High Fidelity - High Class!
I saw already the opening night at the beginning of August but with so much else happening as all my trips to Bad Gandersheim, vacation mid/end of August, work madness once back I somehow never got around to write about the show.
I loved the show that much that I of course had to return on the final night (of this run but luckily it is returning in December).
High Fidelity - Altonaer Theater, Hamburg, 09/09/2012
Rob - Siegmar Tonk
Barry - Holger Dexne
Dick - Ben Knop
Laura - Katharina Vogel
Liz - Sarah Matberg
Ian - Tobias Kilian
Marie LaSalle - Florence Matousek
Anna - Alice Wittmer
Punk/Sarah - Nico Stank
Beatnik/Alison - Janina Stiem
Other roles are played by the members of the cast
I won't go too much into detail about the story, actually this post will be rather short as am to go on another vacation tomorrow - wikipedia helps and there is an
excellent "background and analysis" article which is so spot on.
"High Fidelity" was one show I had been looking forward to this summer as I adore the movie, John Cusack is just brilliant in it, the novel is excellent and the OBC recording of the show is one I listen to regularly though each of these three things stand for itself.
The musical had been already on once as the Folkwang university graduate show in Essen performed it in 2010 but the Hamburg one is the first official professional production in Germany.
Anyone may think about the production what they want as it was a bit too much for some apparently but I thought it was nearly perfect. It just has everything I need for an excellent fun night out at a theatre.
It is a smart musical with a witty and intelligent book (hello reviewers this is NOT a love story, it is largely a show about growing up and finding your place in this world despite the end but they only get together because of Rob growing up) with some smart ideas and lyrics and an excellent translation. I am not too familiar with the original so not sure how close it was translated but it all worked and was funny, touching and approachable with characters you can partly relate to or you know. The music feels fresh and dynamic, yes it sounds occasionally cheesy but who cares when it is so uplifting and infectious with plenty of songs stuck in my head for days. .
This production is full of energy. There is for me not one dull moment, even the quieter more kitschy/emotional moments which sometimes are a turn-off. This especially comes from the outstanding cast lead by Siegmar Tonk as Rob Gordon.
When I saw the first pictures I must say I couldn't picture him too well in that role but that has definitely something to do with me admiring John Cusack and somehow I'd expect the Rob in this show to be the same type of guy. Siegmar though so isn't but gave the part his own touches and personality making him despite being such an chaotic obnoxious prick sometimes a loveable character as so human.
Holger Dexne as the brash Barry, the part Jack Black played so entertainingly in the movie, one of the two guys working in the shop, is a delight to watch, vocally maybe a bit weak compared to the others but he is soo enjoyably OTT and his interpretation of the Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen is hilarious.
Hilarious is also Tobias Kilian as hippie Ian but also as "The Most Pathetic Man in the World", which becomes a bit of a running sitcom character but still has some impact on Rob at the end.
Casting Nico Stank as one of Rob's exes, the one who comes out as a lesbian at the end, was a bit of an odd idea for me first, but Nico did that so well, he has most probably more female sex appeal than some women. I was so jealous how well he can walk on high heels, something I cannot, his dancing's so skillful and his punk just is fun as when he throws the temper regularly.
Katharina Vogel as Laura was a bit of a weak link for me, she sings and performs brilliantly Laura's big number "Number Five With A Bullet" but her acting felt a bit off sometimes especially her accentuation came across unnatural and forced which might be due to inexperience and lack of training though it was more obvious when seeing the premiere. At the final show she had definitely gained some routine.
The other girls though could all impress especially Sarah Matberg as Liz. I must confess I am slightly biased loving her ever since seeing her the first time onstage but her Liz is so lively and confident, such a whirlwind and her "She Goes" is just outstanding.
Alice Wittmer as Anna is most adorable - there is such a true and real feeling spark when her Anna is standing in front of Dick, you can just feel the love with every word she says, with every look, with her move, with every gesture. It is actually a bit of a shame that her part does not really have a solo number, I would have loved to see how she presents one having seen several brilliant videos of her on youtube.
Stealing the show though is Ben Knop as the introvert and shy Dick who admires Anna but just does not dare to even talk to her properly at the beginning. It is so wonderful to watch him portraying Dick who goes through such a development, step by step, not overnight as you may see in other shows, adding and changing little bits and pieces after the other, totally nailing the character IMHO with every little piece of Dick being just simply right, the spark Alice had, he had too, even when I look a the pictures below I can see it, and his "It's No Problem" and the reprises are so beautifully performed given them that little bit extra making a performance most extraordinarily (I was so happy to learn a few days ago that both Ben and Alice will be in the family musical at the Hamburg Kammerspiele in a few weeks to see them in another show).
The set was rather simple but effective, so the light design the record store at the back with some most known record covers on the wall, some other props as Rob's living room at the front on the side, but the show does not need more to not take away the focus of the performances and the performers who give all till the final song "Turn The World Off (And Turn You On)".
