#this is super long and somewhat unedited so read at your own risk but

[lightmycandle]

Things I Learned From NYTW RENT AKA

Stringing Together My Incoherent Thoughts

Voice Mail #1

- The speakkk in this sounds like they hate life. Honestly same.

- Roger worked at a bar and was fired

- Mark was cut off financially

Splatter

- IM SORRY WHAT

- 20 seconds of awful Roger music and then the opening number starts playing?

- This sounds much slower

- WHAT THE ACTUAL-

- ????

- TW SUICIDAL THOUGHTS: MARK WANTS TO KILL HIMSELF BY JUMPING OUT THE WINDOW

- THATS WHY THIS SONG IS CALLED SPLATTER

- THIS IS SO MORBID

- Oh ok that’s not Adam

- What is going on with this music? It gets weirdly faster but immediately slows down im so confused

- Mark is definitely taking his and Maureen’s breakup harder here

- Every time they say “last month’s rent” instead of “last year’s rent” it throws me off

- The transition to “you ok honey” is just not it

- I can’t get over how different Collins and Joanne sound

- Ngl I miss my bass baritone Collins :(

- There is absolutely no chemistry in Cangel’s interaction whatsoever

- I’m still so shocked over how morbid this is-

- So basically Marker are both very much not ok

- The reason Mark’s parents cut him off was because he wasn’t a business major?

- I’m so glad they changed the ending to “cause everything is rent”

- Well, that was an experience

You’re A Fool

- “For someone cool you’re a fool” and then Mark’s little dejected “I know” 💀

- Do Marker even like each other? Or are they both just depressed besties-

- “Some of our parents don’t pay our bills” isn’t Mark cut off??

- “Mr. Negative cause he’s HIV positive” is such a low blow, I can’t believe that was once a Mark line considering he’s always supporting Roger, as well as telling him to go out and talking sense into him

- The lyrics are a bit bland and somewhat mean but overall I’m vibing to the music

- Ok so Mark still does try to get Roger to go out

- “I don’t fit in anymore, all right?!” hurts. I don’t know if he’s saying that because he feels as though he needs to spend all his time writing or if he’s saying that because he’s just depressed and he doesn’t have the energy to do the things he once loved

- Mark is obviously very upset at the thought of Roger dying, but doesn’t want to show it too much. He just wants to make as many memories as he can with him, and wants him to at least have fun and be surrounded by people who love him before he goes. So now I’m starting to see more of final-version-Rent Mark poke through.

- “If you only knew - I spend so much time obsessing, it’s depressing.” Woah I actually relate a lot to that Mark w h a t

- I kinda love how we get to see Mark’s personality and know a bit more about him. In the final version, we don’t really know a lot about Mark because he’s basically narrating (which is fine) until Roger calls him out before he leaves for Santa Fe

- WOAH HOW THE TABLES HAVE TURNED

- THEYRE CALLING EACH OTHER OUT NOW JUST LIKE THEY DO IN GOODBYE LOVE

Today 4 U

- THEY REALLY CHANGED THE ORDER A LOT HUH

- “Whose music is the purest on the Bowery I believe” ANGEL AS A BOWERY BEAUTY NEWSIES AU

- This song sounds the closest to the final version

- “toDay for you”

- The only difference so far that I’ve noticed is that Angel says “work so well” instead of “go so well”

- THE LINE DELIVERY FOR “That dog is now in doggy hell” I AM SCREAMING

Do A Little Business

- What exactly is going on in this song

- ✨ Benny is unhinged 😍 ✨

- LOL MARK IS SO ENTHUSIASTIC TO SEE HIM /s

- I forgot Angel was even here 💀

- “What kind of hag - I mean dog, do you have?” I AM LOSING IT

- “Evita’s an Akita” “Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.” JAIL

- I’m actually scared of Benny this man is vicious what is going on

- What is with the random Today 4 U music but at the end??

- I guess Mimi doesn’t exist 😍

Female to Female A

- If they would’ve kept this, then in Take Me or Leave Me Maureen would’ve been projecting because she’s being a little controlling rn

- Maureen’s manipulativeness is already showing

- “It’s times like these I really appreciate Mark” YOU DID NOT JUST SAY THAT-

Come to the Meeting

- I like the “Benny was a dilettante, Benny met a debutante” lyric a lot

- Roger has a car that originally belonged to April

- Angel asks about April instead of Mimi, because she simply does not exist 😍

- Mark honey you’re being a bit too harsh

- TW SELF HARM: I think I’m having trouble with the context clues here but I think Roger was a cutter :/

- Well this is just upsetting, I just feel really bad for these fictional characters ugh

He Says

- WOAH THIS IS THE SAME MELODY TO GOODBYE LOVE

- “He says he doesn’t think that love is possible anymore” “It’s not!” HEAVY FORESHADOWING. Mimi has to exist now, it only makes sense

- “One day I’ll/he’ll fix that car she left me/him and fly” Does this mean Roger’s success or his death??

- Gosh I feel a lot more sympathy for Mark in this version. Before, in the final version, I felt sorry for him because I could only imagine how scary it was for him to be the “one of us to survive” but at the same time he literally came from Scarsdale. Like sir you come from a rich neighborhood, have parents that seem to care about you and you’re out here claiming to be a struggling artist? At least you can just move back upstate when it gets too rough, the others can’t. However at the same time I wondered if maybe his family were toxic and controlling; but in this one I know a bit more about the backstory

- “I don’t believe a word he says.” I SERIOUSLY LOVE MARK. THATS ALL.

