High Fidelity - 11/21 - Second Preview

Posted: 11/22/06 at 5:49pm

I won the lotto for the second preview of High Fidelity last night. My friend (who posts as sweetestsiren) and I spent at least an hour discussing the show in the wee hours of the morning; we both decided that it's most likely not a show for everyone due to the type of humor around which the show revolves. I imagine that if you enjoy High Fidelity's humor, you'll absolutely love the show, but if your sense of humor isn't in line with the show, you'll find the show quite boring. Without its humor, the show wouldn't have too much to fall back upon as the show's plot line is essentially a typical boy breaks up with girl/boy gets girl back storyline (albeit executed well).

That said, I went in as a complete High Fidelity newbie (hadn't seen the movie, didn't know much about the Boston production) and found the musical exactly to my taste. I loved that the show incorporated humor and a sense of fun without becoming a complete piece of fluff. Even though the show isn't especially deep and profound, I still genuinely felt for the characters, especially Will Chase's magnificently acted Rob. He exuded an "everyman" quality so vital to the role but still knew just how to garner sympathy from the audience. He makes a truly mediocre song ("I'm Sorry") heartfelt and touching with his emotive voice and especially his acting. Jenn Colella, as Laura (Rob's love interest), was great as well and absolutely fierce in the knockout number "Number Five with a Bullet," although her character inherently does not afford her the same opportunity to truly connect with the audience as Rob's role does. Christian Anderson was a standout in the role of Dick, whose self-deprecating comedic ability truly shines in his main number, "It's No Problem."

As for High Fidelity's humor, I did not feel that most of the audience was into it. There were moments where my friend and I were almost tearing from cracking up so hard, but we felt as if we were among a very few in the theatre finding it as hilarious as we did. The show's humor is very reliant on stereotypes, many of them rooted in pop culture. Many of the characters are stereotypes taken to extremes, such as "T.M.P.M.I.T.W" (the Most Pathetic Man in the World), Ian (the vegan new age hippie), and Dick (the pathetic-but-lovable guy you can't help but root for), whose characters allow for jokes springing from their character traits. Reading that Ian asks "Who's your Gandhi?" during sex on a message board doesn't exactly sound funny, but in the moment, I found it absolutely hysterical. The most hilarious scene of the show was a moment where the audience is allowed into Rob's imagination ("Conflict Resolution"), revealing his short-lived fantasy of taking on the persona of a rapper, complete with dancing girls and bleeps. Another moment that had me cracking up was the pledge to the record store in the opening number, complete with the workers giving the "rock out" sign rather than placing their hands to their heart. Again, most of the humor is tongue-in-cheek, self-deprecating, and rooted in an exaggeration of commonplace stereotypes. I found High Fidelity infinitely more amusing than the supposedly side-splitting The Drowsy Chaperone (sans Martin's part), which I enjoyed overall but didn't find as amusing as most do. Again, I felt as if the audience had a considerable amount of people who simply did not find the show funny. I suppose a possible conclusion from this observation is that the show simply isn't funny, but considering there were still quite a few who were laughing hard along with me, I truly feel that the disparity in audience reaction isn't a true flaw in the show as much as varying comedic tastes.

While I haven't seen the movie, based upon my friend told me, it sounds as if the Rob/Laura reunion is based less upon Laura simply being "tired" of looking around for new love (as apparently shown in the movie) rather than ultimately feeling that Rob is the one for her. Personally, I like the idea presented in the musical more, although I did feel that the reunion was slightly rushed at the end. On the other hand, I probably would have quickly grown tired of the back-and-forth between Rob and Laura if they continued to drag it out. Perhaps it would prove beneficial to show truly why Laura chose to go back to Rob, which might help to eliminate some of that "rushed" feeling. I assume the song "I'm Sorry" was the turning point, but we're never truly shown.

The score is energetic and the songs truly keep the show moving. I didn't find any song especially boring, except for maybe the Bruce Springsteen number, which grew slightly monotonous and doesn't entirely work in the context of the plot development. I wouldn't say most of the music is especially memorable, sans the opening number and "Number Five with a Bullet," but most of it works perfectly within the context of the show. I don't feel a score has to be especially memorable as long as it doesn't feel boring when actually watching the show, something that the High Fidelity score certainly is not. The sets were quite clever - no complaints there.

