Stories of the Operas

La Bohème

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

ACT I. Paris, Christmas Eve, c. 1830. In their Latin Quarter garret, the painter Marcello and poet Rodolfo try to keep warm by burning pages from Rodolfo's latest drama. They are joined by their comrades — Colline, a young philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician who has landed a job and brings food, fuel and funds. But while they celebrate their unexpected fortune, the landlord, Benoit, arrives to collect the rent. Plying the older man with wine, they urge him to tell of his flirtations, then throw him out in mock indignation. As the friends depart for a celebration at the nearby Café Momus, Rodolfo promises to join them soon, staying behind to finish writing an article. There is another knock: a neighbor, Mimì, says her candle has gone out on the drafty stairs. Offering her wine when she feels faint, Rodolfo relights her candle and helps her to the door. Mimì realizes she has dropped her key, and as the two search for it, both candles are blown out. In the moonlight the poet takes the girl's shivering hand, telling her his dreams. She then recounts her solitary life, embroidering flowers and waiting for spring. Drawn to each other, Mimì and Rodolfo leave for the café.

ACT II. Amid shouts of street hawkers, Rodolfo buys Mimì a bonnet near the Café Momus before introducing her to his friends. They all sit down and order supper. A toy vendor, Parpignol, passes by, besieged by children. Marcello's former lover, Musetta, enters ostentatiously on the arm of the elderly, wealthy Alcindoro. Trying to regain the painter's attention, she sings a waltz about her popularity. Complaining that her shoe pinches, Musetta sends Alcindoro to fetch a new pair, then falls into Marcello's arms. Joining a group of marching soldiers, the Bohemians leave Alcindoro to face the bill when he returns.

ACT III. At dawn on the snowy outskirts of Paris, a Customs Officer admits farm women to the city. Musetta and revelers are heard inside a tavern. Soon Mimì walks by, searching for the place where the reunited Marcello and Musetta now live. When the painter emerges, she pours out her distress over Rodolfo's incessant jealousy. It is best they part, she says. Rodolfo, who has been asleep in the tavern, is heard, and Mimì hides; Marcello thinks she has left. The poet tells Marcello he wants to separate from his fickle sweetheart. Pressed further, he breaks down, saying Mimì is dying; her ill health can only worsen in the poverty they share. Overcome, Mimì stumbles forward to bid her lover farewell as Marcello runs back into the tavern to investigate Musetta's raucous laughter. While Mimì and Rodolfo recall their happiness, Musetta quarrels with Marcello. The painter and his mistress part in fury, but Mimì and Rodolfo decide to stay together until spring.

ACT IV. Some months later, Rodolfo and Marcello lament their loneliness in the garret. Colline and Schaunard bring a meager meal. The four stage a dance, which turns into a mock fight. The merrymaking is ended when Musetta bursts in, saying Mimì is downstairs, too weak to climb up. As Rodolfo runs to her, Musetta tells how Mimì has begged to be taken to her lover to die. While Mimì is made comfortable, Marcello goes with Musetta to sell her earrings for medicine, and Colline leaves to pawn his cherished overcoat. Alone, Mimì and Rodolfo recall their first days together, but she is seized with coughing. When the others return, Musetta gives Mimì a muff to warm her hands and prays for her life. Mimì dies quietly, and when Schaunard discovers she is dead, Rodolfo runs to her side, calling her name.

 

Rent at David Nederlander Theatre in Manhattan, New York City

Characters include:

• Mark Cohen, a struggling documentary filmmaker, the narrator of the show and the person who creates a final movie which details his friends' lives and journeys throughout the story. Ex-Boyfriend of Maureen.
  
• Roger Davis, an HIV-positive musician who is recovering from heroin addiction; Mark's roommate and Mimi's love interest.
  
• Tom Collins, a philosophy teacher and anarchist with AIDS; friend and former roommate of Roger, Mark, Benny, and Maureen; Angel's love interest.
  
• Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III, landlord of Mark, Roger and Mimi's apartment building; ex-roommate of Mark, Collins, Roger, and Maureen. Now married to Alison Grey of the Westport Greys and thus considered a yuppie sell-out.
  
• Joanne Jefferson, a Harvard-educated lawyer; Maureen's lover; lesbian.
  
