Chess

[karloscar]

Feb 16, 2018 14:08:20 GMT sprampster said:

Ok so having been around the block a few more curtain calls than some of you spring chickens have to say I think Mr Ball is going to knock this out of the park

If you havent seen the show before its a mammoth role. He will be able to hold it and sing it like a true leading man. I remember back in the day seeing him in Aspects of Love and was blown away by his stage craft. This is a role that really requires a proper sing!

As for Alexandra Burke give the girl a chance. Svetlana is an important role but in terms of stage time its not massive. The age difference is immaterial tbh. Its semi staged and the Orchestra and scale of the vocals will more than compensate.


So I would say save your pennies ! Grab a ticket and enjoy the chance to see a cracking score sung live by a talented cast

I thank you x

Back in the day Michael Ball was a hammy actor with a big voice and a cute smile that some found charming. He can still be entertaining in the right role, and he and Mickey Dolenz had great chemistry as Edna and Wilbur in Hairspray. But, and it's a big but, he has developed some horrendous vocal mannerisms and a vibrato as wide as the Grand Canyon in the last few decades, which means that it's quite distressing to hear him murdering just about any tune I'm fond of. He was wrong for Anatoly when Chess was first produced, and he's much less right for it now than he was thirty years ago.

[showoff]

Well, I will still be going,it's a present for my Mother's birthday and she still wants to go.

I can't help but be a little disappointed, I was so excited to see this for the first time, but the cast just feels wrong. However, there is something to be said for low expectations, it's possible we could lower our expectations and come away thinking it was quite good or at least better than we feared.

[mrpianoman]

What about casting for Molokov and Walter? Has that been confirmed?

[sf]

Feb 16, 2018 15:38:54 GMT karloscar said:

Back in the day Michael Ball was a hammy actor with a big voice and a cute smile that some found charming. He can still be entertaining in the right role, and he and Mickey Dolenz had great chemistry as Edna and Wilbur in Hairspray. But, and it's a big but, he has developed some horrendous vocal mannerisms and a vibrato as wide as the Grand Canyon in the last few decades, which means that it's quite distressing to hear him murdering just about any tune I'm fond of. He was wrong for Anatoly when Chess was first produced, and he's much less right for it now than he was thirty years ago.

I suppose it's possible that a stern-enough musical director could keep Ball's (yes, horrendous) vocal mannerisms in check. They were mostly not in evidence in his performance in Sweeney Todd - I was so convinced his Sweeney would be a cheese-fest that I took crackers with me, and I didn't need them.

[theatreian]

I am just glad it is finally confirmed. At least the vocals will be good. Alexandra only has one and a half songs so surprised her billing is so high. Sure Michael will be fine, not sure about Murray who is now 71!
Oh well will have to wait and see now.

[amadeus]

Is Row B of the Balcony worth avoiding?? Just wondering why it was so reduced.

[amadeus]

Feb 16, 2018 18:21:27 GMT @theatremonkey said:

^Rail in view, and you can lose the front of the stage. Also, if anyone leans in A, you are in big trouble.

Ok, sounds as if it is then! Thanks.

[karloscar]

Apparently we have been saved from Tim Minchin as Freddie, big Broadway name as Anatoly, US TV star as Florence but sadly no Norm Lewis as Molokov, but possibly tommy korbrg is still in talks for that role....

[n1david]

Feb 16, 2018 10:12:02 GMT richey said:

ENO finally updated their site and Facebook!
www.eno.org/news/chess-cast-announcement/

Interesting they bill Alexandra higher than Cassidy even though Svetlana is a smaller role

It’s in alphabetical order.

[distantcousin]

I would have LOVED Minchin as Freddie.

A US TV star (who would have to be an exceptional singer) as Florence? I wonder who?...

[danb]

Lea Michele?
Jane Lynch?
Linda Grey?

I could certainly enjoy Naya Rivera if they wanted to go down the Glee route!

[countryjames]

John Rigby is a very direct conductor and with extensive classical experience, including Lyric Opera, Dublin, Opera Holland Park and Opera North, as well as regular concerts for Raymond Gubbay and with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, will, I am sure, ensure that musical values are protected. 

[oxfordsimon]

Feb 16, 2018 20:00:09 GMT danb said:

Lea Michele?
Jane Lynch?
Linda Grey?

I could certainly enjoy Naya Rivera if they wanted to go down the Glee route!

She is a bit busy dealing with the battery charges against her

[danb]

Feb 16, 2018 20:15:44 GMT oxfordsimon said:

Feb 16, 2018 20:00:09 GMT danb said:

Lea Michele?
Jane Lynch?
Linda Grey?

I could certainly enjoy Naya Rivera if they wanted to go down the Glee route!

She is a bit busy dealing with the battery charges against her

Might help her take her mind off it...

