High Fidelity First Preview Mini-Review

Posted: 9/27/06 at 1:07am

I just got back from the first ever performance of High Fidelity.

The show has some good moments and a great cast, however there really is something missing. The score is very exciting. Very fresh. It has a great rock feel, however none of the songs are really memorable. The song list is not in the playbill, and I can't remember a single title.

The cast is led by a timid Will Chase. He seemed very uncomfortable throughout the whole performance. Something just wasn't clicking. He had great vocals but some very weak acting moments. I'm SURE this is just first night jitters. He obviously has it in him. It just needs to come out! (Sorry, that was VERY vague.)

Jenn Colella was wonderful in her role. Great acting choices. She has a HOT number halfway through act 1 that stole the show for me. It's a shame I can't remember how the song goes... She really finds a way to make her semi-underwritten character likeable. In terms of her relationship with Rob (Will Chase)...I was more on her side than his. I wonder if that's what the creative team was going for?

Christian Anderson and Jay Klaitz as Rob's friends Barry and Dick offer great comedic moments and great vocals.

The character of Liz (played by Katy Mixon) needs some work. Her big act 1 song is not in the actresses vocal range. I could not understand a word of it. I don't think this is her fault at all. With some work, I feel she will eventually improve.


The sets were fantastic. The lighting was perhaps the most exciting part of the evening. For a first preview, I was surprised that there were no noticeable tech glitches.

The pre show announcement is HYSTERICAL.

I really hope the creative team steps up and solves the problems before the show hits Broadway. The show just is not ready.

[Zachary Goldfarb]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 1:09am

Why. Why do people post "reviews" of first previews of shows out of town? Why?

Posted: 9/27/06 at 1:12am

I'm sure that there are people who read this Message Board who are curious as to how the show went. I feel like I was very fair in mentioning that the show was in it's first preview.

Sorry if you found it offensive...

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 1:20am

Theatreguy2, thank you for a very honest review. I'm glad we have people to review shows out of town so we in NYC can follow the process without being there. I hope they can work out the issues before it comes to NYC. Thanks again.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 1:25am

"Why. Why do people post "reviews" of first previews of shows out of town? Why?"

I am glad people do "reviews" of first previews. It gives everyone else who is interested an idea of the creative process.


Are they charging full price for the previews or is there a discount? Just wondering.

[BDrischBDemented]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 2:10am

They gave free tickets to Emerson theatre kids today, which is how I got there.

I can't say anything that was already said by Theaterguy. Christian Anderson was great, Will Chase needed work, and Liz's song was practically incomprehensible, which was a shame, because it sounded melodically decent and her character's voice was hysterical.

Jenn's song was like "Number Five With a Bullet" (I really do wish they had a song listing), and it was great. The womens' songs are generally better than the mens', though few of the songs stuck in my mind.

There was like one tiny glitch, where a record case at the end hit a snag and skewed off a bit before a stage hand set it back on track.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 2:17am

If the reviewer were to say, "The preview sucked, this show is going to go nowhere, it's a piece of crap," then yes, that's wrong. That would mean that he didn't recognize that a preview is an unpolished piece. But he had a very humble, honest, generally positive review, acknowledging that, for a preview, it showed some strong potential, and has nowhere to go but up. There are flaws, but they are fixable. I see nothing wrong with such a thing.

[lildogs]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 11:31am

I appreciated your post Theaterguy...thanks.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 11:39am

i'll chime in and say that i appreciate your post as well. i'm seeing it October 12th and it'll have opened by then so i'm hoping they put a songlist in the Playbill once it opens.

i won't be seeing it in NY because i'll be seeing it here so it'll suck if they never bother to put a songlist in the thing. oh well...glad to know it's got a semblance of "something".

how was the staging and curtain?

