“Per Sylvam ad Astra” blog on katieriegel.com

I do agree with all the snakes who complain that shows should not be reviewed until they've gone through their whole preview period, but I promised some thoughts on High Fidelity in Boston and so, here we go. Take it with a grain of salt — the show still has a month until it officially opens on Broadway and as any good new musical should, I'm sure they will be working on it right up until that date.

First off, Will Chase is predictably excellent. If you've seen him in one of his past roles (the only believable John Lennon in Lennon, a post-Adam Pascal Radames in Aida, a post-Patrick Wilson Jerry in The Full Monty, or the final Chris in Miss Saigon) then this doesn't surprise you. As an actor/rock tenor/all-around performer he is consistently charismatic and brings a straight-guy edge that so many of Broadway's leading men are just slightly missing. As Hi Fi's Rob he's on stage for the whole show and he's funny and real.  

Ok, enough of the Will Chase love, but can I just say that I still can't read New York Magazine without cringing when i see Jada Yuan's byline since that awfully dismissive five question interview she did with him in their fall preview? Jada, it may make you feel clever and funny, but people don't enjoy reading you flat out dismiss someone who doesn't answer your questions the way you had planned. Be a journalist and roll with the punches.

Moving on.  The show is a love-letter to music and I found it to be really fun and modern. The score (Tom Kitt and Amanda Green) is the catchiest new rock score I've heard since Paul gave me Bright Lights, Big City a couple of years back and I'm curious to hear the new ones they're still working on. (Catchiest being the key word, since Spring Awakening is by far the most brilliant.) As opposed to The Wedding Singer, which I've already heard people mistakenly lump this in with, the book by David Lindsay-Abaire is specific, smart and edgy. He normally writes plays rather than musicals, which is the right background for something new like this. The fluid and constantly morphing record store/apartment/etc set is amazing! Yes, there are some things they need to work out before they open, including one strategic re-casting move, working on the structure a little and fixing the top five breakup "ladies'" costumes and bits. Oh, and Christian Anderson (who was in Rent the first time I saw it nine years ago in DC!) is heartbreakingly funny as shy, sad musical genius, Dick. Watch out for my fresh face with him down the road.

I think that's all I have to say. People who love the book and movie WILL like this. It's not a cheesy musical. Give Rob a chance.

October 28th, 2006
Categories: Theater, Broadway, Musicals, Boston, High Fidelity, Will Chase, Christian Anderson . Author: Katie

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