Our Top 5 Issues With High Fidelity

By Suzy Evans in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 25, 2009 8:40PM

We went into the musical High Fidelity with no preconceived notions. We hadn’t seen the movie. We hadn’t read the book. So there was no way we could see the problem with the subject material onstage, right?

Wrong.

The plot revolves around broken-hearted Rob Gordon (the John Cusack role), owner of Wicker Park independent record store Championship Vinyl. Rob’s just been left by yet another woman, Laura, and he finally realizes he might be the problem. So he calls on his Top 5 all time break-ups to figure out what he’s doing wrong.

As our narrator, Rob starts off with the line, “This is a cassette” and then introduces the audience to his authobiographically organized record collection. Records + Cassettes = Broadway musical in an Old Town mall? We just weren’t feeling it.

Now, the venue and subject matter are not really theater company Route 66’s fault, though it’s hard to review the show without addressing them. Therefore, in the spirit of the story, here are our Top 5 issues with the musical version of High Fidelity.

1. Just because you’re performing a show about Chicagoans in Chicago doesn’t mean people here are going to like it. Sure, Rob wears a Cubs shirt in one scene, but he’s singing a musical theatre style song while dancing in his underwear. He’s a music snob - why is he doing this?
2. The lighting design didn’t reflect the nature of the piece. There’s nothing to be done about the kitschy pop songs, but flashing colored lights don’t scream independent record store.
3. The songs. We’re sorry Route 66, we know it’s not your fault. But they’re just not good and they don’t fit the content of the musical. And we love composer Tom Kitt’s Next to Normal so we know there’s talent there. But, yeah. Your characters are record geeks. Why are they singing in a clichéd musical theater style?
4. The leading actors were unconvincing as struggling 20 and 30-somethings. There are plenty of young actors in Chicago who are living the hard life and could play these roles. The casting was a little bit off. Which leads us to number 5…
5. These performers are trying really hard - which is not a bad thing. But their passion and heart for a bad musical made our hearts break. Jonathan Wagner as Barry channeled Jack Black wonderfully, but we kind of just wanted to see Jack Black. And no one does mopey, lovable, brokenhearted guy like John Cusack. It’s unfortunate, but recreating these roles is near impossible to do.

After the musical was over, we felt the need to watch the movie so we could speak from a place of authority. Maybe the musical did a good job and we just didn’t know because we hadn’t seen the movie. So from the last video rental store on earth, we rented a movie about the last record store on earth. However, those annoying songs kept popping into our head and interrupting what is probably a good movie.

High Fidelity is running at Piper's Alley Theater (230 W. North Ave.). Shows are on Thursdays, Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Ticket prices range from $29.50-$39.50. For tickets call (312) 664-8844.