1. Rent relies less on set design and more on the use of props. Discuss one prop that you thought played a significant role. Explain. (2 points)

Question One

The prop that I think was done well in the Show is Mimi’s candle or Mimi’s stash. In Light, My Candle duet song between Mimi and Roger, Mimi enters Roger’s house holding the candle. I think the song is a flirting song between the couple after Mimi asked roger for alight. The prop was done effectively since it is an accurate representation of lighting someone’s life with love.

Question 2

Rent explores issues about Aids, as evidenced by the Will I prop. It was an inspiration from something that Jonathan Larson was taught at an HIV support group conference. Larson regularly attended the meetings while working on Rent. The group meetings were established in 1991 to support a group of individuals living with AIDs in New York and other life-threatening ailments. The song Will I showcase the stigmatization that patients with AIDS and different life-threatening illness experience in contemporary society.

Question 3

Rent depends heavily on the employment of props and less on the set design, whereas Shrek the musical relies heavily on Costumes since it plays an integral part in the portrayal of themes n the show. Despite their differences, both Shows revolve around an act of heroism and food will to society.

Question 4

I believe that Rent is an exemplary musical show because of its ability to makes the narrative of the Puccini opera available to young people. It also captures and explores the punk-rock Bohemian culture of the 1990s. The music employed in the show makes it alive and loved, and I think that the visceral reaction plays an instrumental part in what makes this piece of art exemplary. However, I sometimes found the show failing to tell a coherent story. Too often, I realized the shows stopping to give room for actors to serenade the audience from the lip of the stage and seldom make it feel earned. In other words, I believe that it is possible to lose sight of the plot between the operatic emotion and scream-signing.