[digipal]

Feb 16, 2018 18:57:52 GMT karloscar said:

Apparently we have been saved from Tim Minchin as Freddie, big Broadway name as Anatoly, US TV star as Florence but sadly no Norm Lewis as Molokov, but possibly tommy korbrg is still in talks for that role....big Broadwaye

[digipal]

big Broadway name as Anatoly = Kelsey Grammer?
US TV Star as Florence = Nicole Sherzinger? Perhaps holding out in case she's asked back as a judge on X Factor 2018 hence the delay. I think she would have been fabulous doesn't the X factor films at the same time as the show?

Sorry for the blank post, the cat decided to launch itself onto the keyboard

[Deleted]

^ Thank God you told us that... For one moment, I thought it was you who’d seriously suggested Kelsey Grammer as Anatoly!

[fiyero]

Feb 16, 2018 18:21:27 GMT @theatremonkey said:

^Rail in view, and you can lose the front of the stage. Also, if anyone leans in A, you are in big trouble.

I've been lucky when I sat there for Sunset Boulevard and Carousel (Though as mentioned above not the most comfortable - but worth it for the price saving!). I have been wondering if a leaner in row A would call for use of a lasso to pull them back? Justified I think

[SamB (was badoerfan)]

Feb 16, 2018 18:26:24 GMT amadeus said:

Feb 16, 2018 18:21:27 GMT @theatremonkey said:

^Rail in view, and you can lose the front of the stage. Also, if anyone leans in A, you are in big trouble.

Ok, sounds as if it is then! Thanks.

It really depends where you are in B too. The rail itself into too obstructive, but the upright supports are quite wide, and it's those that would block your view if you were unfortunate enough to get behind one.

[harbek]

I'm both a big Chess fan and a big Tim Howar fan, so I'm personally thrilled. I loved only half the cast of the 2008 concert, and I had a ton of fun seeing that live. I just kind of ignore the ones I don't care about if I love the others enough to make up for it.

Re: seating, I ended up with a front row stalls (A8), cause there was a single seat available for £75 so I grabbed it. How's the view there? (Based on other nights being £100-150 for same area, I'm assuming it was cheaper cause it was a single seat.)

[bellboard27]

Feb 16, 2018 23:24:53 GMT harbek said:

I'm both a big Chess fan and a big Tim Howar fan, so I'm personally thrilled. I loved only half the cast of the 2008 concert, and I had a ton of fun seeing that live. I just kind of ignore the ones I don't care about if I love the others enough to make up for it.

Re: seating, I ended up with a front row stalls (A8), cause there was a single seat available for £75 so I grabbed it. How's the view there? (Based on other nights being £100-150 for same area, I'm assuming it was cheaper cause it was a single seat.)

I sat a few seats along in the centre of the front row for The Barber of Seville last Autumn. The view was good. Of course I don’t know if they might make some odd staging choice that affects the view, but I would guess it should be alright.

[alison]

Feb 16, 2018 23:24:53 GMT harbek said:

I'm both a big Chess fan and a big Tim Howar fan, so I'm personally thrilled. I loved only half the cast of the 2008 concert, and I had a ton of fun seeing that live. I just kind of ignore the ones I don't care about if I love the others enough to make up for it.

Re: seating, I ended up with a front row stalls (A8), cause there was a single seat available for £75 so I grabbed it. How's the view there? (Based on other nights being £100-150 for same area, I'm assuming it was cheaper cause it was a single seat.)

I sat in row A for Bat last year and it was great, even for tiny little me, as the stage isn't too high.

[BurlyBeaR]

I guess the next question is whether the orchestra is going to be on stage or in the pit.

[danb]

Feb 17, 2018 6:38:03 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

I guess the next question is whether the orchestra is going to be on stage or in the pit.

Like, yeah...can you imagine the furore when like, everyone was expecting it to be on the stage like Sunset, but like, it turns out to be in the pit. People will have booked on that basis only for something else to be the case. It’ll make the papers and WOS and everything!

Sorry, just woke up😶

[Deleted]

Hmmmm, so it is a bizarre cast! I do like the ones I have heard of but it feels very disjointed.

Micheal Ball I have always liked, ever since I saw him in Aspects of Love! I just can't see him as Anatoly though - surely too old.
Murray a nice nod to the past, but again way too old.
And Alexandra Burke I have always been a fan of; one of the few real talents to come out of X Factor. No idea if she can really act or do a Russian accent though.

Anyway, I love Chess and was one of the people that would be going whatever the cast so am still very much looking forward to it.

Re the orchestra, I guess they'll be on stage but frankly don't really mind where they are.

Also, all the comments about how great the large orchestra will be - that is probably true. But for me Chess isn't specifically a musical that needs a massive orchestra. It is a pop score and I quite like to hear the band starting with 3-4 keys and being heavy synthesised. Even with the strings I wouldn't mind a synthesised sound. That's just my opinion though!