- I swear I recognize the melody at the very end of this song but I can’t pinpoint it

- OH MY GOSH

- OH NO IM GONNA CRY

- ROGER IS SINGING THE BEGINNING OF “WILL I” AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HIS ONE GREAT SONG AT THE SAME TIME AND SHHSHSBSUSBGAU

- My heart HURTS

- I kinda wish this would’ve been kept in, it’s so real and raw (the whole musical is but still)

The Right Brain

- ONE SONG GLORY YES

- Wait what never mind it’s called the right brain and has completely different lyrics

- “I lost my map” DOES ANYBODY HAVE A MAP ANYBODY MAYBE HAPPEN TO KNOW HOW-

- I really really like this but I can see why the lyrics were changed

- Roger screaming “right brain” instead of “glory” is absolutely sending me

- Someone called this the Zombie Version of Rent and I am crying

- That final “riiiiiight braaaaiiiinnnnn” PLEASE

- I AM SO CONFUSED

- WAIT A MINUTE

- Oh. Ok. So there’s… that.

- I’m cringing ahhh

- Oh gosh that was so off key I can’t

- This song is such a bop I’ve replayed it again but “time diiiiiiiiiiies, right braaaaaaaaainnnnn, can’t find the riiight braiiinn” 💀💀💀💀💀

- OH MY GOSH LIGHT MY CANDLE IS STARTING EVERYONE BE QUIET

- “The door!” This song really broke my already broken humor

Light My Candle

- Why does this sound like Contact?

- Oh ok there’s the LMC I know and love

- I kinda liked that buildup

- “I’m not going?” MARK??

- MIMI EXISTS!!!!!!

- Wait is this Daphne? It sounds a lot like her but doesn’t at the same time

- “What?” OK ITS DEFINITELY DAPHNE

- The knock sounds so loud in this one considering how soft they’re singing

- IM USED TO HEARING ROGERS DISBELIEVING GIGGLE WHEN HE SAYS “WHAT” BUT THIS “WHAT” MADE ME LAUGH SO HARD THIS MAN IS PROBABLY IN A TRANCE

- Someone said Roger sounds high and I couldn’t agree more lol. Also Mimi sounds somewhat ghostly to me? Does that make sense? As if she’s just some sort of phantom drifting along. I feel like Renée Elise Goldsberry’s Mimi acted ghostly during LMC too and Daphne’s was more desperate but fiery? I’ve always loved both portrayals of it, but it’s interesting to see the changes. I think because this version is significantly slower and feels almost deathly is the reason why she sounds like this

- “Here it-oh, no.” ROGER REALIZING HIS DUMB MISTAKE LOL

- “A candy bar wrapper” THAT WAS AWFUL(LY GOOD) VOICE ACTING. MIMI DEFINITELY DOESNT BELIEVE YOU NOW SO 10/10

- The “Mimi” part is a little longer

- LMC is the best song in Rent, no I am not taking any criticism - it just is

On the Street/Voice Mail #2

- The way this guy says “Christmas bells are ringing” 💀

- Joanne’s parents call her “Muffin” instead of “Kitten”

Female to Female B

- “It’s times like these I really appreciate Mark” “I heard you before” “How can someone so bright be so utterly in the dark?” I’m forming the Joanne Deserves Better club, does anyone want to join? /j

- “Isn’t it enough that I put up everyday with a temperamental, selfish, abusive-” YES JOANNE CALL HER OUT

- “And sexy.” *Rolls eyes*

- This song is actually really good

- Gosh their relationship is so toxic in this

- “I love you Maureen!” *a few seconds later* “I hate you Maureen!”

Another Day

- ANOTHER DAY LETS GO

- ���No.” IM SCREAMING IM SO USED TO ADAM’S DRAMATIC, DESPERATE “NO!”

- I love the “Come back another day, another dayyyy, annnottther another daaayyy!” and the change in music

- “Your pain I see, your heart’s been burned. You’re just like me before I learned” THIS IS BOTH SO HEARTBREAKING AND SENSITIVE.

- “No other way” OK DAPHNE

- Im so glad “Honey get real, here’s the deal - it’s time for you to book I mean look you’re cute but I don’t buy that spiel” was cut. It drags the song on unnecessarily

- “Your anger’s real but just beware it’s a waste to feel that fate’s unfair, there’s no such thing as tragedy I can’t resent what’s meant to be” W H Y W A S T H I S C U T

On the Street #2

- THIS WHISTLING I JUST SNORTED

- I mean, I can’t whistle either so I shouldn’t be talking

- “Ahnest living man! 😒 *cartoon car skiddering noises* Feliz Navidad! 🙄”

- Why does “evening officers” sound so ominous-

- I can’t tell if the person playing the blanket/homeless person is running out of breath or if the audio was somehow cut

- Ok I think it’s the audio, Angel sounded really quiet for a second

Santa Fe

- Collins’ voice never ceases to surprise me

- “I preach!” “Hallelujah!” I did not expect that-

- “I beat the drum of apocalypse like orchestras on sinking ships” Is this a reference to both the aids epidemic and Titanic?

- It sounds like Collins says “you’re a sensitive a see” instead of “you’re a sensitive aesthete”

- “We’ll open up a restaurant” and “gains gains gains” interesting change??

I’ll Cover You

- The beginning is very very different

- “We’ll never be that desperate” “You’ll never have to be”

- OK ANGEL COME THROUGH WITH THE VOCALS YES AND THIS MUSIC OK

- “Open your door” Um no not with you sounding like that

- I AM LOSING IT SOMEONE SAID THIS CANGEL SOUNDS LIKE AN EPISODE OF CRIMINAL MINDS

- I miss the “yea yea yea yea yea” :(

Will I?

- Dang not them going from a (semi creepy) love song to a heart shattering support group session

You’ll Get Over It

- I SWEAR THAT FIRST NOTE SOUNDS SO MUCH LIKE THE FIRST NOTE IN “FALSETTOLAND/ABOUT TIME”

- “It’s times like these” IS THIS FALSETTOS?! THEY LITERALLY SAY “It’s about time don’t you think” IN THERE

- I mean… Falsettos did come out in ‘92

- Maureen how many times are you going to think about your ex boyfriend? You’re in a new relationship now, either respect her enough to break up with her or go get some therapy

- OH MARK IS ACTUALLY HERE NEVERMIND

- Why is she calling him “honey” and “baby” when she’s literally dating someone-

- Oh gosh please don’t tell me the reason Mark lost weight is because he’s genuinely starving (like in the opening number they say that they’re “hungry (and frozen)”)

- Mark is not having any of it. Good for him.

