Chess

[Dr Tom]

May 17, 2018 19:06:10 GMT Charphaba said:

Hello I may be going to Chess either this Saturday matinee or next Saturday matinee. I am thinking of getting a ticket either Box Office or TodayTix on the day. Does anyone know what the best option would be as I would like to be in Dress Circle rather than Upper Circle.

Thank you.

Saturday matinee is one of the most popular shows of the week, so I wouldn’t say your odds were particularly good.

With that said, some people have got lucky by turning down the 10am TodayTix and checking back later, with the odd Dress Circle seat arriving between 11am and 12 noon. But it’s a risk. There might not be any available or you might miss them and any seats left will be even further back in the Upper Circle.

[rjschess]

So this was a fantasy arena concert version of Chess that I created (using the set from a previous Eurovision Song Contest) it seems a lot of the elements made their way into the ENO production! If there had just been a bit more direction and some decent dialogue in the ENO production, it would have been my ultimate fantasy production. Spot the similarities

[richey]

Been listening to the American recording. Now that IS a mess!

[alece10]

Just got 2 dress circle for tonight from Today Tix.
Excited about seeing it from a different angle as in stalls last time.

[latefortheoverture]

Just my luck that the day I cannot go that TodayTix has hoards of dress circle seats! 

Fingers crossed for Monday...

[alece10]

May 18, 2018 10:23:52 GMT latefortheoverture said:

Just my luck that the day I cannot go that TodayTix has hoards of dress circle seats! 

Fingers crossed for Monday...

I've been trying every day for 2 weeks and this is the first time I've found dress circle so consider myself very lucky.

[wickedgrin]

Booked to see this for a second time tonight with a Dress Circle ticket for £25 from Today Tix! An absolute bargain - the price of the seat for tonight is on the ENO website for £105! I would suggest anyone wanting to snag one of these DC seats should do so sooner rather than later as I think availability is less as the run gets nearer the end - only 2 weeks to go!

[alece10]

May 18, 2018 11:13:03 GMT wickedgrin said:

Booked to see this for a second time tonight with a Dress Circle ticket for £25 from Today Tix! An absolute bargain - the price of the seat for tonight is on the ENO website for £105! I would suggest anyone wanting to snag one of these DC seats should do so sooner rather than later as I think availability is less as the run gets nearer the end - only 2 weeks to go!

We might be sitting near each other

[Dr Tom]

I also checked today (even though I can't attend) and I think this is the first time the 10am release of seats has been in the Dress Circle.

Maybe the ENO have realised that it's better to have the lower levels looking full?

Might be tempted to go back for a second viewing if they keep releasing Dress Circle seats.

[wickedgrin]

May 18, 2018 11:55:33 GMT alece10 said:

We might be sitting near each other

Yes indeed - I'm high numbers stage right!

[wickedgrin]

May 18, 2018 12:04:35 GMT Dr Tom said:

I also checked today (even though I can't attend) and I think this is the first time the 10am release of seats has been in the Dress Circle.

Maybe the ENO have realised that it's better to have the lower levels looking full?

Might be tempted to go back for a second viewing if they keep releasing Dress Circle seats.

It just seemed quiet in the Dress Circle tonight for some reason with over 250 seats available first thing. 

I did notice on Wednesday that despite there being lots availability on the website the theatre seemed almost full on Wed night. Just a few seats in the top corners of the dress and upper circle being empty.

[lou105]

Since Fridays and Saturdays are more expensive, maybe those with a choice are avoiding those days, and those travelling to London are dodging the wedding weekend? Stalls were certainly full enough last night, couldn't see to the back of the dress. And an immediate standing ovation which didn't seem unduly linked to any specific performer. I really enjoyed it, faults and all, though I went in loving the score and prepared for any casting issues! Visually a bit much and of course it's a bit bonkers but overall strong performances, and the orchestra..

[bramble]

What a strange piece this is.I enjoyed it enormously.Mostly because of the four big numbers which were superbly performed.I found the staging a bit busy at times. But hearing that score performed by that orchestra is wonderful. Seemed very full int the stalls last night.

[anita]

I loved the staging & all the cast but couldn``tt makeout any of the words. Not sure how much was due to my bad hearing.

