When you hear the word, "Rent" do you break out your checkbook? You need not think about bouncing any checks with the Broadway hit musical, "Rent" as it has returned to Los Angeles for a six-week limited engagement at the Shubert Theatre in Century City. "Rent" closely follows a community of struggling twenty-something artists, who all live in an apartment building on the Lower East Side. The diverse group must deal with the harsh realities that life has to offer. From drugs, homelessness and prostitution to homosexuality and the hardships of living with HIV, these are just a few of the topics incorporated into "Rent." The stellar performances of the cast of characters were flawless. I especially enjoyed the character of Mimi Marquez, an S & M dancer, played by Daphne Rubin-Vega and Roger Davis, a musician played by Dean Balkwill. I also admired the acting of the character Mark Cohen, a filmmaker and the show's narrator played by Trey Ellett. Mark's ex-girlfriend, Maureen Johnson, played by Erin Keaney left him for another woman rounded the talented cast.

Some of the more memorable scenes in the play that come to mind are "Light My Candle," a seductive duet between Roger and Mimi towards the beginning of Act I and "Over the Moon," a solo performance by Maureen near the end of the first act. In the middle of Act II, "I'll Cover You: Reprise" dealt with losing a loved one to HIV. This was an emotional highpoint for many audience members. Director Michael Greif does an exceptional job as does the band behind the music. The Shubert Theatre offers a state-of-the-art sound system that highlighted the harmony of the orchestra. The creator and writer of "Rent," Jonathan Larson unexpectedly died of an aortic aneurysm just hours after "Rent's" final dress rehearsal off-Broadway. "Rent" won the 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Julie Goshen, 23, from Los Angeles said, "'Rent' offers something for most anyone. The acting, music and performance was exceptional. It's the best musical I've ever seen." Performances of "Rent" run from Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m.. Matinee performances run on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. For general ticket information, call the Shubert Theatre at (800) 447-7400.