- WAIT MAUREEN IS THE ONE TO SAY THAT HER SAMPLES WONT DELAY SO THAT MEANS THERES NO TANGO MAUREEN NOO

- Now I’ll never know if Mark is from Scarsdale in this version 😔

- OH GOSH NOW I SEE WHY THEY CUT THIS

- This makes Mark slightly unlikeable, immature even

- “How’s it going?” “Not good. I’m depressed” OMG ME TOO BESTIE

- Mark reminds me of this nice guy™️ I used to know

- “Anyway, I treated you like dirt - you’ll get over it!” MA’AM?! HOW CAN YOU BE SO CASUAL ABOUT THIS?

- Oh that’s because her abusive tendencies are normal for her

- Ok I take it back, Mark isn’t a nice guy ™️ he’s just salty and has every right to be. I still don’t like what he said earlier though uGh

- WHEW OK NEVER MIND I MEANT WHAT I SAID EARLIER

- I can’t express how much I hate this, Mark is becoming so unlikeable and Maureen is just being her usual self

- The music is good but the lyrics just make Mark seem awful ugh and that’s fine if that’s what they’re going for but I’m still gonna hate him :)

- TW SEXUAL ASSAULT: MARK PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON’T TELL ME YOU ACTUALLY GROPED MAUREEN

- Oh gosh that’s so gross of him I truly hate Mark so much

Christmas Bells

- Mark saying “Maureen?” after Roger points out Mimi makes much more sense in this context

- Mark’s “woah!” isn’t nearly as funny as it is in the cast recording: 0/10 /hj

- The transition from the whole follow the man thing to the apology to the man being angry to Roger snapping at him has always been one of my favorite moments and this one did not disappoint

- I can’t decide whether I like the extra lines that the man has or whether I liked that it was cut

- I think I do like it actually

- Joanne is ✨ fed up ✨

- That “to” in “and it’s beginning to” was way too long

- Why does Maureen’s “last night I had this dream” sound so… weird? Almost robotic? Idk

- I was expecting “Joanne which way to the stage” but Joanne seems done with Maureen so it makes sense it’s not here

Over the Moon

- What even is going on in this version?

- TW: GORE/VIOLENCE: “She gauged her eyes out!” OK JUMP SCARE WARNING THIS ISN’T SWEENEY TODD

- NYTW Rent is back to being morbid 🤩

- Maureen is sounding more and more unhinged (which is ironic because I called Benny unhinged earlier and he’s the exact person she’s protesting against)

- Do I hear the music to Jaws?

- The person (Karen Oberlin?) who played Maureen for the first staged reading said that Maureen was supposed to be similar to Laurie Anderson? Which is apparently a stark contrast from the final version of Maureen?

- “The mOOon” MAUREEN WHAT ARE YOU ON

- This music is making my anxiety spike up for no apparent reason

- Never mind it’s the impending doom (that isn’t coming)

- Oh wait nvm I forgot this is a sad musical-

- How are you just going to say “Thank you” and leave after doing whatever the heck that was???

La Vie Boheme Part 1

- The waiter sounds more defeated in this than panicked. Cool.

- Mark’s “what?!” is also more toned down. I miss dramatic, loud Mark

- I was wondering why Anthony’s voice sounded so different all of a sudden and it’s because they had Roger say the “that’s a lie…I had a tea the other day” lines

- Please don’t start singing “do a little business” again

- RIP Blockbuster

- I’ve always loved how Benny’s voice sounds (at least when Taye Diggs, Rodney Hicks, and Jared Bedgood sing it) when he sings “a bright a charming girl like you…a fallacy in your head) but this just missed the mark imo :/

- Benny sounds like he’s trying to hard to be a villain but it’s just not working, he just sounds cuckoo

- “Hey sister, she’s my sister” So is Benny’s father in law not there or..?

- Ok I have never heard this next part (after “carmina burana”) before? And I can barely make out what they’re saying so I’m glad they cut it

- “Starring his former lovers current female lover as himself” w a i t w h a t a m i n o t g e t t i n g

- THEY CHANGED BENNY’S “Your new boyfriend doesn’t know about us” to MARK SAYING “Meet you in the bathroom” UM-

- “Another brother?” “Ex lover” Ok

- I FEEL SO BAD FOR ROGER AFTER HE STRUGGLES TO PLAY HIS SONG - MARK SAYS “Not now Roger” PLEASE 😭

- “I’ve been trying…I’ve got baggage” Roger sounds pretty decent here

La Vie Boheme Part 2

- This starts off so sarcastic too I love it

- “Send back your ghost or else we’ll have to get real jobs” Oop 👀

- Roger says the “Food of love…heavy competition” lines along with Angel

- Maureen sings the “Revolution…making pleas!” lines by herself

- “The opposite of war isn’t peace it’s creation” IM SO GLAD THEY KEPT THE MUSIC GOING AND CHANGED THE WAY THAT LINE WAS DELIVERED IN THE FINAL VERSION

- That ending was… underwhelming

I Should Tell You

- Bruh when is this song gonna start?

- JUST TELL EACH OTHER ALREADY

- “I can’t sleep at night, I’m scared to close my eyes” This is so sad. I know this is a fictional character but geez this girl is a literal teenager and dealing with so much

- “I’m so filled with fright, I rarely share, I criticize” this poor man is so depressed and it’s making me sad

- I really am loving this version, they’re both airing out their flaws before proceeding with a relationship and it’s emotional

- Never mind, what is going on with these lyrics

- I love that the “here goes” at the end made it to the final version

WHEW THAT WAS A LOT.

TIME FOR ACT TWO BESTIES!

Seasons of Love

- Ah yes, Seasons of Love

- This sounds so good-

- Is this slower than the final version?

- They sing “although it’s not the end” instead of “though the story never ends”

- WOAH IS THAT OUT TONIGHT?!