[RCCS_5280]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 11:54am

Yes, thanks for your post. I will look forward to hear more on how the show changes before NYC.
Updated On: 9/27/06 at 11:54 AM

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 12:32pm

I think the show has a lot of potential, but the book and score need some work. For me, the score lacks integration, as many of the numbers do not serve to drive the plot forward, like Rob's funny, but completely random duet with "Bruce Springsteen". I also didn't like the duet between Rob and Laura at the end of act 2. The lyrics were clunky and awkward, not to mention the fact that this song takes place at Laura's dad's funeral. I also found it odd that the show lacks any kind of big closing number. It ends with a song performed by Barry and his band... and then just... ENDS. They need to do something to create a more satisfying conclusion.

Jenn Collela was fabulous, and was my favorite last night despite her underwritten role. I really hope that they flesh out her role some before the show hits Broadway. I missed her song "Perfect" which I had hear from one of the workshops. It was such a gorgeous number and certainly gave more insight into here character, but has obviously been cut from the show. "Number Five With a Bullet" was one of the best numbers in the show.

Christian Anderson was perfectly cast. He displays a great vocal range and acts the part of Dick pitch perfect.

In the smaller role of Anna, Kristen Wyatt is also wonderful. I only wish here character got a chance to sing more, because she has a lovely set of pipes.

I was a little let down by Jay Klaitz who plays Barry. One think that Barry would be the part that steals the show, but oftentimes I just felt as if I was watching a pale Jack Black impersonation. He is still finding the role, and I'm sure once he settles into it more he will be fabulous.

The lighting is wonderful, and was definetly a highlight, as were the sets.

I don't believe the seats are discounted, but I got a 25 dollar student rush ticket, orchestra row M.

folkyboy, I'm pretty sure the curtain was just the curtain of the Colonial.

[inishmore]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 12:39pm

Does anyone know, if it is having a preview period, when the show will be Open? I'd love to keep an eye out for some reviews.

[MissNY]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 12:48pm

I'm so glad to see that Christian Anderson is getting great reviews. I knew he'd be awesome, he's the highlight of the cast for me.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 12:53pm

The entire reason we read message boards is to have information about previews and early performances.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 1:08pm

And to tell people how often we succeed at winning lottery tix and to brag about who our bestest Broadway friends are.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 1:11pm

& i'd warrant that the entire reason they HAVE previews is to give people a reason to take it to Broadway. if no one said anything then how would they know it was good?

or even better: if everyone said "OMG I LOVE IT!!!1" then how would they know it was good?

[justme2]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 1:29pm

I could have sworn the entire process of "out of town" previews was to give the CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST a chance to see what the show looks like on stage, as opposed to a rehearsal hall.

The audience is there to gauge reaction to scenes, dances, dialogue and songs. And help pay for the cost of an out of town preview.

I don't think the show's team is counting on the many "first preview reviews" to garner attention for a show. God help them if they count on message boards for publicity.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 1:30pm

touche

[lildogs]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 1:48pm

LOVE the avatar, just...she's a distant relative...

[bythesword84]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 4:16pm

Its true though, the show does have a lot of potential- I was there last night as well.

As for the actress playing Liz, she seemed a bit nervous to me because as "She Goes" went on, her words became easier to understand and by the second act I thought she was fine.

"Number 5 with a Bullet" was a great number but I thought the opening ballad for Laura in the beginning just sort of brought the show to a halt.

It does have some absolutely hysterical numbers and it is well cast for certain. I didn't have any problems with the casting though once and awhile I felt the Liz character was over acted- but chalked that up to nerves with it being the first performance.

Really, over all, for a first performance ever I thought it showed a lot of potential.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 5:54pm

was it sort of like WEDDING SINGER in any way?
and is it set in the 90's?

[alliez92092]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 6:00pm

I'm very excited. I'm going to try to rush Friday night. If I can't, I'm going to have to wait for next Friday. But from this review, I already think the show has great potential. Yay for me having tickets to closing night so I can see how it changes :)

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 9/28/06 at 1:26am

It's set in the present, although there is no specific reference to any certain time period.

It wasn't really like "Wedding Singer", as there weren't any blatant 80s references. However, I think I had more fun at "Wedding Singer".