Pascal and Edoff ‘Rent’ Attention in Queens

Adam Pascal delivered a mix of classic Broadway and his signature rock and roll style to a small crowd of a diverse following at the Queens Theater in the Park on Saturday night.

Grandparents and college students alike bobbed their heads to new arrangements of hit Broadway songs from “A Chorus Line,” “Cabaret” and “Rent,” as well as some of the artist’s original material.

Pascal, who is most known for his roll as Roger in both the theatrical and film versions of Jonathan Larson’s “Rent,” but has also starred in productions of “Aida,” “Chess” and “Cabaret,” played alongside Larry Edoff on piano as part of the national MeandLarry tour. Gary Selligson also lent his musical support on the drums.

Memorable performances include an upbeat rendition of the piano-driven “What I Did for Love,” from “A Chorus Line” and “I Don’t Care Much,” from “Cabaret,” which Pascal seamlessly interlaced with an impeccable version of Elton John’s “Rocket Man.” A bit of “Westside Story” also made it into the set, with a soulful adaptation of “Maria.”

Though Pascal and Edoff’s original material did not get as much of a reaction from the audience as the Broadway tunes (something Pascal himself admitted was not out of the ordinary), it offered a somewhat heavier style that Rentheads may come to expect from Pascal. “Turn the Lights On” is an angst-ridden tune from Pascal and Edoff’s 2008 Blinding Light album, while “Single Drop of You” is a melodic piece that features Pascal’s strong vocal range. The musicians also used the stage as a platform for advocacy with “Space in the Blinding Light,” a song about the dismal state of the environment being left for future generations to deal with.

Edoff also had a chance to show off his vocals, with his solo song, “Love Will Always Come Back.” Pascal plays the guitar on the track, but Edoff shines showing he can stand on his own as a pianist and singer.

The show closed with “Rent’s” “One Song Glory,” which Pascal dubbed his “only hit.” Nearly 15 years after he first performed the song on Broadway, Pascal still sings it with the same passion and intensity as when the show opened.

Overall, Pascal put forth a very strong performance. However, his ability to belt out incredibly powerful vocals and hit extremely high notes, leaves this audience member hoping he will return to Broadway soon, as his talents may not be as well-suited for a small concert hall.