Out Tonight

- IT IS OUT TONIGHT

- It’s crazy how this is in act 2

- “I’ve got an itch - to be a b*tch” LOL

- “I need to laugh like a child” I’m genuinely so confused as to where this lyric came from

- It’s “Valentine’s Day” instead of “Christmas Day” here

- I WAS SO CONFUSED BEFORE REALIZING MAUREEN WAS THE ONE TALKING

- “Forget me not” Why is this man so dramatic 💀 this is giving me last day of school “HAGS!” vibes and I don’t know why-

- “Mark stop crying” I almost feel sorry for him

- “No this is not a phase I’m going through” !!!

- I’m starting to like this Maureen-

- “He loves me - he loves me more” I SWEAR IF ANGEL WAS IN THE BACKGROUND PICKING OFF PETALS DURING THIS I AM GOING TO DIE

Seasons of Love B

- This song placement makes no sense?

- Maybe the final version is faster than this one to show how little time they have left?

Voice Mail #3

- When the phone rang, and I half expected someone to go “Dr. Mendel please”

- “April is the cruelest month” I think February is but ok

- “Anyone but Mark, please leave a message” Who wants to join me on the (Demo) Mark Cohen is canceled train 😍

- Seriously is this man just harassing her with calls everyday? That’s creepy. She’s moved on, and so should he.

Without You

- Maureen is singing “Without You”?!

- I’m sorry but I don’t think it makes much sense for Maureen (and Joanne) to be singing this song. Maureen seemed like she didn’t even care about Joanne so saying things like “But I die without you” doesn’t add up. Unless she means “my toxicity dies without you and I need you in order to fuel my manipulation.”

- It’s very telling that Joanne sings the “Without you… the lungs breathe” part

Voice Mail #4

- “We went to steal an air conditioner” “We’ll be right back!” IM SCREAMING

- “Professor Collins” EW I AM NOT USED TO HEARING HIM CALLED THAT

- “He said he was gonna steal an air conditioner, maybe this isn’t the right number” LOL THIS IS THE SAME MAN WHO LATER REWIRES AN ATM

Contact

- Oh gosh no it’s ✨ contact ✨

- I don’t know how to feel about the first 15 seconds

- Never mind, it’s plain weird

- Angel’s “take me” sounds almost painful :( poor baby is SUFFERING

- “It’s over” Once again, Collins sounds like he’s going to commit a crime

I’ll Cover You Reprise

- TIME FOR S A D

- “Live in my house” I hate that I cringed

- I feel so bad but this Collins is just NOT. IT. The lines that are heavy with emotion (whether it’s grief or joy) always come across as creepy

- He sounds less creepy as the song goes on, so I’ll give him that

Goodbye Love

- I swear if Halloween isn’t in this, I’m going to riot

- “You said that you were leaving town last week” “You said that Benny was the most disgusting yuppie scum of the earth” THESE LYRICS SHEESH

- Maureen says “You said you’d give me some space” instead of “Who said I was talking to you” and this oddly sounds more mature of her than the final version?

- Mark’s “Calm down” and “Everyone please” in the background gives me “Oh no! Anyway” vibes. This man is saying this in the least alarming, non-forceful way ever. HE’S LIVING FOR THE DRAMA

- For a high energy/emotion song, it’s so slow

- “I gave a mile” “When you weren’t trashed” THAT WAS KINDA LOW

- LOL BENNY AND MARK SAYING “Come on guys chill” IN THE ABSOLUTE MOST UNFAZED WAY EVER IS SENDING ME THEY BOTH COULDN’T CARE LESS AND ARE HAPPY TO SEE THIS HAPPEN

- “Don’t give up Joanne?” Excuse me?? You cheated on her and was abusive

- “I live for you” Maureen this is so incredibly manipulative I can’t

- I missed Adam Pascal’s “ALLLLLLLLLLL YOUR WORDS ARE NICE MIMI”

- I’m so so happy they changed “one way street” to “three way street” because it makes more sense (Benny, Roger, heroin) and hits harder

- Wondering why they changed “tonight” into “today”

- Not the “I can’t believe this family must die - Angel helped us believe in love, I can’t believe you disagree” lines missing

- “Some of the best *voice crack* How could she?” MY HEART

- ROGER SOUNDS SO BROKEN OH MY GOSH

- “Use your right brain” LOLOL I SNORTED DO NOT BRING THAT UP IN A SONG LIKE THIS

- Everyone who has been personally victimized by Zombie Roger is entitled to financial compensation

- “I don’t know what I am” THAT LINE HURTS

- OH MY GOSH

- MARK SAYS “Who does” AND ROGER GETS ANNOYED AND SINGS “Oh God Mark, don’t you?!” AND THEN MARK IS THE ONE WHO SAYS THE “Mark has got his work…Mark hides in his work” LINES AND ROGER SAYS “From what?” AND THEN MARK SAYS “From facing my failure… facing the fact that I live a lie” THIS IS SO PERFECT I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS VERSION. I LOVE FINAL VERSION TOO BECAUSE THEY BOTH KINDA CALL EACH OTHER OUT BUT THIS IS JUST *screams*

- “You don't live a lie, tell you why. You never finished your film cause the standards you set for yourself are too high - but the fact remains that you're the one of us with the talent and the drive. The fact remains, Mark, you're the one to survive.” I AM LOSING IT

- THIS IS PERFECTION PLEASE

- I LOVE YOU JONATHAN LARSON

- “I’m afraid the burden’s gonna make me crack.” “If it does, just let me know, I’ll come back” STOP I AM ON THE VERGE OF TEARS-

- “Why’s it easier to return to a friend, than to burn with a lover till the end?” THIS LINE. THIS LINE RIGHT HERE. WHY WHY WHY WAS IT CUT.

