]

@Elphie31 Judgement based on a clip isn't likely to be terribly deep, but of course you're entitled to an opinion too. If Nikki sat down., it may be the director told her to do that - or it could also be because she had a broken foot at the time and wore her foot in a cast as soon as she wasn't on stage.

[Elphie31]

@mairanya1 I actually saw the production live, and was unimpressed even then, however seeing this recording a few years later brought back a few vivid memories on my thoughts on the show, and this was one of them. Of course I understand that the sitting down may have been a directorial decision, I'm just saying that, if it was, I think it was a bad one.

And if she did have a broken foot - well, thats a whole different barrel of fish, isn't it? Personally, I would have sent on her understudy.

[mairanya1]

@Elphie31 Her foot was broken and she was often in pain, especially when not wearing her cast. I saw it so many times and didn't notice the things you picked up at all - the danger of looking at a clip just to 'find evidence', I suppose. I doubt they had fully trained understudies especially one who could sing as Nikki does. I could mention some critical niggles too, (as with virtually everything I've ever seen), but generally I agreed with the professional reviews of the production.

[Forwardthinker22]

I've been reading all the comments and the discussions over who is better: Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal or Anthony Callea and Tim Campbell (Mark and Roger).

Actually it's a great compliment to the Australian cast that so many from the US have commented so passionately.

Remember though we are comparing a major US Broadway production with an Australian state production (small in comparison).

Budget difference would be probably 100 to 1.

[JayRdL08]

Awesome.. Great job doing American Accent

[thefoxwiththevox]

Ahhhh if If only Community Theatre were that fabulous!!

A wonderful production, and superb work by ALL the leads and the ensemble cast - and definitely my favourite' Mark ' bar none.

[lifestooshort28]

Yes Anthony sand the part of Mark brilliantly

[waly93]

It was a major production with a stellar cast.. I saw it twice with this cast, they were all great.

[job4747]

Of course it was - Anthony Callea is hardly community theatre. It was a professional production that professional adult critics who actually saw it praised highly.

[dave69ca]

Anthony Callea has a great voice but i feel just does not suit the roll of Mark. Rather, I feel he would make a better Roger than Mark.

[job4747]

I don't think Roger's part would suit Anthony's range as well. It would have been good to hear him sing more though, as Roger does.

[Bubbleboy334]

All of their voices are FANTASTIC, but they ALL lack the energy that usually comes with this scene. This part is literally supposed to be almost like a party. I didn't feel that at all.

[Jess046]

Callea's voice is okay...not really my taste, but he hits the notes. But his movements...he's so stiff! This is La Vie Boheme, he should be dancing around, moving his hands, jumping off that damn table like his life depends on it! Actually, I think that's a huge problem with this production. The cast needs to move around more, have more interaction- just get into to it.

[lifestooshort28]

The cast could perhaps have been choreographed more here, I agree, but the singing is great.

I love the lead singing by Anthony Callea

[WeKilledTheSong]

Is Angel being played by a girl?

[keirrac2]

No, Angel is played by Shane Jenek (aka Courtney Act). He does a brilliant job.

[WeKilledTheSong]

Ohh. Yeah, he is good. Everyone here is, actully. They trully capture the spirit is the show.

[NixieStixx]

i really like this guy as mark he did a really good job!!!!!!!!!!

[TheHarlequinHeroine]

Why is everyone fighting? I thought he did a great job! Of course I'll always prefer Anthony R, because I'm a little bit on love with him, jay-kays, but he did a great job! BOTH Anthony's did a great job!

[FormerHero]

They were alright but the guy who played Mark was far too "cool" Mark is a much more rebellious and awkward. But his voice was alright just not right for the part.

[mairanya1]

There's no reason why Mark should be played as 'rebellious and awkward' - he's the leader of the social group in all the ensemble scenes. The professional critics described Anthony Callea as 'perfect' in the role and I agree with them, having seen the show several times. It's a matter of taste not truths - I didn't like the music at all until I heard this version. It was just wonderful to hear a proper singer perform those songs.

[ish83]

i think it comes down to what the creator invisioned RENT to be... and mark was meant to be awkward... not condifent. jonathan larson went through alot to try and get the right combination on actors/ singers that suited his vision... and although anthony calea is a great singer... he really doesnt suit what Mark is all about...

