Chess

[richey]

Well I thought it was fantastic. The staging is incredible. It's worth the ticket price to see Michael Ball on a rising chess board belting out Anthem. I was hesitant when he was cast but I thought he did a really good job. Burke can certainly belt out the big notes but there was a bit too much lip trembling for my liking. The same for Cassidy, she was a little screechy on some of the big notes.
Not sure about starting act 2 with He Is A Man. I don't think it adds anything and the act doesn't get going till One Night In Bangkok.
On a less serious note they missed a trick by not selling the merchandise shown on the video for the cheerleading song. Who wouldn't want Chess toothpaste!?

[richey]

May 2, 2018 15:57:50 GMT woobl said:

People are right to point out bad sound design. If you can't hear the lyrics what's the point?

i really dont think it's bad sound design. I think it is an inherent problem in the way some pieces are written ( Merano and Press conference for instance, far too many words fired out rapidly)

[Deleted]

May 2, 2018 19:06:01 GMT richey said:

May 2, 2018 15:57:50 GMT woobl said:

People are right to point out bad sound design. If you can't hear the lyrics what's the point?

i really dont think it's bad sound design. I think it is an inherent problem in the way some pieces are written ( Merano and Press conference for instance, far too many words fired out rapidly)

I agree. Much as I love Tim Rice (and I do!) he can be a bit of a ‘show off’ with his lyrics... too many words, too many to take in when there’s so much else to do- look at the scenery, take in the costumes, figure out the setting, work out who’s who, get what’s going on... He bombarded us a bit with Chess. Compare with the simplicity of Superstar... He’s just a bit too clever clever. 

But oh, I can’t wait now... 

[sandman]

May 2, 2018 19:18:18 GMT @caiaphas said:

I agree. Much as I love Tim Rice (and I do!) he can be a bit of a ‘show off’ with his lyrics... too many words, too many to take in when there’s so much else to do- look at the scenery, take in the costumes, figure out the setting, work out who’s who, get what’s going on... He bombarded us a bit with Chess. Compare with the simplicity of Superstar... He’s just a bit too clever clever. 

But oh, I can’t wait now... 

I’d agree with this too. I love Tim’s lyrics for Chess but even on most cast recordings, it’s not easy to decipher what’s being sung in some numbers.

I find the reviews surreal. As a long time Chess fan, I thought this was the most satisfying production I’ve seen to date.

I had reservations about the casting but for the most part, I thought they sang beautifully.

I’m not saying it’s a perfect show but any reviewer worth his salt should be aware of this show by now and be able to accept it for what it is.

I can’t fathom why anyone would feel the need to leave at half time.

[Stasia]

May 2, 2018 13:31:57 GMT alece10 said:

May 2, 2018 11:58:23 GMT Stasia said:

I know him so well
I mean, you met my friend! He’s not the stage manager, he’s the most aspiring musical theatre director who recently won his second Golden Mask (smth like Russian Olivier award) for Sweeney Todd. Among his works are: Joseph in St Petersburg, Evita and Bernarda Alba in Ekaterinburg, Pride and Predjudice, O’Henry’s Christmas, Love Story in Moscow... and all of these in less than 5 years!

Oh my god. What a small world. Yes he also mentioned Sweeney Todd and Joseph. I must of misheard him saying stage manager. I also told him I had been to Uzbekistan in the early 80s which surprised him. Is his first name Alexis or something like that?

Yep, he is Alexei Frandetti: alexfrandetti.ru has some info on him

[theatreian]

May 1, 2018 23:30:39 GMT Being Alive said:

just saw that the stage said the only consistently decent performance is Alexandra Burke...

Did Ryan write this?

[chess]

May 2, 2018 19:54:46 GMT sandman said:

May 2, 2018 19:18:18 GMT @caiaphas said:

I agree. Much as I love Tim Rice (and I do!) he can be a bit of a ‘show off’ with his lyrics... too many words, too many to take in when there’s so much else to do- look at the scenery, take in the costumes, figure out the setting, work out who’s who, get what’s going on... He bombarded us a bit with Chess. Compare with the simplicity of Superstar... He’s just a bit too clever clever. 

But oh, I can’t wait now... 

I’d agree with this too. I love Tim’s lyrics for Chess but even on most cast recordings, it’s not easy to decipher what’s being sung in some numbers.

I find the reviews surreal. As a long time Chess fan, I thought this was the most satisfying production I’ve seen to date.