Leaving the theatre on such a high after both shows I cannot wait to see it again in December and already hoping that there also might be some more shows in spring as it was the case for other musicals shown at this theate as this show is definitely one in my top 5 of my favourite musicals seen in 2012!
"High Fidelity" on the Altonaer Theater website
Pictures and video from the cast's performance at this year's Alstervergnügen festival in Hamburg on 31/08/2012:
"High Fidelity" was one show I had been looking forward to this summer as I adore the movie, John Cusack is just brilliant in it, the novel is excellent and the OBC recording of the show is one I listen to regularly though each of these three things stand for itself.
The musical had been already on once as the Folkwang university graduate show in Essen performed it in 2010 but the Hamburg one is the first official professional production in Germany.
Anyone may think about the production what they want as it was a bit too much for some apparently but I thought it was nearly perfect. It just has everything I need for an excellent fun night out at a theatre.
It is a smart musical with a witty and intelligent book (hello reviewers this is NOT a love story, it is largely a show about growing up and finding your place in this world despite the end but they only get together because of Rob growing up) with some smart ideas and lyrics and an excellent translation. I am not too familiar with the original so not sure how close it was translated but it all worked and was funny, touching and approachable with characters you can partly relate to or you know. The music feels fresh and dynamic, yes it sounds occasionally cheesy but who cares when it is so uplifting and infectious with plenty of songs stuck in my head for days. .
This production is full of energy. There is for me not one dull moment, even the quieter more kitschy/emotional moments which sometimes are a turn-off. This especially comes from the outstanding cast lead by Siegmar Tonk as Rob Gordon.
When I saw the first pictures I must say I couldn't picture him too well in that role but that has definitely something to do with me admiring John Cusack and somehow I'd expect the Rob in this show to be the same type of guy. Siegmar though so isn't but gave the part his own touches and personality making him despite being such an chaotic obnoxious prick sometimes a loveable character as so human.
Holger Dexne as the brash Barry, the part Jack Black played so entertainingly in the movie, one of the two guys working in the shop, is a delight to watch, vocally maybe a bit weak compared to the others but he is soo enjoyably OTT and his interpretation of the Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen is hilarious.
Hilarious is also Tobias Kilian as hippie Ian but also as "The Most Pathetic Man in the World", which becomes a bit of a running sitcom character but still has some impact on Rob at the end.
Casting Nico Stank as one of Rob's exes, the one who comes out as a lesbian at the end, was a bit of an odd idea for me first, but Nico did that so well, he has most probably more female sex appeal than some women. I was so jealous how well he can walk on high heels, something I cannot, his dancing's so skillful and his punk just is fun as when he throws the temper regularly.
Katharina Vogel as Laura was a bit of a weak link for me, she sings and performs brilliantly Laura's big number "Number Five With A Bullet" but her acting felt a bit off sometimes especially her accentuation came across unnatural and forced which might be due to inexperience and lack of training though it was more obvious when seeing the premiere. At the final show she had definitely gained some routine.
The other girls though could all impress especially Sarah Matberg as Liz. I must confess I am slightly biased loving her ever since seeing her the first time onstage but her Liz is so lively and confident, such a whirlwind and her "She Goes" is just outstanding.
Alice Wittmer as Anna is most adorable - there is such a true and real feeling spark when her Anna is standing in front of Dick, you can just feel the love with every word she says, with every look, with her move, with every gesture. It is actually a bit of a shame that her part does not really have a solo number, I would have loved to see how she presents one having seen several brilliant videos of her on youtube.
Stealing the show though is Ben Knop as the introvert and shy Dick who admires Anna but just does not dare to even talk to her properly at the beginning. It is so wonderful to watch him portraying Dick who goes through such a development, step by step, not overnight as you may see in other shows, adding and changing little bits and pieces after the other, totally nailing the character IMHO with every little piece of Dick being just simply right, the spark Alice had, he had too, even when I look a the pictures below I can see it, and his "It's No Problem" and the reprises are so beautifully performed given them that little bit extra making a performance most extraordinarily (I was so happy to learn a few days ago that both Ben and Alice will be in the family musical at the Hamburg Kammerspiele in a few weeks to see them in another show).
The set was rather simple but effective, so the light design the record store at the back with some most known record covers on the wall, some other props as Rob's living room at the front on the side, but the show does not need more to not take away the focus of the performances and the performers who give all till the final song "Turn The World Off (And Turn You On)".
Leaving the theatre on such a high after both shows I cannot wait to see it again in December and already hoping that there also might be some more shows in spring as it was the case for other musicals shown at this theate as this show is definitely one in my top 5 of my favourite musicals seen in 2012!
"High Fidelity" on the Altonaer Theater website
Pictures and video from the cast's performance at this year's Alstervergnügen festival in Hamburg on 31/08/2012:
