SINGAPORE — “Five hundred, twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes ...” If you are a huge fan of musicals, you would know that famous refrain comes from Seasons of Love, the stirring showstopper tune from celebrated Broadway hit, Rent.

Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the revolutionary rock musical tells the story of a group of 20-somethings struggling to realise their dreams in New York City’s Lower East Side, under the shadow of social and political unrest, drug abuse and HIV/Aids.

The musical, written by the late Jonathan Larson, was first staged here in 2001 by Singapore Repertory Theatre. It was last staged in 2006 during its 10th Anniversary Asian tour, which featured Hong Kong 
singer-actress Karen Mok.

With Rent celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, local theatre company Pangdemonium thought it apt to anchor its 2016 Season of Love line-up with it. Directed by Tracie Pang, the cast comprises young homegrown talents such as Benjamin Chow (The LKY Musical), Mina Kaye (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice), Andrew Marko (Falling) and 987FM DJ and former-Singapore Idol contestant Tabitha Nauser.

“Times have changed since (Rent) was first shown, but it doesn’t mean that some of the issues such as Aids and HIV are no longer pertinent. I think it’s just gotten quieter,” said Pang, who helms Pangdemonium with husband and actor Adrian Pang. “The story is not necessarily just about HIV but about community, transcending boundaries and about finding love within a community.”

The theatre veteran admitted that it was a huge undertaking to stage a show that is much loved and acclaimed. “My approach is to give the audience their favourite show but not do a carbon copy because that’s not an artistic process for me,” she said. “I will inject something fresh. There’s more choreography, and the storyline is stronger. We’re not just standing there singing a song — we’re there telling a story.”

Even so, picking performers who could sing and dance was vital. “Voice is extremely important — if you can’t sing the note, you can’t sing the piece,” she said matter-of-factly. “Then I have to see if the actors are right for the character, if they can leave their personality behind and take on the character onto themselves.”

SPIRIT & FIRE

One such actor was Benjamin Chow, who won a Life! Theatre Award early this year for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The LKY Musical. As a singer, musician and spoken word artist, one would have thought that the 27-year-old would be better suited to play Roger, the struggling musician, instead of Mark, the aspiring film-maker.

“Tracie has faith in my ability to step outside of myself and do a different personality,” said Chow, laughing. “But seriously, it was more exciting for me to play Mark, as Roger is too close to me. We are both too emo!”

He continued: “What I liked about Mark is his spirit, his fire. He was a loyal friend, devoted to Roger, devoted to the community. He was the one who got the story going by wanting to shoot a documentary about these talented young people who are struggling (in New York), suffering from a disease they didn’t understand then.”

Also playing against type is Tabitha Nauser who plays troubled club dancer Mimi, a complicated character that has been played by Karen Mok and Rosario Dawson (in the 2005 film based on the musical).

“Mimi has a lot of issues, a character who doesn’t know where she fits in, trying to figure out life. She falls in love with a guy who pushes her away. She has a drug addiction,” the 24-year-old singer/deejay explained. “I can’t say I can relate, but Tracie really helped me with the character. I find out new things about Mimi each day as I rehearsed.”

Both Nauser and Chow acknowledged just how complex Rent is as a musical.

“This is my first musical of global recognition. It was only on the second day of rehearsal when it struck me that, ‘Oh my God, I’m doing Rent!’” Chow recalled with a chuckle. “It was tough having to marry all the technical elements together, the timing of the notes, knowing where my exits and entrances are, and learning to tango. But I’m enjoying every moment of it.”

Nauser concurred. “There’s so much going on. Not only do you have to remember your lines and lyrics, you have to know those of the person you are playing opposite so that there’s chemistry. I even have to take pole-dancing classes!”

To cynics who feel that local productions of any Broadway or West End show can never live up to the original, Pang was quite adamant that Singapore audiences will enjoy Pangdemonium’s version of Rent.

“I’ve worked in London and Singapore, and I truly believe we have the talent here to do great shows,” she attested. “It’s about putting all the right things together, casting the right actors in the right parts and having the right choreographers. I honestly believe we have very top-notch performers in this country.”

Though it is a period piece, Pang believes that issues highlighted in Rent are still relevant today. “I hope audiences come away learning something from the story, be able to take something home and realise that love can be taken from anywhere all around us.”

“Come and see, and find out for yourself,” she concluded.

Rent will play at the Singapore Drama Centre from Oct 7 to 23. Tickets from S$25 (restricted view) to $95 from Sistic. Rating: R18/Advisory 16 (selected shows)