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High Fidelity Reviews
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| 16 |
WONDERFUL FUN Review by: BROCKTON VIEWER, Oct 17, 2006 |
| I LOVED THIS PLAY, LISTEN TO THE "LITTLE" PEOPLE, NOT THE EXPERTS. THE SONGS WERE MOSTLY GREAT, ACTING AND SINGING, FINE. IN PARTICULAR, I LOVED THE " PATHETIC GUY" CHARACTER, GREAT VOICE. I WAS SMILING THE DAY AFTER I SAW THIS PLAY, THAT IS WHAT FUTURE VIEWERS NEED TO KNOW! |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date
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| 17 |
It's working Review by: sabel, Oct 15, 2006 |
| saw "High Fidelity" last night and enjoyed it. I hadn't read the book or seen the movie, so it was all new to me. The only things I thought needed work were Rob and Laura's scene and song where they get back together, and the transition into the last number, and some way to incorporate the Rob/Laura characters more. |
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Make an effort to see
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I saw this show with:
Family
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Business Assoc., Tourists
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is it The Wedding Singer or not? Review by: folkyboy, Oct 13, 2006 |
It seems rather than offer Broadway a taste of the coveted “something fresh & new”, it’s going to give us (yet again) another recycled movie musical. We can’t say we didn’t see it coming, but it does leave me wondering if David Lindsay-Abaire didn’t just rip off the very idea from another familiar movie musical recently leaving Broadway: The Wedding Singer.
In High Fidelity, the main character Rob (hmm) recently gets dumped ... read more by his girlfriend and gets consoled by his buddies into getting on with his life. Granted, this doesn’t come across as successful, but we are left with a lot of pop culture humor references and way too many songs to advance a plot along. I’ll give the lyricist credit for making me tap my foot a time or two, but I can’t really say much for a lot of the confusion I’m left feeling when half the score segues together about twenty times (i.e. there were several scenes when I wondered how many tracks that would make on a cast recording).
Essentially, I have to say that it’s another bubble gum confection to fill the void for all the fans of The Wedding Singer. Those who don’t require a lot to move their Broadway obsession into overdrive will be very happy with this one. The sets are AMAZING. And you’re bound to enjoy a song or two, as well as laugh out loud at some of the smart humor. I can’t say it made much of an impact for me, but then neither did The Wedding Singer.
It’s good to know they followed the same format with both leading ladies, too. Jenn Colella has the same mediocre acting chops as Laura Benanti offered us yet thrills us with her vocal stylings. One wonders if she’ll leave the cast half-way through as well?
In fact, the only two standouts for me in the entire production were Christian Anderson as the emo sidekick with the pipes that resound out on the few offerings given to him to resurrect the Broadway cherubs out of the wings. And Jay Klaitz who jumps and splits his way across stage. |
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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I saw this show with:
Alone
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Recommended for:
Tourists, Adults
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| 19 |
Brilliant and engaging! Review by: Annie, Oct 10, 2006 |
| I loved High Fidelity!.. I was surprised at the critical reviews by some Boston papers, because the show was touching , funny, and the acting was fabulous!. I especially liked the Bruce Springsteen episode, the characters of "Dick " and "Anna" who were ingenuous and charming. Tlhe lyrics were clever, the music buoyant and fun, and the sets were amazing.!! Go and see it! ;You will have a great time.! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, The Entire Family, Business Assoc.
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| 20 |
Not Bad, But Uneven Review by: Nancy, Oct 9, 2006 |
First of all, let me say that overall this play was fun and worth seeing. But it was very uneven. There were high points, like a Bruce Springsteen fantasy, that were brilliant, although it was a bit odd to feature The Boss in Rob's musical fantasy. In the record store, they berate "popular" music and focus instead on more obscure British invasion bands. A single mention of him by any of the other characters in the record store would have ... read more made his starring in Rob's reverie more relevant. Same for the closing number. Why not include a reference to Motown in the record store? It would have given us something with which to connect these moments.
Jenn Colella and Will Chase as Laura and Rob were fine, but ultimately forgettable. They seemed tired, or like they didn't have adequate choreography or direction to know what to do on stage. Both were good singers and actors, if a bit unenthusiastic.
In Rob's top 5 breakups, why have one be played by a man (Justin Brill)? Was he dating a trannie or did they just run out of female actors to fill that role? That made no sense.
Jay Klaitz as Barry was just doing an impression of Jack Black, which I suppose isn't a bad thing. I admit that I prefer a play based on a movie based on a book to harken back to the original source material rather than the movie adaptation. But that could just be me.
Christian Anderson as Dick, and Kirsten Wyatt as Anna, were high points in the play. Both have phenomenal voices, know how to move on stage, and were understated but completely memorable. Kudos to both.
Johnny the Drunk should be eliminated from the script. His character added nothing.
Ian (Jeb Brown) was also great as an egocentric yoga veggie tantric lover of Laura's.
I loved the looping fantasy of Robb killing Ian. That was another wonderful scene.