- This is (Demo) Mark’s redemption arc oof

- “Mimi still loves Roger, Mimi’s just with Benny because Mimi’s getting weak” I AM BEGGING YOU ALL TO LISTEN TO THIS

- “I’ve gotta go” “Anything you need in Santa Fe?” “I’ll be fine - make your film” “Ok, love you. Call.” *whispers* “Love you too. I hate the fall.” IT IS TAKING EVERYTHING IN ME NOT TO START SOBBING

- I NEED TO SEE ADAM PASCAL AND ANTHONY RAPP SING THIS VERSION PLEASE IF IT’S OUT THERE GIVE ME A LINK

- Roger’s soft “You heard?” 🥺

- I’m just sitting here all sad and then Roger starts softly singing “Right brain, how do I find the right brain? I lost my map” SIR PLEASE STOP THIS IS TAKING ME OUT OF THE MOMENT

- Right brain will never not be funny

- Daphne’s voice sounds so pretty

- “Hello disease” and “They call me Mimi” being on the same note will never not crush my heart. She feels as if her disease has become her and it’s heart breaking.

- I love Mimi and Roger so much. Not necessarily together because the way they’re relationship started was just not it and they have so much work to do but I’m just rooting for them to come out on the other end ok 🥺

Real Estate

- I’m getting villain vibes from this

- Is this another “Do A Little Business”?

- Oh wait never mind it’s Angel’s burial

- I like the music in this

- “I give up” IS HALLOWEEN GOING TO START

- Ugh maybe I’m reading too much into things but the way Benny has talked to Alison this whole time irks me

- OK MUSIC COME THROUGH

- ITS GIVING ✨ QUIRKY VILLAIN ✨

- “I’m all alone” LOL I HATE THAT I LAUGHED I DID NOT EXPECT FOR HIM TO SAY THAT

- Ok I can definitely see why this was cut

- “My friends have flown or are dropping like flies.”

- LOL IM SORRY MARK I CAN’T FEEL BAD FOR YOU FOR BEING IN LOVE WITH MAUREEN AFTER LITERALLY HARASSING HER ABOUT HER SEX LIFE AND TRYING TO GET HER TO COME HAVE SEX WITH YOU-

- “My family’s nuts” I figured, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree /hj

- “I haven’t had sex in a millennium” This man is so dramatic like he could’ve said “*insert number* months” (which at least would’ve rhymed) but no he had to be dramatic

- Mark and Maureen, the drama king and queen 😍

- LOL IM SCREAMING BENNY IS TRYING TO OPEN UP A REAL ESTATE BUSINESS WITH MARK?!

- “Cohen and Coffin” I’m surprised he put Mark’s name first

- ALISON SPEAKS

- She honestly serves no purpose, I can see why she never appears on stage in the final version

- Imagine pouring out your heart and all your friend says is “hAvE yoU cOnSidEreD rEaL eStATe?”

- Ew please don’t mention that man’s name in a musical like this

- “Couldn’t we build low income housing” MARK STOP TRYING TO MAKE ME LIKE YOU

- Benny’s voice reminds me so much of those villainy voices on animated kids shows back in the day. Specifically the Magician from Frosty the Snowman (I barely remember what that man sounds like so please do not ask me to elaborate 💀).

- THIS CHANGE IN MUSIC WHAT IS HAPPENING

- IS ALISON FROM THE COUNTRY? IS THAT WHY THE CALLED HER A DEBUTANTE EARLIER SINCE THOSE THINGS ARE USUALLY IN THE SOUTH?

- “Any idiot can turn on a camera and shoot hobos” Alison, I hate you 😍

- “Last year filthy bum-“ “Person!” “Ok, filthy person.” I’M HONESTLY SO SHOCKED SHE SAID THAT BUT THEN AGAIN BENNY USES THE SAME LANGUAGE SO I SHOULDNT BE SURPRISED

- MARK I’M STARTING TO LIKE YOU MORE AND MORE FOR DOING THE BARE MINIMUM

- “I’m doomed forever to be poor” I KEEP FORGETTING THAT MARK ISN’T FROM SCARSDALE IN THIS AND THAT HE’S CUT OFF

- OH MY GOSH WAIT NO I THINK HE IS FROM SCARSDALE IN THIS VERSION BECAUSE BENNY SAYS “Meet you back in Scarsdale”

- MARK YOU ARE FRUSTRATING ME

- “Last year crummy boho goon, next year corporate tycoon” I.HATE.YOU.ALISON.

- MARK ROLLING HIS R 💀

Open Road

- “No you can’t save the world, better save your heart” PAIN

- I think I hear some Another Day undertones

- Roger is really concerning me

- I knows he’s talking about Mimi, but I can’t help but feel like he’s talking about April too

- This song is weirding me out, as I’m worried that he is going to have a breakdown

Voice Mail #5

- I don’t speak Spanish but I feel like the person playing Mimi’s mother definitely doesn’t either 💀

- Hm Roger’s moving to Brooklyn? That’s interesting, I wonder why he just didn’t go back to Manhattan (but the memories are too painful and he needs a fresh start)

- Is this… the Twilight Zone?

Finale A

- THE MUSIC TO SPLATTER IS PLAYING AGAIN I CAN ALREADY TELL THIS IS GOING TO BE GOOD

- TW SUICIDAL THOUGHTS: SO WE STARTED THE MUSICAL WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND NOW WE’RE ENDING IT WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. Great.

- They literally sound dead when singing “How we gonna pay”

- “Salutations” sounds out of character

- Creepy Collins is back at it again

- Benny demanding things from Alison (to the tune of Do A Little Business?) and then immediately singing “We are the world, we are the children” and then going back to singing to the tune of Do A Little Business tops every other unhinged thing he’s done /hj

- “No more fiction, this is an eviction” BABWHSHWHSNISKW

- OH MY GOSH I HATE BENNY I HATE BENNY I HATE BENNY SO MUCH

- YES ROGER TELL ALISON THE TRUTH

- “Markkkk!” OH NO MY HEART DROPPED NO

- It sounds like Roger is saying “Gooooo!” instead of the usual “Nooooo!”

