High Fidelity....

I didn't really get the point of the show either. I left the theater thinking, "Who cares?" The story didn't do anything for me. Granted though, the cast had a lot of energy and was talented.

My advice is save your money and see something else in NY. I really hate to be so negative, but I have a feeling this is going to close sometime within the first half of next year.

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Another thing, I couldn't really sympathize with the two main characters, Rob and Laura. *HUGE SPOILER THAT REVEALS ENDING DO NOT READ ON UNLESS YOU'VE SEEN THE SHOW*
























It was pretty obvious/predictable they were going to get back together, especially with the weirdness of the Ian guy (was that his name?). So it was difficult for me to feel sorry for Rob.

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reading the book now!

a) There are MULTIPLE threads about people who have seen this show in the past week.

b) I hope that a talented composer realizes what great work Amanda Green did. She deserves to hook up with someone with real talent.

Whoa!! Really?? I think Amanda Green is super-talented, but I thought Tom Kitt's music was the highlight of the show. With the book a little bit lacking, Kitt's music had a ton of energy and life, and left me wanting to hear it over and over.

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I saw High Fidelity last night, and I have to say it is the most fun I've had in theatre in I can't remember how long.
I thought the music was incredible - catchy and memorable. The sound in the theatre, BTW, is unbelievable - I have never heard a show's music from a pit sound quite as clear as that...
The cast and acting was superb. The set is Tony Award-winning. The book is great because it is basically an adaptaion of the original Nick Hornby book and the movie. It is clever and witty because it was ALWAYS clever and witting. David Lidsey-Abaire did a great show or adapting it for the stage.
I would have liked to see Christopher Gatteli's choreography more. Certain moments I wished there was more movement. But the story, music, acting, humor and originality of this musical had me in stiches the whole way through.
There was consistent laughter all night, moments of hysterical laughter (like on Conflict Resolution) and I would recommend this musical to anyone who wants to go out and have a good fun time at the theater and laugh a lot.
I don't understand why people have such a magnifying glass to this musical. Look at Wicked - you're telling me that that musical does the book justice? It's nothing like the book by Gregory McGuire. But you know why people love it? Because it's FUN. I'm not comparing HiFi to Wicked, in fact I feel that HiFi's book does WAY more justice to Nick Hornby than Wicked does to Gregory McGuire. All i'm saying is that people like Wicked because it's entertaining. So is HiFi. It's not re-defining musical theater, it's highly entertaining - and for $100, I want to laugh. I have to say, at the end, I felt it was money well spent.
I predict High Fidelity surprising people and becoming a long running hit. Once people realize that not every musical needs to be a deep, spiritual, life-altering expereince, but most people pay money to have a few laughs, hear some great music and have fun. There is nothing wrong with that, and I highly HIGHLY recommend this musical to everyone!!

Updated On: 11/29/06 at 12:19 PM

Amen, theater_nut. You said what I've been trying to say for a week so much more succinctly. High Fidelity is a lot of fun while still remaining a smart musical.

My two cents:

LOVED the score. Especially enjoyed the opening, Rachel Stern's number, It's No Problem, and the Lyle Lovett song. (no song listing in the Playbill so I'm doing my best here!)
Can't wait for the CD.

Chase is very likable, Colella is appealing and sings like a dream. Both do the best they can with underdeveloped characters. Christian Anderson stands out from the supporting cast and Justin Brill is excellent in the busy ensemble.

Well directed by Walter Bobbie - particularly the rewind scene in Act Two - and choreographer Christopher Gattelli's work is once again excellent.

***SET SPOILERS***

AMAZING set. LOVED how it would change instantly - especially the brilliant one bed one second/another bed the next trick - so simple yet so theatrical.

4. The "guys" who frequent Championship Vinyl. Too much fun, especially when they would suddenly break out into backup dancing.

I totally agree and think that these guys do not get nearly enough credit. Especially Andrew Call. They had me in hysterics. In the rewind scene, Will takes a record out of Andrew's hands when he is frozen, and he spends a good amount of time looking for it. The look on his face is priceless.

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You really think that? Worse than Tarzan, hardly! I live in Boston and saw it here. I have been to NYC twice this year. Having seen six Broadway shows, Wedding Singer, Lestat, Tarzan, Mary Poppins, Company and Jersey Boys. Other than Company, which I really enjoyed. High Fidelity was much more enjoyable than the mentioned above..................

People go to the theater to be entertained.
Everything about HiFi is entertaining. That's the point.

It is witty, modern, clever and fun. Yes FUN.
However, taste is subjective...if you are looking to find some kind of a religious, mystic, devine theater experience, then you probably shouldn't be seeing a Broadway musical - I don't know - read a book, go see some Shakespeare play somewhere...The great white way needs more musicals like High Fidelity - make us laugh and have fun..

P.S., I agree alliez92092 with everything you said, thanks, except I actually did find moments of the end of HiFi that were touching (like when Rob & Laura get back together), but I know what you are saying

Updated On: 11/29/06 at 03:38 PM

NoDayButToday5, considering the number of times you've called the show "aweful," you'd think you'd know how to spell it by now.

Anyway, I think it's very important to emphasize that yes, the show's main purpose is to entertain and make the audience laugh, but as theater_nut pointed out, the show still allows the audience to sympathize with the show's characters - something that I don't think is present in a show such as Mamma Mia. It's not deep, but it still manages to make the audience feel for its characters, and still maintains a very savvy sense of humor throughout the show. I really am wary of it being called pure fun, because I think there is something other than strictly fun hidden in there as well.

NoDayButToday5, considering the number of times you've called the show "aweful," you'd think you'd know how to spell it by now.

Thank you!!! I thought I was the only one being bugged by that.

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