As far as I could tell, I was one of the first to stand up during the curtain call. Quite a few followed, but I'd say that at least 50% of the audience remained in their seats, and I didn't hear too much enthusiastic cheering. I would most definitely recommend the show and I obviously hope it does well, although I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't exactly a blockbuster hit simply because the show's cheeky humor isn't to everyone's taste. I certainly wish the show good luck.

Updated On: 11/22/06 at 05:49 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 5:58pm

Big crowd for the lotto?

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:03pm

Not especially. I didn't count how many were there, but most people won.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:04pm

Is there a song list yet?

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:06pm

Not in the Playbill.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:08pm

Is "Let Me Touch Your Breast" in the show? I never asked anyone who saw it in Boston so I'll ask here, is it in either production?

[alliez92092]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:09pm

It wasn't in Boston.

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:10pm

Is "Let Me Touch Your Breast" in the show?

Nope.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:21pm

Thanks for a great, and seemingly unbiased review. I agree with almost everything you've said, except about the songs. I found the songs to be very memorable (in addition to the ones you mentioned, 9 Percent Chance, It's no Problem, and She Goes seem to be the standouts). As for the book having a different ending, they originally wrote a song called "Too Tired" that deals with it exactly how you said. It's a really great song, and I'm not sure why they decided to change it. But overall, I really love and was entertained by the show, just as you were.

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:27pm

You have a great point there, especially considering I definitely, well, remember the songs you mentioned. By "not memorable," I meant more that I didn't find High Fidelity a rock musical in the vein of Rent, where I could imagine myself listening to the songs over and over outside of the context of the show, rather than not being able to remember the music at all. Quite a few of High Fidelity's songs are catchy and remain in my head.
Updated On: 11/22/06 at 06:27 PM

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 11/23/06 at 2:38am

I typed up a review on my way home without having read siamese dream's, but it seems that we had a lot of the same thoughts about the show. I'll post it here, but I apologize for the repetition!

I must admit to being extremely skeptical going into this show. I love the movie, but had read only mixed-to-bad things about the musical, so my expectations weren't particularly high. I came out, however, thinking that that was the most downright fun that I had in an entire week of theatergoing, and it wasn't mindless, bubblegum fun -- the show is smart and witty without taking itself too seriously.

The cast is charming and talented, led by the fantastic performance of Will Chase, who has the perfect charismatic everyman appeal as protagonist Rob. Other standouts include Christian Anderson as one of Rob's closest friends and fellow music snob, Rachel Stern as the caught-in-the-middle mutual friend, and Jenn Colella as Laura, the love interest whose breakup with Rob sets up the story. Anderson's songs, in particular, were so understatedly hilarious.

The show is, obviously, not without flaws. Though I felt for the most part that the score was strong, especially standout songs "Top 5 with a Bullet" and "Conflict Resolution" (which had me literally in tears laughing), the book is the better portion of the show (and borrows pretty liberally from the movie/novel). The emotional progression that leads to the ending of the show seems sort of incomplete, but I suspect that with some work that could be fixed. In all honesty, though, I found the show so completely funny that I wasn't left focusing on the flaws.

From what I've been hearing, quite a bit of work has been done to the show since the Boston tryout, and it sounds like most of it was very positive. I have a friend who saw the show in Boston and whose main complaint was that it felt as though there was no dramatic tension, since the things that created tension in the source material (namely, Rob coming to terms with his past failed relationships) weren't dealt with as heavily. The "ghosts" of Rob's top five biggest heartbreaks are thoroughly integrated into the show here, to what I thought was very nice effect.. It seemed to me that the show was in very good shape for a second preview.