- Oh no the Halloween music :(

- ROGERS “Over here, Oh God” WAS SO SOFT

- THIS POOR BOY

- “Collins will get you a doctor, honey” IM ABOUT TO CRY FR

- COLLINS COUNTING HIS MONEY AND ONLY HAVING $16 - THIS LUMP IN MY THROAT IS GETTING BIGGER

- “Wait, I’ll sell the camera” MY JAW DROPPED

- MY EYES ARE WATERY

- I’m so confused by Collins’ lyrics in this

- “I finished the film” “That’s great” MAUREEN IS NOT HAVING IT AND HONESTLY SHE SHOULDN’T BECAUSE ??? A 20 YEAR OLD WOMAN IS DYING - NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR FILM I UNDERSTAND YOU MIGHT BE TRYING TO GET YOUR MIND OFF THINGS BUT THIS IS NOT IT

- “It’s called, Today 4 U: Proof Positive” Mark sweetie stop trying she doesn’t care

- Mark and Maureen praying/pleading for Mimi to live-

- Mimi’s panicked “Don’t go!”

- They both say “I love you” at the same time 🥺

- Them singing “I Should Tell You” again is really sweet

- Ok so apparently Collins was singing to his coat (I guess because he was going to give it to Mimi?) so his lyrics make sense now

- Rogers’ voice getting louder when he sings “Who goes there” makes me think he’s screaming this at death, like he wants it to leave the people he loves alone

- I really love how this version doesn’t include Your Eyes, it’s just a short instrumental bit of it. It’s more impactful imo

Finale B

- “Moonstruck! The theme from moonstruck! Mooooooooooon!” W h a t

- Maureen says “She’s drenched” and Mark sings “Her fever’s breaking” I’m kinda confused as to why they changed it in the final version to Collins and Maureen

- “No day but today” *chefs kiss*

OK I’M DONE LISTENING AND THAT WAS A ROLLERCOASTER. Anyways, “The Right Brain” unfortunately lives rent free in my head now 😔 send help

[generic-blog-name-69]

Could you do a Race Higgins x reader where the reader is Spots younger sister and he’s super protective (along with the rest of the Brooklyn boys)? I know it’s kind of a cliche one lol but I love the big brother trope for him :)

A/n: Sure! This got a lot later than I originally thought it was going to be. I also combined this with another idea that I had, I hope that’s okay! I hope you enjoy! Also, this is unedited so read at your own risk.

Words: 3,298 ----------------

“Zebra escapes the zoo! Get the story right here!” you called out in a desperate attempt to sell more papes. The headline was garbage today, as usual, and you were trying everything you could to sell even ten. After all, you were saving up for dance lessons. Well, you, your brother, Spot Conlon, and the other Brooklyn newsies. 

Eventually, you managed to sell your last pape, and you started to head back to the Brooklyn Newsboy Lodging House. Normally, girls weren’t allowed to be newsies, but since your big brother was the King of Brooklyn, they made an exception.

“Hey, (y/n),” some of the newsies called out in greeting.

“Hey.”

You walked up and put what money you weren’t going to need for dinner or breakfast in the “dance jar”, which was just a normal jar, but it was where the newsies put whatever money they could spare to help pay for your dance lessons. After a couple of months of doing this, the jar was almost to the top. You loved your newsie family. 

You went over to your bed to read for a bit before dinner. A shadow fell across you, and you looked up to see your older brother staring down at you, grinning. 

“Hey, Spot. What’s up?” you asked, slightly confused. He didn’t grin much, so you wondered what was going on. 

“Hey, (y/n).” He sat down on the bed, still smiling. You went back to reading, thinking that if he wanted to tell you something, he would tell you. 

Several minutes later, however, he still hadn’t told you anything, and you could feel him staring at you. 

You sighed and put down your book. “If there’s something you want to tell me, just say it.”

When Spot continued to just grin at you, you added, “Is there something you want to tell me?

He scooted closer to you and showed you a handful of coins. “Guess what we have enough money for,” he prompted.

You felt your eyes widen as you squeaked out: “Dance lessons?” He nodded. You squealed with delight, getting off your bed and jumping up and down. The other newsies were laughing at you, but you didn’t care. You were going to have dance lessons!

“The first lesson is tomorrow, right after dinner.” Spot had also stood up.

“Can you wait that long?” Hotshot teased gently. Everyone laughed, including you, but you could see Spot getting a little defensive. You put your hand on his arm and softly said, “Hey.” He looked at you, and apparently could see that you weren’t mad. He calmed down a little bit and took a breath. You smiled at him and went back to reading, although your mind was focused on the dance lessons. What would your teacher be like? Would the class like you? 

Stop it, you told yourself. I’m going, and who cares if they don’t like me? My brother’s the King of Brooklyn. 

You eventually drifted off into an uneasy sleep, full of excitement for the next day. 

You practically bounced into the dance studio. You were so excited! You glanced around at your new classmates. Many of them were girls, but there were a few boys there. One in particular caught your eye. He had curly, dirty-blond hair, and piercing bright blue eyes. He looked your way, and you immediately dropped your gaze to the floor. In his dance bag, there was a packet of cigars. You didn’t smoke yourself, but you knew of a few newsies who did. 

Of course, you didn’t know if this guy was a newsie. He looked about your age, maybe a year or two older. You decided to risk looking up again, only to see that he was still looking at you. He grinned and started walking towards you. 

“Hey,” he said, grinning. 

“Hey.”

“So, you’se is takin’ dance classes?” He talked like the Brooklyn newsies did, but he had a slight accent that you had heard somewhere before. If only you could remember where…

“Huh? Oh, oh yeah. Yeah, I am.” You mentally scolded yourself about how stupid that sounded. The boy didn’t seem bothered, though. He grinned again and stuck out his hand. 

“The name’s Racetrack. Racetrack Higgins. Well, my real name is Anthony, but you’se can call me Race.” He winked at you, sending a swarm of butterflies into your stomach. It was all you could do to shake his hand.