I had reservations about the casting but for the most part, I thought they sang beautifully.

I’m not saying it’s a perfect show but any reviewer worth his salt should be aware of this show by now and be able to accept it for what it is.

I can’t fathom why anyone would feel the need to leave at half time.

I can’t agree more. It’s been treated by the reviewers as a new show. They should take the show for what it is a focus on the production values and singers. I really think it is an excellent production.

[Mr Snow]

May 3, 2018 4:30:10 GMT chess said:

May 2, 2018 19:54:46 GMT sandman said:

I’d agree with this too. I love Tim’s lyrics for Chess but even on most cast recordings, it’s not easy to decipher what’s being sung in some numbers.

I find the reviews surreal. As a long time Chess fan, I thought this was the most satisfying production I’ve seen to date.

I had reservations about the casting but for the most part, I thought they sang beautifully.

I’m not saying it’s a perfect show but any reviewer worth his salt should be aware of this show by now and be able to accept it for what it is.

I can’t fathom why anyone would feel the need to leave at half time.

I can’t agree more. It’s been treated by the reviewers as a new show. They should take the show for what it is a focus on the production values and singers. I really think it is an excellent production.

I've tried to help you see it as they did. Thats their job. 
I've never seen it and so their perspective is similar to mine and most of the population. Occasionally a production arrives that makes sense of a 'problem' piece, should they then just comment on the production values?

[BurlyBeaR]

May 3, 2018 5:43:09 GMT Mr Snow said:

May 3, 2018 4:30:10 GMT chess said:

I can’t agree more. It’s been treated by the reviewers as a new show. They should take the show for what it is a focus on the production values and singers. I really think it is an excellent production.

I've tried to help you see it as they did. Thats their job. 
I've never seen it and so their perspective is similar to mine and most of the population. Occasionally a production arrives that makes sense of a 'problem' piece, should they then just comment on the production values?

Agree. You can’t just wipe out in inconvenient truths. We already established upthread that there is a whole generation of people who know nothing about this show. Reviews of revivals should cover the complete piece, warts and all. 

[lou105]

May 2, 2018 17:43:31 GMT d'James said:

Do the main cast have any holidays planned?

The website says that Tim Howar is off on 22 May. Since they've been specific about that, I assume they're otherwise doing all shows unless unwell. 

[dazzlair]

For anyone who's interested in a show + dinner deal:

www.encoreradio.co.uk/news/west-end/2562352/ticket-thursday--chess-with-free-two-course-dinner-for-7600/

[bob2010]

2* from the Metro this morning

[BurlyBeaR]

i haven’t read all the reviews but both the Guardian and Metro refer to (in)appropriateness of the Bangkok scene. “writhing women in glass boxes” says Claire Allfree in the Metro metaphorically clutching her pearls. Are there any writhing men? I’ll be disappointed if not.

[alece10]

May 3, 2018 11:31:55 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

i haven’t read all the reviews but both the Guardian and Metro refer to (in)appropriateness of the Bangkok scene. “writhing women in glass boxes” says Claire Allfree in the Metro metaphorically clutching her pearls. Are there any writhing men? I’ll be disappointed if not.

There was a lot more "writhing" in Miss Saigon especially where I was sat in the first row but I don't remember the press mentioning that.

[richey]

May 3, 2018 11:31:55 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

i haven’t read all the reviews but both the Guardian and Metro refer to (in)appropriateness of the Bangkok scene. “writhing women in glass boxes” says Claire Allfree in the Metro metaphorically clutching her pearls. Are there any writhing men? I’ll be disappointed if not.

Yes there is writhing and a lot of bodily contortions from both sexes (not only in Bangkok but also the Merchandising song)

[BurlyBeaR]

May 3, 2018 13:26:53 GMT richey said:

May 3, 2018 11:31:55 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

i haven’t read all the reviews but both the Guardian and Metro refer to (in)appropriateness of the Bangkok scene. “writhing women in glass boxes” says Claire Allfree in the Metro metaphorically clutching her pearls. Are there any writhing men? I’ll be disappointed if not.

Yes there is writhing and a lot of bodily contortions from both sexes (not only in Bangkok but also the Merchandising song)

Ms. Allfree must have missed that bit. 

[sf]

May 3, 2018 11:45:10 GMT alece10 said:

May 3, 2018 11:31:55 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

i haven’t read all the reviews but both the Guardian and Metro refer to (in)appropriateness of the Bangkok scene. “writhing women in glass boxes” says Claire Allfree in the Metro metaphorically clutching her pearls. Are there any writhing men? I’ll be disappointed if not.

