'High Fidelity' hits a high note in Boston
October 10, 2006
By KATHLEEN DEELY, Sun Staff

BOSTON -- Top five reasons to see High Fidelity at the Colonial Theatre: 1. Amazing stagecraft; 2. Great performers; 3. Incredible set; 4. A one-man band extravaganza; 5. It rocks.

Theater review

Like Rob's top-five lists in the Nick Hornby novel-turnedmovie-turned-play, this is subject to change depending on the night. But at Thursday's world premiere, High Fidelity hit all five. Transcending the energy of '90s rock theater smash Rent, High Fidelity thundered onto stage with a passion and refreshing attitude that has been missing in contemporary plays for more than a decade. The musical follows 34-year-old Rob through a week when his girlfriend, Laura, leaves him for New Age spiritual neighbor Ian. An interchangeable set moves seamlessly from the slacker haven Championship Vinyl to his record-lined apartment so quickly you have to blink. The difference between this musical and what passes as musicals these days is raw talent -- these performers cansing and not shrilly.
Songs like "The Last Real Record Store" and "9 Percent Chance of Your Love" are perfectly executed with great range by Christian Anderson, sensitive record clerk Dick, and with witty flair by Jay Klaitz, Jack Black's character Barry. Played expertly by Will Chase, Rob doesn't try to be John Cusack, the star of the movie. He is less whiny and, appearing in almost every scene, never shows signs of
fatigue in 21/2 hours. One of the best songs was "Conflict Resolution," where the record store clerks beat up Ian when he enters the shop, in a rock montage of Guns N' Rose, The Beastie Boys and gangsta rock. Critics may take issue when Bruce Springsteen pops out of the TV to give Rob breakup advice. But it is so in tune with this GenX-era that it works. The play, written by Boston's own David Lindsay-Abaire and composed by Tom Kitt, is not indie theater trying to be hip. Even though it is a remake, it is original theater wrought with buzz. The young, pumped, international crowd probably felt the way theater-goers did when Oklahoma! opened here in the '40s .
Headed to Broadway in December, High Fidelity will enjoy a long New York run. Go see it now so you can be like those hipsters that saw Nirvana in a small club in Seattle in 1990 ... you saw it when. High Fidelity runs through Oct. 22 at the Colonial Theatre. There is a day-of-performance lottery for $20 seats.