“I’m- Manhattan!” You suddenly remembered where you had heard Racetrack’s accent before. It was the accent of a Manhattan newsie, who were pretty much the Brooklyn newsies sworn enemies. 

“You’re Manhattan?” Race asked teasingly. 

You blushed. “No, I- My name is (y/n). I was trying to figure out where I had heard your accent before.”

“Sure, Manhattan. Whatever you say.” He winked at you again. 

Before you could think of a witty reply, the music started, indicating that it was time to start the class. You and Race drifted over to the ballet bar. 

An hour later, you were a sweaty mess, but you knew that you had finally found your passion. You were grinning from ear to ear, eager to get home to tell Spot all the amazing things that had happened. 

“Hey, Manhattan,” said a voice from behind you, making you jump.

“Oh, Race. It’s you,” you said, calming down when you saw his bright blue eyes. I could very easily get lost in those eyes, you thought. 

“So, where do you live? I’ll walk you home,” he offered. 

“Oh, I- I don’t think that would be a good idea.” You immediately regretted your words when you saw the hurt look on Race’s face.

“Why not?”

“Well, I- uh, I…” You didn’t want to tell him that you lived in Brooklyn; that was sure to make him hate you. However, you didn’t have any choice but to tell him when he turned away from you. 

“I’m a Brooklyn newsie. I don’t think the others would take kindly to a Manhattan newsie on their turf,” you blurted out. Race turned back to you, looking confused, but now intrigued. 

“I never knew no girl newsie before.” He took a step towards you again. “Why’d they let you be one?”

You swallowed. “My brother’s Spot Conlon.”

Race looked shocked, then took a step away from you. 

“I- I’ll see you next week, (y/n).” Then he took off running. 

You trudged back to the Brooklyn Lodging House, your good spirits somewhat crushed. Why did he have to leave like that? You sighed. If only you weren’t from Brooklyn. If only your brother wasn’t the most feared newsie in New York. If only…

Stop it, you scolded yourself. I could “if only” all day, but that isn’t going to change the fact that Racetrack Higgins, is scared of my big brother. 

The door creaked as you opened it. You walked into the room, letting your heavy footfalls ring out. As soon as you entered the bunk room, you were greeted with a dozen voices all calling out greetings. 

“(y/n)!”

“Hey!”

“Look, (y/n)’s back!”

And there was your big brother, standing there, waiting for you. As mad as you were at him earlier, all the feelings of how amazing it felt to be dancing rushed back to you and you ran to hug him. 

“So it was good, then?” he laughed. 

“Oh, Spot, it was absolutely amazing!” You described what dancing was like, and you were so enthusiastic that some of the newsies asked you to teach you a few steps. You went to bed ecstatic, but you had no idea how much better your life would get in the morning. 

The next morning you got up to sell papers as usual. There was nothing off about your morning, except you having a bit of a spring in your step. The newsies all smiled at how happy you were. It was rare that any newsie had much to smile about, so when someone did, everyone was practically over the moon. 

By lunch you were longing to dance again. You couldn’t wait to get back into that studio, with the soft piano music floating in the air…

Before you knew it, you were dancing on the sidewalk. A small crowd had gathered to watch you, and when you were finished, everyone applauded. You blushed and picked up your pile of papers. A lot of the crowd, upon seeing that you were a newsie, bought a pape from you, sometimes paying extra. By the end of the day you were in an even better mood then you were that morning. 

You walked into the lodge in a better mood than you were normally in. It was the kind of happiness that is impossible to not be happy around, and soon all the other newsies were smiling too. 

Spot suddenly walked in smiling, and kissed you on the cheek. You smiled back at him, a little confused. He moved his hand slightly, drawing attention to the fact that he was holding something.

“What’s that?” You asked, intrigued.

“Oh, this?” He teased, holding up an envelope. “I don’t know, what is it?”

“Come on, Spot, give it to me!” You stood up, making a grab for the envelope. He tried to hold it out of your reach, but, him being so short, it was not hard for you to grab it.

You opened it and found a large pile of coins inside. You looked at your older brother disbelievingly. 

“Is this-”

“Enough money for the next month of dance lessons. I thought you’d like it.”

You squealed and hugged him. 

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Everyone else was smiling, too. For newsies who didn’t have much to be happy about, you seemed to have an abundant amount of happiness over the past few days. 

The month flew by. Ballet lessons ended, and the next month was about to begin. 

You walked into the now familiar studio, no longer worried about what the others would think of you. You didn’t have much of a chance to talk anyway, only before and after class. Race had avoided talking to you after the first week, and you couldn’t help but be discouraged about what it meant for his feelings for you. He had shown some interest in you, right? Whatever might have been there once clearly wasn’t there now, however.  

 You sighed. You could spend all day thinking about this, and it would get you nowhere. You pulled yourself out of your thoughts in time for your instructor to announce the next type of dance you would be learning: ballroom dance.

“I will give each of you a partner, and they will be your partner for the rest of the month. You will do all your ballroom dancing with them. Now, here are your partners.” She proceeded to read off the names of the people who would be partnering with each other.

You couldn’t help but glance at Race. How awesome would it be if he was your partner? You would be dancing together for a whole month! 

“(y/n) and Racetrack.” The instructor continued on with the list of names, but to you it didn’t matter. It was all you could do to keep from squealing. This was what you had imagined! 

You glanced at him again. He had started walking over to you! Your mind suddenly took you back to the first day that you met him.

“So, you’se is takin’ dance classes?”

“Huh? Oh, oh yeah. Yeah, I am.”

“The name’s Racetrack. Racetrack Higgins. Well, my real name is Anthony, but you’se can call me Race.” He winked.

You pulled out of your flashback just in time for him to slide up next to you.

“So, we’s partners.”

“Yeah, yeah we are.”

The instructor demonstrated what you were going to do, and the music started. 

“May I have this dance?” he asked with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, taking a slight bow.  You could feel yourself blush as you started the dance. 