[mairanya1]

Mark's characterisation's very inconsistent in lots of ways. To me, 'awkward' isn't what he's all about - he had a glamorous girlfriend, he's the character asked to fix things and he constantly leads the action. There's never any sign he's awkward and lacking in confidence. You prefer one version and I prefer the other, a singer who does justice to the music. There's no need to say one is wrong as someone said above. Did you actually see the production?

[TheMintyMuffin]

@mairanya1

Pardon me...but are you seriously suggesting that Anthony RAPP does not do the music of Jonathan Larson justice?

[WeWantAShrubbery]

In everything I've seen Callea in his accent keeps slipping. It is quite annoying.

Thanks for posting this!! :D

[mairanya1]

Everything you've seen Anthony Callea in? You mean a dozen lines as Boq, about 4 lines in Dead Man Walking and a few YouTube clips? An American friend thought his accent excellent, so perhaps you were expecting something different.

[BroadwayBaby008]

3 things..

1) I much prefer Anthony Rapp and Adam Kantor as Mark.

2) Is that a woman playing Angel? Doesn't that defeat the purpose a little?

3) Did he say "a bitter sweet PROvactative song?" It's avocative... totally different words..

other than that, good!

[keirrac2]

1. You are perfectly at liberty to prefer the other people as Mark. I happen to love Anthony as Mark.

2. No it's not a woman - see reply to other comments (it's Shane Jenek, also known as Courtney Act) - look him up.

3. Not sure what they said as I haven't got time to listen again at the moment but your spelling is a bit off - its "evocative", not 'avocative'. Check spelling before you criticize.

[BroadwayBaby008]

True. Sorry, I did spell it wrong, it's not a word I use often at all.

I wasn't really trying to criticize... sorry.

[DarkGlitt3r]

I was there for that :) Not as good as the original...but hey they were pretty good.

[Scarves77]

Seeing Anthony Callea sing 'Mucho Masturbation' made my day :)

[Insanityspartner]

Yeah, I agree with everyone else. They just lack the same chemistry as the original cast, I guess.

[Luna0teagan]

I was getting kind of bored, and thats odd because this is one of my favorite songs. Was that Angel a woman? Like a real woman? Thats the only think I want to know. I liked the Mark though, just odd without the glasses.

[km333222]

wheres marks glasses. and wow that was seriously the most boring la vie boheme possible.

[km333222]

that mark is just not mark

[popularcraig1988]

Their voices are great but this scene seems to lack energy!

[macrent2]

"Hey mister, She's my sister"? Is that a question? Heheheh!

[looker768]

the idea to walk on the table wasn't in the original choreography was it? it came sometime after the creator died and one of the actors did it as a homage?.......

anyways, Anthony's hot!

[mairanya1]

He was excellent as Mark.

[overmyheadcrazy]

I am not a big fan of Rent, but this song is A-MAZING!

[Forwardthinker22]

Just responding to SarIdiosyncratic's comment. Did you make this comment based on seeing the actual show, or just the video clip. I think you really need to be there to get the atmosphere. I thought Anthony (Mark) was very strong in this. His voice is so strong that in my opinion the chorus seems a bit soft in comparison. They perhaps need to get a bit roudier to match him. (just my view). PS that's quite a hard part to sing I think...

[SaraIsIdiosyncratic]

I really am not partial to Anthony Callea's voice.

Great voice-- but not the strongest.

I thought it sounded strange until I read the discription, and it said Australia, and I was like, "OF COURSE!"

So, yeah--good performance.

However,you guys didn't seem like you were having that much fun.

The mechanics were good, but the atmosphere- not great.

There's no sense of community, love, and fearlessness like there is in other casts.

Overall, four stars.

Also, I'm a bit in love with your Mimi.

[TheAspiringActress]

its fantastic but at the begining i didn't really feel a buzz or energy from the chorus. but i LOOOVE anthonys voice.

[LynxLabotomy]

woot woot!!!!

That was amazing!!!!

I <3 RENT

[BlakSenk]

i LOVE this song!

[leida001]

Hmm, well I love the OBCR and in contrast, I have to say this version is really quite good, although there are definately parts I didn't like. To me, Nikki's Maureen was waaay too skanky prostitute, while Idina's had a touch more class. The same could be said for Shane's Angel. I think Angel should have a lot more femininity/class/grace than Shane presented, but that's just my opinion.