I had a hard time getting a read on the audience, but I get the distinct impression that many of them didn't enjoy the show quite as much --- or seem to "get" the humor, which is essential. I was discussing this with a friend, and we decided that it's a very specific type of humor.... if you love, say, the movie, or the self-depreciating humor of Jon Stewart, or are particularly pop-culture savvy, I would imagine that you would enjoy this show. I hope that it finds an audience with people like that. It's nice to see something on Broadway that's fun without, it seems to me, playing to the lowest common denominator. I definitely recommend seeing this. If it clicks with you, I can't help but think that you'll probably love it.
Updated On: 11/23/06 at 02:38 AM

[ashley0139]

Posted: 11/23/06 at 11:14am

Thanks for the review! I am one of the ones who loved it in Boston, so I can only imagine how much better it is now. However, Katy Mixon is no longer in the show. Her roles are now played by Rachel Stern.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 11/23/06 at 11:45am

Ah, that's what I get by relying on IBDB rather than the playbill for my casting info! Thanks, and edited appropriately.

[timote316]

Posted: 11/23/06 at 11:49am

I, too, loved the show in Boston. Thanks for the reviews, I agree with them, for the most part.

[bigbigbill]

Posted: 11/23/06 at 12:28pm

I saw the fourth preview and I loved it! It's such a fun show.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 11/24/06 at 11:38am

Oh, by the way, is the pre-show announcement back?

[gertrudejessalynn]

Posted: 11/24/06 at 12:12pm

Oh, by the way, is the pre-show announcement back?

It wasn't on Tuesday, and I miss it. Heh.

[joe5]

Posted: 11/24/06 at 1:45pm

I'm glad some people are enjoying the show. As much as I did in Boston.................

[sundaymorning6am]

Posted: 11/24/06 at 1:51pm

Oh yeah - did anyone else feel that "Number 5 With a Bullet," though a good song, is completely pointless to the plot? I feel like it doesn't carry the plot forward at all.... like, they just threw it in there so Jenn would have another song and introduce the different exes [though I think they could've done that another way].

Anyone have the same feelings?

Posted: 11/24/06 at 1:57pm

Oh yeah - did anyone else feel that "Number 5 With a Bullet," though a good song, is completely pointless to the plot?

Not really. Rob sings a song a few minutes before it essentially describing his denial over his post-breakup sadness, stating that Laura "doesn't even make the list." "Number Five with a Bullet" allows the audience to see that it's not going to be quite so easy for Rob to get Laura off his brain without Rob simply singing a song about missing her or something along those lines.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 11/24/06 at 2:14pm

And it also gets Laura on the list. At the end of the song, he concedes that she should be on the list.

[sundaymorning6am]

Posted: 11/24/06 at 2:18pm

I think that Laura getting her spot on the list really doesn't help the plot forward that much though. It doesn't happen until much later in the book and the movie, both, so I don't know why it matters so much here.

Posted: 11/24/06 at 2:26pm

Well, if she weren't on the "list," then Rob probably wouldn't truly care about her or remain in denial about her power over him. I've never read the book or seen the movie, but the only solution I can imagine to your problem would be to remove both the song where Rob denies that Laura still gets to him along with "Number Five with a Bullet" - allowing Laura to take her spot on the "list" immediately. While I don't think that would necessarily hurt the plot, it takes out an element of material one could relate to based on real life experiences (i.e. breaking up with someone and saying it's no big deal, only to shortly realize that he or she does indeed still haunt you), and frankly, it allows for a fun song and dance number.

I see the point you're trying to make, but I do think the number has an impact on both plot and character development. Hell, even if you personally don't think that it moves the plot along at all, I think you can still accept it as a fun song. I absolutely loved the "Conflict Resolution" sequence, but that is certainly an example of a song that doesn't exactly move the plot forward. I would be devastated if they axed it for that reason, though.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 11/24/06 at 2:35pm

Siamese, I love your avatar! Will is just the cutest!

Posted: 11/24/06 at 2:43pm

Thank you! My avatar tends to be a revolving door of former or current Rogers.

As a sidenote, though, Will is truly a sweetheart at the stagedoor. It took him a very long time to come out (partially because he had to do an interview, I think), but it was worth waiting. I wanted to tell him that I thoroughly enjoyed the show and his performance was absolutely amazing in every way. Even if the show doesn't end up being especially well-received, I can't imagine Will getting any negative notices.
Updated On: 11/24/06 at 02:43 PM