High Fidelity

When community theatre gets it right they really get it right and that’s what Beenleigh Theatre Group did with their production of High Fidelity. There were laughs galore, the theatre kept rockin’ all night, and the cast were at the top of their game.

Based on Nick Hornby’s classic 90s novel about vinyl geeks and their relationships, and the 2000 movie which starred John Cusack and Jack Black, the musical version lasted about a minute on Broadway but has since been re-assessed and found fan-acceptance not dissimilar to the alternative records that are fanatically detailed in the plot. The urban-grunge of the novel is missing, as it was in the film, but the musical gets it right so often that it’s a blast from start to finish.

William Boyd as vinyl record store owner Rob Gordon was a mass of insecurities, wonderfully dry and acerbic, but down-to-earth. To say he was obsessively self-possessed is an understatement. The lynch-pin of the show, he kicked it into gear with a high-decibel plot delivering “Last Real Record Store on Earth” and followed with an ironically clever list of his failed relationships, “Top Five Desert Island Break-Ups”, with some smooth back-up by his Ex-GFs. “I Slept With Someone (Who Slept With Lyle Lovett)” pushed the country button, but it was “Laura, Laura”, a tender and honest piece about the girl who has just walked out on him, that had vulnerability.

Katya Bryant’s Laura had her own insecurities, not the least of them her relationship with a man still walking in a boy’s shoes, but she worked through them with a particularly funny sequence involving Ian, a new-age guru played with a ton of relish by Bradley Chapman. His “Ian’s Here” was a winner.

As Rob’s store hangers-on and massive record snobs Barry and Dick, Lachlan Clark and Isaac Tibbs were prime examples of arrested development in young thirty-something males. Clark’s disdain when a woman asks for a copy of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” was priceless, whilst Tibbs’ nasally vocal landed multiple laughs with “It’s No Problem”.

Carly Wilson was great as Laura’s bestie Liz, whilst Lauren Conway as the shy and introverted Anna made her impact with Tibbs on the reprise of “It’s No Problem”.

Stewie Matthews’ dance moves kept the show moving, as did Michael Skilton’s polished direction. Tom Kitt’s original score echoed 90s pop, Amanda Green’s lyrics had punch and wit, and it was all played by a 7-piece band led with expertise by Christine Leah.

To me it was musical theatre mana having been an obsessive vinyl geek all my life, but it was also hugely enjoyable and entertaining.

Peter Pinne