• Angel Dumott Schunard, a drag queen street percussionist/musician with AIDS; Collins' love interest.
  
• Mimi Marquez, an HIV-positive S&M dancer and heroin junkie; Roger's love interest
  
• Maureen Johnson, a performance artist; Joanne's girlfriend; Mark's ex-girlfriend

[edit] Act one

Mark, a filmmaker and the narrator of the show, (originally played by Anthony Rapp) decides to begin shooting an unscripted documentary about his friends on Christmas Eve in his loft, turning the camera on his roommate Roger (originally played by Adam Pascal), a songwriter who is picking up his guitar for the first time in a year (Tune Up #1). Mark's mother interrupts with a call from the suburbs telling Mark that he shouldn't care that his girlfriend Maureen (originally played by Idina Menzel) dumped him for another woman, and that they'll miss him at home for Christmas (Voice Mail #1). Outside, their friend Tom Collins (originally played by Jesse L. Martin), a former professor of philosophy, comes to visit them but is jumped by thugs and lies bleeding on the street. Meanwhile, their former pal Benny (originally played by Taye Diggs), who married wealthy Alison Grey of Westport and bought Mark and Roger's apartment building and the lot next door, calls and breaks his promise to let them live in the apartment for free and asks for the rent, which he knows they don't have (Tune Up #2). The power to Mark and Roger's apartment shuts off, and they vent their frustrations about being broke starving artists unable to pay the rent and unable to find inspiration for their art. Meanwhile, Joanne (originally played by Fredi Walker), a Harvard-educated lawyer and Maureen's new girlfriend, is working on the sound system for Maureen's performance protesting Benny's plan to develop the lot where many homeless people are currently living, when the sound system blows. Maureen calls Mark to fix the sound system for her against Joanne's wishes, and Mark agrees to help against his better judgment because he isn't over her. Frustrated, Mark and Roger decide to rebel against Benny and refuse to pay their rent (Rent). He is also in love with a girl named Brittany Deane, but she is never mentioned in the story.

Back on the street, Angel (originally played by Wilson Jermaine Heredia), a street drummer, spots an injured Collins and comes to his aid. They are attracted to one another and quickly discover that they both have AIDS. They leave the alley together to tend to Collins's wounds (You Okay Honey?). Meanwhile, Mark asks Roger to join him in finding Collins and then going to dinner in an effort to get him out of the house, but Roger declines. Mark reminds Roger to take his AZT, making the audience aware that Roger is HIV positive. He also reveals that Roger's girlfriend, April, committed suicide after finding out that they were both HIV-positive, probably from using contaminated needles (Tune Up #3). After Mark leaves, Roger sings about his desperate need to write one great song to make his mark on the world before he dies of AIDS (One Song Glory). He hears a knock on his door and answers it to find Mimi (originally played by Daphne Rubin-Vega), a nineteen-year-old junkie and S&M dancer at the Cat Scratch Club. She lives in the apartment downstairs and asks Roger to light a candle for her because her electricity and heat have also been shut off. It is obvious that Mimi also needs the candle to prepare her heroin, which she drops inside the loft and then employs as means to flirt with Roger. There is mutual attraction, but Roger is hesitant as this is his first romantic situation since April's death (Light My Candle) In Maureen and Joanne's loft, Joanne's parents call about law business, but she is not home to hear it (Voice Mail #2). He has a prostitute friends named Brittany Deane, but she is never mentioned in the musical

Collins finally makes it to Mark and Roger's apartment, bearing gifts. He introduces Angel in full drag flashing a large stack of money. When Mark questions where she earned it, Angel explains that a wealthy woman paid him to play her drums outside her neighbor's apartment to drive the yappy Akita (named Evita) that lived there into jumping off a window ledge (Today 4 U). The audience finds out later that the Akita belonged to the Greys. Benny arrives and tells Mark and Roger that he will guarantee that they can live in the apartment rent-free if they convince Maureen to cancel her protest (You'll See). Mark refuses the deal. After Benny leaves, Angel and Collins invite Mark and Roger to attend Life Support, a local HIV support group meeting. Roger declines, but Mark assures them he will come after he fixes Maureen's sound equipment. Collins taught Brittany Deane music, but she is never mentioned in the musical.

