Rent/Characters

RENT

Originally played by Anthony Rapp

Adorkable
Expy: Of Marcello, the painter, from La Boheme.
Heterosexual Life Partners: With Roger.
How We Got Here: Inverted by Halloween. "How did we get here, how the hell..."
The Ishmael: Mark. There really is no central character, though the movie would like to believe it's Roger, it seems.
Jewish and Nerdy
Le Film Artistique: Mark's raison d'être.
Man Hug: Mark and Roger on several occasions, most notably at the end of "What You Own" (only in the movie, they don't actually see each other in the show).
Stepford Smiler: While he's always attempting to be Roger's happy, supportive best friend, the song "Halloween" marks him (pun intended) as someone contemplative, mournful, and terrified of the reality of his situation. And when I capture it on film, will it mean that it's the end and I'm alone?
Unreliable Narrator

Originally played by Adam Pascal

Big No: In "Finale A".
Character Development: He eventually defrosts, thanks to his friends and Mimi.
Defrosting Ice King
Don't You Dare Pity Me!
Driven to Suicide: April, Roger's girlfriend before the start of the show. All she left Roger was a note informs him only that they tested positive in their HIV antibody test, before slitting her wrists.
Expy: Of Rodolfo, the poet, from La Boheme.

Originally played by Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rosario Dawson in The Movie)

Ambiguously Brown: Mimi is said to be Latina, but since her first actress was half-black, more than one fully-black (and dark-skinned) actress has played her as well.
Dawson Casting: Mimi "You look like you're sixteen." "I'm nineteen, but I'm old for my age!" Marquez (though, since many of the other characters are only mid-twenties, the potential exists for them as well).
Died in Your Arms Tonight: Only in the Dutch production.
Disney Death: Mimi, who is saved through The Power of Rock... alongside a heavy dose of Fridge Logic/slight Mind Screw.
Expy: Of, well, Mimi, the seamstress, from La Boheme.
Fan Service: The only reason why in the film, "Out Tonight" is performed while Mimi is at work instead of at her apartment like in the play.
Hooker with a Heart of Gold: She's an exotic dancer rather than a hooker, but follows this trope all the same.
Manic Pixie Dream Girl: Mimi to Roger.
Spared by the Adaptation
Too Kinky to Torture: It's a living ...

Originally played by Jesse L. Martin

Originally played by Wilson Jermaine Heredia

Ambiguous Gender: Literally speaking, as opposed to "ambiguous sex." Usually referred to with female pronouns, but doesn't seem to mind masculine ones.
Bury Your Gays
Expy: Of Schaunard, the musician, from La Boheme.
Drag Queen
The Heart
Magical Queer
Meaningful Funeral
Refuge in Audacity: The reason we can forgive Angel for killing Evita.
Sidekick Song: "Today 4 U".
Wholesome Crossdresser
- Transsexual: Arguably. At least she's gender queer.

Originally played by Idina Menzel

Anything That Moves
Expy: Of Musetta, the singer, from La Boheme.
Ladykiller in Love
Manic Pixie Dream Girl: To Joanne. Was probably this for Mark, as well.
The Masochism Tango: The tango...Maureen.
Sidekick Song: "Over the Moon"
So Beautiful It's a Curse: As she states in "Take Me Or Leave Me" to justify how she acts.

Originally played by Fredi Walker (Traci Thoms in The Movie)

Closer to Earth: Compared to the rest of her circle of friends, she is the only one with a high-paying, steady, professional career, and is basically the only thing keeping Maureen and Mark from imploding.
Expy: To a lesser extent than the other characters, but she does vaguely parallel Alcindoro from La Boheme.
Green-Eyed Monster: Though mostly because being with Maureen forces her to be extra paranoid whenever it looks like she may be flirting with someone.
The Masochism Tango
Twofer Token Minority: Black and a lesbian.

Originally played by Taye Diggs