La Bohème influenced Rent

Larson transposed Puccini's opera to the East Village, one century on almost to the year. He said so plainly; it is not a resemblance somebody noticed afterwards. The mapping is close enough to list:

• Rodolfo and Mimì become Roger and Mimi, and she still lives downstairs and still knocks because her candle has gone out
• Marcello and Musetta become Mark and Maureen; Colline becomes Collins; Schaunard becomes Angel
• Benoît the landlord becomes Benny, and is given a reason to have changed sides
• Tuberculosis becomes HIV/AIDS, which is the substitution the whole piece turns on

Musetta's waltz, the Café Momus scene and the death in the final act all have direct counterparts.