Laurie Winer, in her review for the Los Angeles Times, notes that “Larson garnered the kind of rave reviews that young, struggling composer-lyricists pray and dream for.” She calls the play “muscular, chilling and energizing” and argues that “what would have been merely moving in Rent is made almost unbearable bittersweet” by Larson's untimely death following a lifelong struggle to realize his artistic vision. She concludes, “Rent is a memorial service as a work of art, clearly and authentically created in love.”

In his review for the Wall Street Journal, Donald Lyons adds to the chorus of praises for the play, claiming, “It's the best new musical since the 1950s.” He declares that it presents itself with “clarity,” “force,” and “crisp definition.” Commenting on the play's construction, he writes that it appears that “we're about to see a rehearsal, and what we do experience has the...