Jonathan Larson’s “RENT” is based on the French “La Bohema.” Both shows look at the underprivileged people and the effects of society on these people. “RENT” is set in the streets of New York, whereas “La Bohema” is set in Paris. There are similar characters in both productions, however in “RENT,” the characters are also faced with HIV and drug problems as well as being sexually diverse.

The second time I saw “RENT” was in downtown Los Angeles in 1998. By this time, the audience had most likely heard of the show and knew what it was all about when they bought tickets for it. The audience at this showing was much younger and more casually dressed. Some of the people were dressed in bohemian wear, similar to the characters. Everyone at this show seemed to enjoy the content, or could even relate to a problem the characters face. The audience in Los Angeles was part of what Negus calls “the young generation.” This generation challenges the normal conventions of musical theater and “developed a ‘subculture’ that combined new attitudes to sexual relationships” (Negus, 13). In Los Angeles, the audience was accepting of differences in sexuality and the repercussions that go along with it. The audience even clapped and enjoyed the part where Maureen, a performance artist, is holding a demonstration. Her demonstration included a provocative song and dance, during which she pulls her pants down and moons the audience. In Palm Desert, the audience turned away at this part, but in Los Angeles, people cheered.

Over half the main characters in “RENT” are infected with HIV and about the same percentage of the characters are homosexual. The whole show is based around Mark and Roger who are faced with eviction from their apartment because they cannot make the rent. Some of the characters do not have jobs and others spend all their money on drugs. Mimi, the female lead, is an exotic dancer so she can earn drug money. Throughout the show, the characters’ pagers

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