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Revamped Rent to close in West End
Amar Singh, Evening Standard3 Jan 2008
The musical Rent is to close next year after being mauled by critics and failing to draw large audiences.
The production, which was given a "21st-century makeover" by Kylie Minogue's creative director William Baker, will end its tenure at the Duke of York theatre in February, and no other venue has been lined up.
A Rent spokesman said: "It's been difficult. The producers decided to call it a day at the Duke of York."
The musical - set in New York in the early days of Aids - was one of the first Broadway shows to feature gay, bisexual and lesbian characters. But critics dubbed Baker's revamp a failure and complained of forgettable songs and a plot lacking focus.
It will be replaced by the Young Vic's South African show The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo.
Reader views (1)
Rent 'Remixed' has been an absolute disaster. It's ridiculous that an attempt was made to adapt the original, which is an absolutely amazing show.
For all the true Rent-heads out there, this adaptation was the worst thing to happen to musical theatre, and I hope the original will hit the West End soon.
- Hayley, Manchester, 03/03/2009 23:42
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