Chess

[BurlyBeaR]

I don’t think a lot of people really know what it’s about. On the occasions where I’ve been asked to describe it people are always surprised. “Oh, but I thought it was by ABBA?”. If the new audiences are paying £100 and expecting some poppy Mamma-Mia-esque affair they’re going to be disappointed. Especially if it’s performed by people they don’t know.

[Dave25]

In general, I think it's very hard to find big (pop)stars who can sing this material. Which postars nowadays have the chops to pull this off?
I think we should make bigger stars of real talent.

[Montmartre]

The current cast of The Woman in White would be hard to beat. (That show finishes next Saturday.)

[sf]

Feb 4, 2018 6:56:01 GMT Oleanna said:

How many tickets are still left to shift? Are they still dependent on a big name?

Lots the last time I looked, so yes, they probably are if they don't want to have to resort to discounts.

The pricing structure doesn't help. The dress circle seat that cost me £57 for Sunset Boulevard is £75 on weekdays and a whopping £105 at weekends (I think it was £110 for Carousel, which is why I didn't see Carousel). The back-row-of-the-dress-circle seat that cost me just £20 for Opera North's Kiss Me, Kate is £75 for this. £20 for that seat is a bargain, but £75 is too much. The same with the seat I had for Sunset Boulevard (F59) - it's so far off to the side that it simply is not worth the same amount as a seat in the centre block.

I love the score, and I'm sure I'll see this whoever is in it (and I was given theatre tokens for Christmas that will cover most of the cost of a decent seat anyway), but I can't be the only person who is holding back because of the prices. They certainly didn't see the kind of initial rush for this that they had when public booking opened for Sunset Boulevard.

[Phantom of London]

You don’t get bigger shows than Sunset Boulevard and bigger name than Glenn Close, yet that was a hard sell and you could still buy tickets, whilst the run was on.
Sweeney Todd is a massive show and Emma Thompson and Bryn Terfel are both big name, yet you can get tickets whilst the run was on and was a hard sell.
Carousel is a huge show, with Alfie Boe and Kathryn Jenkins both massive names and still was a hard sell and tickets available through the run.
My train goes into Charing Cross station which is virtually next to the ENO, so walk past it loads and not once did I see a house full sign out.
So get my drift, no need to unclimbed your seatbelts yet.

[Dave25]

Feb 4, 2018 16:06:15 GMT Phantom of London said:

You don’t get bigger shows than Sunset Boulevard and bigger name than Glenn Close, yet that was a hard sell and you could still buy tickets, whilst the run was on.
Sweeney Todd is a massive show and Emma Thompson and Bryn Terfel are both big name, yet you can get tickets whilst the run was on and was a hard sell.

Maybe because there is quite a big group of people who appreciates this art/genre (target audience) but this group just not warms up for inadequate singing? And also the people who don't love the genre would rather hear good singing.

It's not like they offer the potential audiences that are interested in these events any real singing quality, so why would they go?

If you belittle your target audience, of course it won't sell out. 

[rjschess]

While we wait to hear about the London cast. Here are a few clips from rehearsals for the Washington concerts. www.playbill.com/article/get-a-sneak-peek-of-raul-esparza-ramin-karimloo-karen-olivo-and-ruthie-ann-miles-in-chess

[karloscar]

Well they all sound terrific. Bring them over. Interesting that they're using the London version of The Deal/No Deal, and Broadway Endgame. Shame I can't get to see this.

[Deleted]

I’ve not been bothered about the delay in announcing the cast for this, as I bought my tickets on the first day of sale. I just want to hear this again. The fact that it’s going to be staged is a bonus as far as I’m concerned.

But...

With eleven weeks to go before it opens for a very short run, and as most posters in this thread have pointed out, no cast announced as yet, and tickets sales extremely poor (I had a look at various dates yesterday, just out of interest), is this production in trouble? Why is ENO keeping so quiet about it?

Do we think it’ll go ahead after all?

[danb]

Feb 6, 2018 7:16:37 GMT @caiaphas said:

I’ve not been bothered about the delay in announcing the cast for this, as I bought my tickets on the first day of sale. I just want to hear this again. The fact that it’s going to be staged is a bonus as far as I’m concerned.

But...

With eleven weeks to go before it opens for a very short run, and as most posters in this thread have pointed out, no cast announced as yet, and tickets sales extremely poor (I had a look at various dates yesterday, just out of interest), is this production in trouble? Why is ENO keeping so quiet about it?

Do we think it’ll go ahead after all?

Is it all Grade/Linnet money behind it or is there an element of Abba/Tim Rice cash involved?

