High Fidelity or When Bad Lyrics Happen to Good People

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 12:28am

Just got back from the show. A few big problems:

-The lyrics are nothing if not cliche. I know there are smart people involved with this show, but I can't, for the life of me, figure out why these cliches weren't caught out of town and rewritten.
-The Springstein sequence doesn't work stylisticly or artisticly. It doesn't make sense, and needs to be rethought as the device for the turnabout (of sorts) of Will Chase's role.
-The fourth wall device is useful, but it needs to be cleaner. This is partly Will Chase's responsibility, and partly the lighting design. There should be light cues with each shift, or something that draws our attention back over to Will. Right now, that's not happening.

What does work well:
-The sequence of possible responses in Act II is VERY funny.
-Will Chase is a remarkable actor -- anyone who can pull off the cliches of this story/lyrics AND keep his self-respect has my adoration.
-Jen Collella is a remarkable actor. Her moments during Will's 11 o'clock song really give her character heart.
-The side love story between the two geeks works wonders for the show. These two stole the show.
-The set design is nifty is exactly the right way.

This show will need to make some big changes if it expects to do well. The story is there, but it needs to have some new lyrics to breathe new life into the show. And it needs to cut a big section in Act II. If it does those things, it may have a shot at staying open. But, somehow I doubt those changes will be made. They had out of town to make those changes. And it may turn into a too little too late thing.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 2:18am

Agree completely with everything you've mentioned.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 2:23am

I kind of thought the songs were forgettable.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 11:58am

Funny, because I thought exactly the opposite, and I saw it with you, Millie. The songs were my favorite part of the show!

[joe5]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 12:11pm

Ashley I agree with you. I felt the music was the strong suit of the show. Along with the strong cast members...............

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 2:32pm

I can't divide up the music from the lyrics, and I don't understand people who can do so. For me, the music was banal and derivative.