Key Points
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Original Rent actor Adam Pascal forgot a key prop during a mishap on stage during a 30th anniversary performance of the musical.
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The audience laughed at the moment, which Pascal attempted to recover from by improvising new lines.
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Pascal took the stage with Daphne Rubin-Vega for a rendition of “Light My Candle” from the beloved musical.
Original Rent actor Adam Pascal just gave new meaning to the opening lyrics of “Light My Candle.”
So, what did the stage star forget during his live 30th anniversary performance of the beloved musical? Well, a book of matches to… uh… light Mimi’s (Daphne Rubin-Vega) titular candle, of course.
In footage from Monday’s one-night-only performance captured and shared online by fans of the Broadway classic, Pascal and Rubin-Vega begin their rendition of the beloved song, which goes off without a hitch — until Pascal realizes he did, in fact, forget the key prop on stage at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City.
“Would you light my candle?” Rubin-Vega sang to her costar during the number, while extending said candle toward him to light.
“No, because I forgot my matches. Someone’s going to bring them to me,” Pascal quipped in the moment, as the audience laughed at the mixup.
The song continued, while Pascal ad-libbed another plea during the number: “Someone bring me some matches!”
As the song continued, Rubin-Vega also nodded toward the non-burning candle in her hand, quipping, “It’s still out,” just before a crew member saved the moment.
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The audience applauded as a headset-wearing member of the crew rushed to stage and handed Pascal a book of matches, which he then used to light the candle as the number continued.
Pascal and Rubin-Vega have a long history together, as the pair originated the roles of Roger and Mimi in the original Broadway production of Rent in 1996.
Other actors who played various roles on stage (and in the 2005 movie adaptation) over the years joined the stars for Monday night’s one-off 30th anniversary concert, including Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Fredi Walker, Rachel Zegler, and more.
Rent remains one of the most beloved musicals of the modern Broadway era, for its Jonathan Larson-penned tale about a group of New York artists navigating life amid the backdrop of the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