[Someone in a tree]

It’s not your hearing. Some really bad diction plus a bad sound system go to make the magic that is this production of Chess

[thenightowl]

I would doubt it's a bad sound system at fault. Practically every show I've been to in the West End tends to have some of the best sound equipment available.

Sadly having some of the best sound equipment doesn't mean the show will sound amazing (as you've noticed with Chess - I haven't seen the show yet so am not commenting specifically on the sound for this show, more my observations from other shows), it's all down to the sound design, use of the speaker system and skill of the sound operator (and how much control they have over the show in a live environment). Nearly all shows these days have line array stacks that have speakers angled to hit different sections of the theatre with sound. No speaker system can cover every area of an old theatre perfectly, so there is always a slight compromise in some areas (this is when infill speakers are usually used - to bridge the gaps in sound, but when sound is noticeably 'bad' to the extent where even the general public are making comments you have to wonder why. Sonically speaking, musicals are some of the hardest jobs to do sound for as there are so many variables that the sound operator needs to be aware of - even a small thing like an actor with a bit of a cold, not having as strong a vocal performance can often get lost in the sound mix if the sound operator isn't careful. Also the sound operator mixes the sound from the back of the stalls and should have a good idea how certain tweaks to the sound will effect the overall sound throughout the theatre, but what they hear from their position can be quite different to what someone at the back of the balcony will be hearing.

Unfortunately poor diction and actors relying too much on their microphones instead of good old fashioned projecting is something I've also noticed these days.

[alece10]

2nd visit last night thanks to Today Tix and 5th row of dress circle. First time was in the stalls so was nice to see from different angle. You certainly get a great view of the whole set and spectacle which you miss a bit in the stalls but I do like being up close and seeing their facial expressions. My friend preferred the dress.
Enjoyed it as much as first time and cast have really settled into the roles. All the leads were superb.
Great audience reaction and standing ovation from all the dress and stalls that I could see.
Great start to the wedding weekend.

[dontdreamit]

I finally saw this in the week. I loved the staging and that orchestra were simply gorgeous. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would, but the book was terrible! As much as I really enjoyed the performances from the main leads, I don’t think I’ll be making a return visit in this run.

[BurlyBeaR]

Saw it this afternoon. Absolutely BRILLIANT I totally loved it.

And was that one of our members who snuck down to join us in the stalls? I think it might have been. Row A was empty apart from two of us at one and and three at the other. I’m sure it was sold when I checked this morning though.

Michael Ball though, when he’s not arseing about bromancing with Alfie Boe he can’t half pull it out of the bag.

[lou105]

May 19, 2018 18:12:29 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

Michael Ball though, when he’s not arseing about bromancing with Alfie Boe he can’t half pull it out of the bag.

Yes! I thought he was amazing in Endgame especially. Proper, controlled strong singing. 

[Deleted]

May 19, 2018 18:12:29 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

Michael Ball though, when he’s not arseing about bromancing with Alfie Boe he can’t half pull it out of the bag.

I do bloody love the Balls. He's got a reputation for being a daft crooner (not helped by bromancing the Boe) but bloody hell can that man not only belt out a musical theatre ballad but do it with proper precision and finesse. As much as Chess is my musical crack, and I'm sad to miss that I'm livid at missing the chance at the Balls doing what he's built to do. 

[Boob]

He does sing Anthem so very well but, by that point in the show (end of Act 1), I was too busy picking my jaw up off the floor and preparing for a swift exit homewards to reallly appreciate it.

[BurlyBeaR]

So in that Graham Norton Radion 2 interview a few weeks ago, Grade or Linnett (don’t remember which) said this could tour after the ENO run. I brushed it off as patter at the time, but now I’m thinking about it and thinking why he would say that given that it might discourage folk from the regions seeing it in London. Then after seeing it yesterday and obsessing about it a bit (bear with me, this is  normal and will only last a week or two) I don’t see why a scaled down version couldn’t tour quite easily. Put the orchestra back in the pit, get the video screens up, get the lederhosen stitched, the rest of it was pretty straightforward.

Keep Burke in it, she could be the name that sells Chess to a whole new audience?

Go on... shoot me down (or better still, cast it). 

[anthony40]

I am hoping to catch a performance for this some time in the upcoming week

[Someone in a tree]

If this tour could they please insert some feeling and meaning into it ?