Race was a really good ballet dancer. But he was an amazing ballroom dancer. He glided across the floor, taking you with him. His movements were like liquid, but at the same time he was solid and sturdy to hold on to. You found yourself wishing that this moment would never end. 

You came back to the lodging house with your head in the clouds, replaying the class over and over in your head. 

The two weeks that followed were a sort of magical blur, with each class being better than the last. You and Race grew closer everyday, to the point where you thought that you might be slightly more than friends. At least, you hoped to be. 

This class was no different from the rest: Race danced with his usual unearthly beauty, taking you along with him. 

After the class ended, Race walked up to you, which was normal. After the first month, he had started talking to you again after class. You had no idea why he had stopped talking to you, but you thought that it probably had something to do with the fact that you had Spot as your brother. The only thing out of the ordinary today was that Race seemed a bit nervous about something.

“Hey, ah, (y/n).” He ran a finger through his hair and breathed out. You raised a single, questioning eyebrow; he never called you by your real name. 

“Hey.” 

“Um… I was wondering… if, ah….” He ran another finger in his hair. This was a shock. Race normally couldn’t shut up. 

He suddenly sat down dejectedly. “Ne’ermind, it’s stupid anyway.”

“No, no, it’s okay,” you said, perking up. “What is it?”

He turned to look you in the eyes, and you were struck again by how blue his eyes were.  He looked back at the floor, leaving you breathless. 

“Doyouwannagooutwithme?” He looked at you again and you saw fear in his eyes. He was afraid of what would happen between you two. And honestly, you were too.

You swallowed, considering everything. What would Spot say? What would happen to your friendship if you said no? If you said yes? This is what you wanted, wasn’t it?

Slowly, you nodded. You looked up and saw the shock in Race’s eyes, and you nodded more vigorously. Before you knew it, you were practically jumping. 

“Yes!” you said. Race was laughing, with relief or delight, you weren’t sure. He grabbed your hand and together you walked out of the studio. 

Two hours later you walked back to the lodge, the happiest you had felt yet. You were singing softly to yourself as you entered the lodge. Your elation evaporated when you saw your older brother. He was standing in the doorway, arms crossed, all five feet four inches absolutely terrifying. 

“Where were you?” he demanded. You swallowed. You decided to ignore his question for the time being by setting down your stuff and crossing to your bed. There were no other newsies in the room; it was just you and Spot. 

“I asked you a question.” he stepped closer to the bed. 

You sighed and laid back on your bed. “I was on a date.”

You knew that that was the wrong thing to say. You could feel him practically explode next to you. 

“You. Were. WHAT?!” 

You started to answer again, but he waved you off. He started pacing the room, asking more questions. 

“Where did you go? Who was it with?”

Since you just going on a date made him practically explode, you decided that you couldn’t tell him that it had been with a Manhattan newsie, in Manhattan. 

“It was with a guy I met in my dance class.” There. That wasn’t the whole truth, but it wasn’t a lie either. 

Spot was breathing really heavily, and you thought that he might actually explode. You felt your emotions rising, too.

“What does it matter to you, though, Spot? It’s not your place to be in control of my life.”

“Yes, yes it is!” he practically screamed. “As your older brother, I have every say of how your life should go! And you know what, I was going to pay for the next month of dance lessons, too. But now I am definitely not!”

You felt your cheeks reddening. “Well you know what? Maybe I- I didn’t want to go next month anyway!” It was a lie. Those dance lessons were everything to you. But you didn’t need Spot to know that. 

However, he could tell it was a lie and called you out on it.

“Ha! You couldn’t live without those lessons.”

“Maybe I couldn’t, but I definitely can live without living here.”

You turned and stormed out of the lodging house. 

---------------------

“That was a bit harsh, Spot.” The rest of the newsies had come back in, after hearing the whole argument from the other room. 

Spot sighed and ran a finger through his hair. 

“I know,” he said slightly shakily. He turned and looked at the newsie who had spoken. “But she’s the only family I have left, and I can’t bear to lose her.”

---------------------

You didn’t know where you were going until you got there. Half an hour later,  you knocked on the door of the Manhattan Newsboy Lodging House. You smoothed your hair and bit your lip, both things you did when you were nervous. 

A newsboy you didn’t know answered the door and looked at you questioningly. 

“Can I help you?” he asked.

“Is… is Race here?”

The newsie nodded and gestured for you to follow him. The Manhattan Lodge looked a lot like the Brooklyn Lodge. You wound your way through a sea of newsies, all of who gave you questioning looks. Eventually you saw him. Racetrack Higgins. You couldn’t help yourself. You ran and threw yourself into his arms. He was surprised at first, but as soon as he recognized you he hugged you back. It was too much for you. You started to cry.

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” he asked, gently patting you on the back. 

“I… I ran away.”

He pulled away to look at you, with tears streaming down your face, your eyes red and your nose running. You knew you must look like a mess, but at the moment, you didn’t care. 

“Why?” he asked, wiping away your tears with his thumb. 

“Spot got real mad at me ‘cause he found out we…” you hesitated, not sure that he wanted the others to hear. He took the hint and asked for a bit of privacy.

“So Spot got mad at you?” he asked once they were all in different rooms. You nodded. 

“You… you wanna stay here for tonight?”

You looked up at him. “You mean it?”

He wiped away more of your tears. “Of course! I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t.”

You tackle-hugged him again, so thankful that he was here.  

Twenty minutes later, and after much debate, you were in Race’s bed. He had insisted on sleeping on the floor. You tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Sometime, around midnight you guessed, it got really cold. You started shivering in your blankets, so you couldn’t imagine how Race was. You decided to check. You rolled over again and looked down to see him staring at the ceiling. 

“Race,” you whispered. He looked at you. You pat the bed next to you. He didn’t hesitate; he climbed right in next to you. The poor boy was freezing! You moved closer to him to share your body heat, and he wrapped his arm around you. 

Spot or no Spot, you thought to yourself, there’s nothing that could take this boy away from you.