High Fidelity (musical)
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London, UK |
High Fidelity is a musical with music by Tom Kitt, lyrics by Amanda Green, and a book by David Lindsay-Abaire.
Based primarily on the 1995 Nick Hornby novel of the same name, the plot focuses on Rob Gordon, a Brooklyn record shop owner in his thirties obsessed with making top five lists for everything, always observing rather than participating in life. When his girlfriend Laura leaves him, he goes through a painful re-evaluation of his life and lost loves (with a little help from his music) and he slowly learns that he has to grow up and let go of his self-centered view of the world before he can find real happiness.
Premiering in Boston in 2006, the musical eventually moved to Broadway, opening on December 7, 2006, at the
Upon closing, Broadway Licensing acquired the rights for stock and amateur performance rights.[1]
Background
Kitt recognized the material's potential for musical adaptation when he first read the book, long before the film was released and became a cult hit. He approached Green, with whom he had attended the
Productions
The musical had a month long out-of-town tryout at the
Regional and international productions
The show was first produced regionally in 2008 by
Productions followed in
The Canadian premiere was produced by Hart House Theatre (Toronto) in January 2010, directed by Mark Selby.[7][8]
The musical was produced at the Roleystone Theatre, Perth, in March 2016, directed by Kristen Twynam-Perkins.[9]
In May, 2018, Minneapolis Musical Theatre created an immersive production of the show inside an actual record store, the Electric Fetus.
Musical numbers
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An original cast album was recorded on January 13, 2007, three weeks after the show closed. The album omitted several songs, including "Terrible Things", "Exit Sign", Ian's Prayer", "Saturday Night Girl" and the reprise version of "The Last Real Record Store". Included, however, was "Too Tired", a song cut from the show during rehearsals.
Critical reception
Reviews were mixed, though Amanda Green's lyrics drew particular praise. Associated Press' Michael Kuchwara wrote that "High Fidelity's charms are considerable and don't be surprised if you fall under its spell", while the review in Entertainment Weekly claimed that "High Fidelity is the unique show that charms both your drinking buddy and your mother." However, Ben Brantley in The New York Times called High Fidelity one of Broadway's "all-time most forgettable musicals."[10]
Clive Barnes of the New York Post was mostly dismissive of the show, but did write that Green's "razzle-dazzle lyrics have a style and grace that zing in the ear."[11]
References
- ^ "Broadway Licensing". broadwaylicensing.com.
- ^ Miller, Scott (July 10, 2008). "Inside High Fidelity". New Line Theatre. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
- ^ "'High Fidelity' Broadway Production" Archived 2015-05-30 at the Wayback Machine. PlaybillVault.com. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
- ^ "High Fidelity at New Line Theatre, 2008". About the Artists.
- ^ "High Fidelity at New Line Theatre, 2012". About the Artists.
- ^ "High Fidelity". About The Artists. June 27, 2001. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
- ^ "Hart House Theatre Presents HIGH FIDELITY 1/15/2010" broadwayworld.com, December 16, 2009
- ^ "Season 2009-2010" harthouse.ca, retrieved January 31, 2017
- ^ High Fidelity liveguide.com.au, retrieved January 31, 2017
- ^ Brantley, Ben. "Theater Review. 'High Fidelity'". New York Times. December 8, 2006.
- ^ Barnes, Clive. "High Energy, Low Fidelity". New York Post. December 8, 2006.