Overall, great, esp Anthony's Mark. God, he's got such a bloody fantastic voice

[somemoresambora]

WOW - the guy playing Mark has an AMAZING voice!!

A shame that a troll has been so busy here, she seems like a real 'hater'... more to be pitied than desipsed, I guess.

[mairanya1]

That's Anthony Callea. He was excellent. I loved this production and saw it so many times as people came to stay with me. They even had VIP tickets so you could talk to the cast afterwards. There was alwaysa big queue to see Anthony but he made sure he got to everyone. He was a lot of fun, really down-to-earth. This scene was a bit different every time.

[kingmax1006]

Anthony Callea is very good

[elphabathropp3rd]

the benny couldn't live up taye's standards but then who can that guy can make a plaid bow tie look good

callea a very talented singer, not quite as "MARK" as rapp tho

[sparrow119]

I personally really enjoyed watching Anthony as Mark! Can someone please tell me who played Angel, though? I can't find a full cast list on the internet anywhere.

[keirrac2]

Angel was played by Shane Jenek (Courtney Act) and, having met him after the show, found him to be one of the most unassuming and delightful people I have ever met.

[sparrow119]

Thanks very much =) From what I saw on this, he was quite good! (And, ohmigosh, what a great pair of legs he has...) Thanks again!

[Demi6756]

Thanks for the clip, it brings back good memories of a great show. Thought Anthony did a fine job as Mark, and while I thought Nikki gave it her all, didn't find her suited to the character of Maureen. I was lucky enough to meet the cast afterwards and they were all delightful.

[action5004]

oh, BUT NIKKI WAS AWESOME

[wickedawsumhsmsuk]

for me, she doesnt really fit a maureen character. more of a mimi for me. but i havent seen a full show of her performing rent though

[Demi6756]

It's a bit sad that you can't seem to find anything nice to say about Anthony. I know from experience he is normally extremely accommodating towards his fans - much more so than your average celeb. I found both Nikki and Tim to be lovely too, when I met them after seeing the show. I gather the three of them have struck up a close friendship since working together on Rent.

[action5004]

i loved this when i saw it, i didn't like Anthony as roger -> but that is just my opinion

[keirrac2]

Anthony wasn't Roger, he was Mark. And I thought he was fantastic.

[Demi6756]

This production of Rent was only in Perth. You must be a really keen Rent fan as it seems you flew from the other side of Australia to see it.

[kween6]

your going too far saying anyone mate. look up and speak with your soul. you'll see boy that anthony was born for this role. now i can see your feeling abit left out. i have the solution. all you have to do is roll all your anger up into a little ball, and let it Float... away :)

[job4747]

I'm glad you don't care what we think because it means I can say I think your comment is very silly and childish in all sorts of ways. If you're going to force comparisons then I can also say that Anthony's acting rates far higher than Anthony Rapp's 'singing' - and I've seen both live.

[Forwardthinker22]

I couldn't agree more job4747! Absolutely spot on with your comment to the previous writer, who can't see past the veil of her own homophobia, and in regard to Anthony Rapp's singing, which is not singing at all (at least not 'in tune' singing), but rather shouting.

It must have been hard to get through a whole two hour show with that level of singing.

[km333222]

wrong.

wrong wrong wrong.

[pepipearl]

You are cheeky and keeping us in suspense!!! But I will be so excited if you do have more.

[nufinmore]

thanks for posting this!

[pepipearl]

Thank you so much for uploading this video for those of us not fortunate to see Rent in Perth. This is so great. And Anthony is gorgeous. Is there any chance you also captured footage of "Tango Maureen" or "Halloween" or "Goodbye Love" or "What You Own" from the performances. I am not asking for much am I???

[keirrac2]

Maybe !!! You'll just have to wait and see (haha).

[fragrantone]

Thank you for adding this video, kerriac. Definately agree with alchsam. If you have anymore, please, please add them.

[waly93]

Wow, great footage. Thankyou so much for uploading this, I just loved this production of RENT with Anthony Callea, the whole cast was fabulous. I would love to see it all over again, just fantastic.

[mairanya1]

Thank you!

I'm really happy that other people will see this, especially Anthony's performance.

[alchsam]

Thats Keirrac. I'm so glad you had a chance to record this as I had Rent withdrawals for quite a while after. If you have any others please, please add them. Especially of Anthony singing.

[ozdivo]

thanks keirrac.

looks like a wonderful production,I found Anthony in particular to be very impressive.