There was a lot more "writhing" in Miss Saigon especially where I was sat in the first row but I don't remember the press mentioning that.

From Variety:

Rural Italians in (er) lederhosen squeezing ABBA out of accordions is one thing, but a Bangkok populated by Buddhist icons and ladyboys feels beyond the pale (especially since most of the actors playing the locals are.)

I don't see it myself until next week, but in 2018 that's a fair point.

Full review at this link:

Variety - ENO Chess review

[bellboard27]

May 3, 2018 15:07:53 GMT sf said:

May 3, 2018 11:45:10 GMT alece10 said:

There was a lot more "writhing" in Miss Saigon especially where I was sat in the first row but I don't remember the press mentioning that.

From Variety:

Rural Italians in (er) lederhosen squeezing ABBA out of accordions is one thing, but a Bangkok populated by Buddhist icons and ladyboys feels beyond the pale (especially since most of the actors playing the locals are.)

I don't see it myself until next week, but in 2018 that's a fair point.

Full review at this link:

Variety - ENO Chess review

"One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free
You'll find a god in every golden cloister
And if you're lucky then the god's a she
I can feel an angel sliding up to me"

Of course, they could replace One Night in Bangkok with a new song "One Afternoon in Bangkok" about buying flowers on the floating market and provide a different, sanitised view of the city.

[BoOverall]

Am looking forward to seeing this. It’s one of my favourites for the gloriousness of the score (far less so the book!) - oh that score.

[sf]

May 3, 2018 15:43:48 GMT bellboard27 said:

May 3, 2018 15:07:53 GMT sf said:

From Variety:

"Rural Italians in (er) lederhosen squeezing ABBA out of accordions is one thing, but a Bangkok populated by Buddhist icons and ladyboys feels beyond the pale (especially since most of the actors playing the locals are.)"


I don't see it myself until next week, but in 2018 that's a fair point.

Full review at this link:

Variety - ENO Chess review

"One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free
You'll find a god in every golden cloister
And if you're lucky then the god's a she
I can feel an angel sliding up to me"

Of course, they could replace One Night in Bangkok with a new song "One Afternoon in Bangkok" about buying flowers on the floating market and provide a different, sanitised view of the city.

Yes, I know the lyrics too, and that isn't quite the point. As the review suggests, while it isn't exactly yellowface, having white people put on clichéd Thai drag for a dance number perhaps doesn't look as innocuous now as it might have been thirty years ago.

[BurlyBeaR]

[Oleanna]

May 3, 2018 16:51:58 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

As far as I’m concerned, she more than justified the role being written for her - NOBODY sings it like Elaine Paige.

[Deleted]

Since seeing 'Chess' at the weekend made me revisit one of my favourite recordings of the musical, the Swedish cast recording from 2002, which to my mind (and although I adore Elaine Paige) had the most perfect four leads in Tommy Körberg (Anatolij), Helen Sjöholm (Florence), Anders Ekborg (Freddie) and Josefin Nilsson (Svetlana).

Sadly Josefin Nilsson is no longer with us but her Svetlana was a divine performance and her beautiful cracked voice was simply just glorious. For those who weren't familiar with Alexandra Burke's "new" song at the beginning of Act II of the ENO production, let me guide you to "Han är en man han är ett barn" (He is a man, he is a child) in its original form. It's in Swedish I grant you but Josefin sounds as magnificent as she ever did. She sadly passed away a couple of years ago, aged just 46, but if anything is a fitting tribute to her, her performance in 'Chess' must surely be it.

[Scswp]

In the Swedish production, I seem to remember that, at some point, Molokov sings a song (can’t remember the Swedish title) that is actually the tune of Abba’s demo song ‘When the Waves Roll Out to Sea’. I’m sure I haven’t dreamt this - is this tune/section in the current London version?

EDIT : Here it is. Is this included in the London production?

[chess]

May 3, 2018 18:17:46 GMT Scswp said:

In the Swedish production, I seem to remember that, at some point, Molokov sings a song (can’t remember the Swedish title) that is actually the tune of Abba’s demo song ‘When the Waves Roll Out to Sea’. I’m sure I haven’t dreamt this - is this tune/section in the current London version?

No it isn’t. It was a chess demo, based on the never released abba song just like that. That melody used in the sweden version is breathtakingly beautiful.