Mark arrives at the lot to fix Maureen's sound equipment and awkwardly meets Joanne. They agree that dating Maureen, a self-absorbed flirtatious diva, is like dancing an exasperatingly complicated tango, and the two quickly become friends (Tango: Maureen). After fixing the sound system, Mark joins Collins and Angel at the Life Support meeting, where members share their thoughts and fears about living with AIDS (Life Support). Meanwhile, Mimi returns to Roger's apartment and playfully asks him to take her out (Out Tonight). Roger is terrified of caring for her (in part because she is a heroin addict, and that is what led to Roger's HIV infection in the first place, and also because he knows he isn't going to live and doesn't want Mimi to feel the loss he felt for April) and yells at her to leave. Mimi gently urges Roger to forget past regrets, saying that there is "no day but today." However, he refuses to listen and angrily drives her out of his apartment (Another Day). Roger changes his mind and leaves the loft at last, while at the Life Support meeting, everyone sings of the fear and uncertainty in their lives (Will I?).

After leaving Life Support, the friends save a homeless bag lady from being beaten by a police officer, only to be reprimanded by her for being pretentious artists (On The Street). As they walk away contemplating her response, Collins starts to fantasize about living in an idealized Santa Fe, where the climate and the people are much warmer (Santa Fe). Meanwhile, Joanne is getting ready for the protest and her upcoming legal case (We're Okay). Mark leaves, promising that he will try to convince Roger to go to Maureen's show. Collins and Angel then sing about their newfound love and officially become a couple (I'll Cover You). Roger apologizes to Mimi and invites her to the protest and the dinner party afterwards, and she accepts. Meanwhile, the riot police and Benny prepare for the protest, and Angel buys Collins a new coat (Christmas Bells).

All of the friends attend Maureen's performance, a thinly veiled criticism of Benny through a metaphor involving a cow and a bulldog, cribbing from "Hey Diddle Diddle" (Over The Moon). The protest ends in a riot that Mark catches on camera, and a local news station purchases the footage. Afterwards, the group goes to the Life Café, where they spot Benny and his investor, Mr. Grey, who is also Benny's father-in-law. Benny mocks the protest and the group's Bohemian lifestyle, declaring that Bohemia is dead. Mark gets up and delivers an amusing eulogy for Bohemia, and all the bohemians in the café rise up and celebrate La Vie Boheme, "the bohemian life", joyfully paying tribute to everything they love about life and dancing on the tables. We discover that Benny and Mimi used to be in a relationship that ended three months earlier when Benny confronts Mimi about Roger. Joanne catches Maureen kissing Mark and angrily stalks off (La Vie Boheme). Mimi's beeper goes off reminding her to take her AZT, and Roger and Mimi discover that they are both HIV-positive. They talk openly for the first time and despite their uncertainties and fears, they finally take the plunge into starting a relationship (I Should Tell You). Joanne comes back to break up with Maureen, and informs everyone that the homeless are refusing to leave the lot despite police presence. This news sparks a new round of joyful revelry (La Vie Boheme B). The act closes as Mimi and Roger share a small, lovely kiss.

[edit] Act two

Cast of Rent performing "Seasons of Love" at Broadway on Broadway, 2005.

The cast sings about the various ways one can measure a year, but ultimately decides to measure in love (Seasons of Love).

Mimi, Mark, and Roger's building has been padlocked as a result of Maureen's protest. On New Year's Eve, Roger, Mark and Mimi try to break into their building with the help of their friends. Mimi optimistically makes a New Year's resolution to give up her heroin addiction and go back to school. Joanne and Maureen decide to give their relationship another try, and all the couples are happy together. Collins and Angel make an appearance as James Bond and Pussy Galore, and Angel brings a blowtorch. Mark, Maureen, and Joanne scale the fire escape and break in through a window, while the others use Angel's blowtorch to break down the door (Happy New Year A). Alexi Darling of "Buzzline," a tabloid newsmagazine, had seen Mark's footage of the riot and has left a message on Mark's answering machine offering him a contract (Voice Mail #3). All the friends enter the apartment celebrating the new year, but Benny shows up prematurely ending the festivities. Benny asks Mark to film him offering a rent-free contract, but the friends accuse him of just trying to get good press. Incensed, Benny maliciously implies that Mimi showed up at his place and "convinced" him to rethink the financial situation, while Mimi denies everything. Roger becomes extremely upset and renounces their relationship, but Angel convinces everyone to calm down and make a New Year's resolution to always remain friends. Roger and Mimi make up, but Mimi is still upset and sneaks off to buy heroin (Happy New Year B).