[viserys]

I can't imagine that it will be cancelled... refunding those who did buy tickets and leaving the Coliseum empty for those weeks must surely be more expensive than just going ahead.

I am quite sure that they were in negotiations with a few "famous" names and that fell through. I could see a normal new production of Chess, whether West End or Fringe, not needing to rely on famous names, hoping that the show's title alone, the Björn/Benny connection and the famous songs would be enough to lure people in, but the recent short-run offerings at the Coliseum have relied heavily on offering very expensive short runs with famous names in the leads. Or maybe they thought that they don't need names anymore after BOOH sold without famous names last summer?

I'd still like to book if the cast is of interest to me, but I'd also not be fazed if it fell through. I'd rather see a small-scale production in one of the great fringe venues with talented newcomers.

[Steffi]

I know someone who was in the finals for this. Said performer didn't get through because the casting agency was then told to look for "names" instead of simply casting musical theatre performers. That was weeks ago though so I do wonder how far along they have come with the search for those names.

[Deleted]

Feb 6, 2018 8:15:48 GMT Steffi said:

I know someone who was in the finals for this. Said performer didn't get through because the casting agency was then told to look for "names" instead of simply casting musical theatre performers. That was weeks ago though so I do wonder how far along they have come with the search for those names.

If they've only decided last-minute to look for "names" then they are really going to struggle.  Either that, or we'll soon know who didn't have another job booked so said yes!

[anthony40]

It does make you wonder what going on behind the scenes doesn't it?

[theatreian]

It does indeed. I am getting sick of waiting for the cast. Though I do hope it goes ahead as I am looking forward to it whoever the cast is!

[shady23]

What's on stage have a casting announcement shortly... maybe this?

[shady23]

No such luck. Was bat out of hell

[Deleted]

Personally I love Chess and will see it whoever is in it. That said I would prefer MT trained people and no celebs. Would also have preferred a small to medium West End theatre.
ENO just too big and I don't feel these semi staged productions can fill it.

[Someone in a tree]

Who ever is cast and what ever is semi staged it can’t be as bad as last years Carousel ...

[Deleted]

Feb 6, 2018 10:22:21 GMT Someone in a tree said:

Who ever is cast and what ever is semi staged it can’t be as bad as last years Carousel ...

Shhh don't tempt fate. If you say Ka**erin* J**k*ns name aloud she rises up and screeches at you. 

[Deleted]

They should get EP and Dickson in. Being 30 years too old for the role didn't stop them casting Glenn lol.

[karloscar]

Judy Kuhn's only twenty years too old for the role, and she could still sing it better than anyone else!

[Deleted]

Feb 6, 2018 10:06:51 GMT @sharpe12 said:

Personally I love Chess and will see it whoever is in it. That said I would prefer MT trained people and no celebs. Would also have preferred a small to medium West End theatre.
ENO just too big and I don't feel these semi staged productions can fill it.

I wonder if the ENO association puts people off these musicals, thinking they might be getting a musical performed in an 'operatic' way... Jenkins and Boe last year might have put more people off with their 'crossover' reputations. Terfel would have had the same lack of appeal for some.

For me it's the venue and accoustics that are a plus.

And do we know it's semi-staged? I can't see anything on the (sparce) details on ENO website that suggests it is. It says: "Landmark musical in first major West End revival in over 30 years."

[ali973]

Gosh I hope it's not the DC cast. They are all fabulous (though Raul is behaving rather strangely..and got manboobs)..my biggest gripe is that they all try to outsing each other with over the top modulations.

[Deleted]

Feb 6, 2018 12:29:28 GMT @caiaphas said:

Feb 6, 2018 10:06:51 GMT @sharpe12 said:

Personally I love Chess and will see it whoever is in it. That said I would prefer MT trained people and no celebs. Would also have preferred a small to medium West End theatre.
ENO just too big and I don't feel these semi staged productions can fill it.

I wonder if the ENO association puts people off these musicals, thinking they might be getting a musical performed in an 'operatic' way... Jenkins and Boe last year might have put more people off with their 'crossover' reputations. Terfel would have had the same lack of appeal for some.

For me it's the venue and accoustics that are a plus.

And do we know it's semi-staged? I can't see anything on the (sparce) details on ENO website that suggests it is. It says: "Landmark musical in first major West End revival in over 30 years."

I reckon it's because they have been describing Sunset etc as semi staged and people have commented that it's just about 'staged.' So now they don't bother saying semi staged as expectations of 'staging' there are so low that they don't wanna risk putting people off.

Either way, I'll be AMAZED if there's an all singing all dancing lit up revolving, rising and falling chess board - which let's face it we'd all LOVE!