The Editor Speaks: There are many comparisons in my religious play and the gay/drug themed RENT one currently playing at The Playhouse.
I had not seen or even read the synopsis of the musical RENT currently playing to packed houses at The Prospect Playhouse until the last two weeks. Please see my review of it published in iNews Cayman today.
In fact reading the synopsis it didn’t seem to have any comparisons at all with “13th Apostle and the Disciple of Demons” the last play I have written or will ever write.
Astonishingly it did.
Both show the best and worse side of the human race. RENT even has a miracle – 13th Apostle obviously has many. RENT starts and finishes with the birth of Christ – Christmas. 13th Apostle starts with Christ’s Ascension and finishes as it starts with an Angel. RENT has ANGEL bringing back Mimi from the dead. RENT has prostitution and 13th Apostle has Mary Magdalene adopting the role of a prostitute.
RENT shows how people change – even though they try not to. A musician changes from his hatred of being in a relationship because of what happened and refusing to believe he can forge another. He does. 13th Apostle has a once disciple of Christ turning his back on everything and joining the side of the persecutors. However, at the end he gets his faith back.
RENT has the timid becoming strong. 13th Apostle does exactly the same. Matthias (the 13th Apostle) is first portrayed as a very insignificant scared man (the hated chief tax collector who hides from everyone) to become a brave man prepared to die for his faith.
RENT has a death at the end of ACT 1. 13th Apostle has a death at the end of ACT 1.
RENT has a protest march and so does 13th Apostle.
RENT is a musical. Whilst I would not call 13th Apostle a musical it does have music and dance.
The most sobering one is yet to be fulfilled. The writer of RENT, Jonathan Larson, died the night before the Off-Broadway premiere. As I have confessed I have cancer and was first given only 6 months to live 7 months ago!
I think I will stop now with the comparisons!
“13th Apostle and the Disciple of Demons” plays at St George’s Anglican Church Hall Thu – Sat Oct 22-24 show starting at 7:30pm and Sun Oct 25 starting at 3pm.
There will be a special performance in aid of the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association of the Cayman Islands at The Prospect Playhouse on Bank Holiday Monday 9th November at 7:30pm.