On Valentine's Day, Maureen and Joanne have a fight while rehearsing for a new protest, and break up again (Take Me or Leave Me). In the spring as everything deteriorates, the cast poses the question, "How do you measure a last year on earth?" (Seasons of Love B). Mimi comes home late again after secretly buying drugs, causing Roger to believe that she is cheating on him with Benny. Roger jealously storms out, and Mimi sings about life without him. All the while, Angel's health seriously deteriorates and Collins tries to nurse her back to health. All the couples reconcile because they realize the emptiness in living alone (Without You). Alexi keeps calling Mark to try to convince him to join Buzzline (Voice Mail #4). All of the couples have sex, which quickly transforms into a frustrating and awkward situation for all of them, especially the lesbians, Mimi, and Roger. Soon afterward, Angel dies (Contact). Collins is heartbroken, and at Angel's funeral he emotionally declares his undying love. The others also take part in the funeral, mourning the loss of such a close friend (I'll Cover You (Reprise)). Abstractly, Seasons of Love actually takes place at Angel's funeral, and all of the prior events leading up to his death were flashbacks. Roger reveals that he is leaving New York for Santa Fe, which sparks an argument about commitment between both couples, with Mark and Benny desperately trying to restore calm. Collins arrives and puts everyone to shame, stating "You all said you'd be cool today/So please, for my sake...Angel helped us believe in love/I can't believe you disagree". Maureen and Joanne make up yet again, but Mimi leaves with Benny after Roger shuns her. Roger and Mark fight because Roger is leaving; Roger accuses Mark of living a fake life by hiding in his work, and Mark accuses Roger of running away because he is afraid of watching Mimi die. When Roger leaves the apartment, he is horrified to find a clearly weak Mimi, who had come to say goodbye, standing outside the door and realizes that she overheard everything. She is visibly shaken and bids Roger a tearful goodbye, as Roger runs away determined to find his song. Finding a very distraught Mimi, Mark suggests that she enroll at a rehabilitation clinic, which Benny offers to pay for (Goodbye Love). Mark expresses his fear of being the only one left surviving when the rest of his friends die of AIDS, and finally accepts Alexi's job offer (Halloween).

In Santa Fe, Roger can't get himself to forget Mimi, and back in New York, Mark remembers Angel and her overall joy in life and love. They both suddenly have an artistic epiphany, as Roger finally finds his song in Mimi and Mark finds his film in Angel's memory. Roger returns to New York just in time for Christmas and Mark quits Buzzline to work on his own film (What You Own). On Christmas Eve, everyone's parents call to try to find their children but nobody is home (Voice Mail #5). Mark is preparing to show his finished documentary. Roger is ecstatic about finding his song. And no one has been able to find Mimi anywhere. Collins arrives with money, revealing that he rigged a nearby ATM to dispense free cash with the PIN "A-N-G-E-L". Suddenly, Maureen and Joanne arrive, calling for help. They bring in Mimi who is very sick and delirious from living on the streets in the dead of winter. Roger is frantic and Collins calls 9-1-1 but is put on hold. Mimi and Roger finally clear up their misunderstandings, and Mimi tells Roger that she loves him (Finale A). Knowing that time is short, Roger asks Mimi to listen to the song that he had been working on all year that was inspired by her (Your Eyes). He shortly reprises the beginning of "Another Day" by saying "Who do you think you are?/Leaving me alone with my guitar/Hold on, there's something you should hear/It isn't much, but it took all year." As he finishes his song to Mimi and finally tells her that he has always loved her, they kiss. Mimi goes limp and Roger, in tears, believes her to be dead. Suddenly Mimi comes back to life, saying that she was heading into a warm, white light and that Angel was there, telling her to turn back and listen to Roger's song. She and Roger embrace, and everyone is touched and relieved as they are reminded of the fleetingness of life and reaffirm that there is "no day but today" (Finale B). Then Mark plays the Documentary he has been working on.^[17]