I found the "Wonderful Love" song completely boring and insipid. I was moved, but I was moved to go home. At least give them a decent song to sing, not "wonderful love, we have wonderful love, oh wonderful love." Oh come on. Same thing with the song about crying in the rain. Did they decide they wanted one more song? It was not needed to show that Rob was obsessed with Laura. It bored me to tears. "Don't leave me crying in the rain." OK, I won't leave you crying in the rain if you leave out the song.
Even the final song was flat. Everyone just standing around wiggling while Jack Black (whoops, I mean Barry) and his group sang their song. I kept waiting for the Bruce Springsteen character to come out and pull up an audience member to dance. At least that would have held my attention. Actually, that would have been pretty cool.
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Business Assoc., Seniors
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| 21 |
High Fidelity - high enjoyment Review by: Don, Oct 8, 2006 |
Having read the reviews I was not expecting much from High Fidelity. I guess it must fall into that category reviewers condescendingly refer to as an 'audience pleaser' - how else to explain the standing ovation at the end.
The acting,singing and sets were superb, the score was much better than advertised and the humor quotient was right up there. There was some strong language but this only added to the humor.
It's on until 10/22 - ignore ... read more the professional critics and listen to those who pay for their seats - go and see it! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Anyone
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| 22 |
If you went to high school in the 70-80's this is a show for you! Review by: boston show croud, Oct 7, 2006 |
I must have seen a different show than a previous reviewer! The sets were awesome. We thought that the sets were worthy of winning awards. Seamless changes and elaborate details were present at all times.
The story is fun, but perhaps targeted best for the 35-50 year-olds out there. Many references might be missed if your high-school experience was later than the 80's! leave the kids at home for this one.
We loved the show,... read more, and hope that it enjoys a nice long broadway run! |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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| Acting: |
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| Music: |
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Tourists, Adults
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| 23 |
High Fidelity needs work Review by: ccaggiano, Oct 3, 2006 |
It needs work. Lots of work. Put it this way: it was better than Lestat, but not as good as The Wedding Singer. In fact, it makes the latter look quite good by comparison. It's great that we're finally getting shows with a more modern sound, even if that sound is ten to fifteen years out of date. But High Fidelity is going to need some serious reshaping if it's going to have a chance at the Imperial.
The set is hideous,... read more, the jokes are awkward, and the staging is dreary and unimaginative. The songs are engaging but lifelessly staged: too much stand-and-sing and not enough purposeful movement. Numbers that on paper should stop the show sit limply and go nowhere.
The direction is flat and lifeless. Will Chase makes for a sympathetic but often bland Rob. Jenn Colella as Laura was mild but acceptable. Jay Klaitz as Barry was a pale imitation of Jack Black, an admittedly thankless job. Christian Anderson as Dick (and, yes, they do make the obvious joke out of his name) created the only distinctive characterization of the evening. The supporting players engage in lots of mugging and upstaging. Oh, and note to Abaire and Bobbie: cut the character "Johnny the Drunk" entirely. It's just not funny. Ever. Not even remotely. Katy Mixon as Liz was cartoonish in what should be a kick-ass number, "She Goes." I must confess that Act 2 got a little better. The big love song "Wonderful Love," despite the bland title, was quite effective. Rob's emotional intensity and Laura's ambivalence were palpable and affecting. It was the only time I stopped thinking about the fact that I was watching a show that wasn't quite working and got absorbed into the drama of the moment. The rest of the show needs this honesty and immediacy.
So the raw material is there: the songs are good -- quite good, in fact -- the performers are more than adequate, but the director and librettist are letting everyone else down. Abaire is a capable playwright, but untried thus far on musical comedy. The script may need a script doctor to help Abaire punch up the humor quotient. |
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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| Acting: |
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| Music: |
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| Production: |
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I saw this show with:
Alone
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Business Assoc., Tourists
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| 24 |
Sky high, High Fidelity! Review by: Leslie, Sep 27, 2006 |
• I saw this show pre-Broadway, in Boston MA.
Opening night of High Fidelity was filled with the excitement and energy, worthy of an opening night. The actors met the challenges of character creation and development, head on. I never saw the movie, so I have no idea how their own particular character creation compares to the film. I only know that I was blown away by both the music and the story.
Will Chase-Rob, and Jenn Colella, made a ... read more perfect couple combining annoyance, frustration, fury, and love. Ian- the other man, was smooth, charming, and self-absorbed. Robs' co-workers became his 'partners in crime' as a modern day Laurel and Hardy- combining sweetness with spicy. Robs' women- the one's behind the 'Top 5 break-ups, drift through out the show like a Greek chorus, advancing the story by pointing out Robs' emotional strengths and weaknesses.
Robs' female best friend represents common sense mixed with certain wisdom.
A hearty 'bravo' and 'great job' to both Tom Kitt and Amanda Green for the music and the lyrics. They are FABULOUS!!
The sets and costumes fit the present day Brooklyn neighborhood to a T.
This musical was a love story- in fact, two of them. One- Rob and Laura, and second, a passionate love story for music- in all forms
(even John Tesh!).
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Alone
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Recommended for:
Anyone
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| * Review is an opinion of a BroadwayBox user and not that of BroadwayBox.com and BroadwayBox, Inc. |
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