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Chess
May 2, 2018 0:43:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2018 0:43:27 GMT
2 stars The Stage
2 stars The Times
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68 posts
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Chess
May 2, 2018 7:39:47 GMT
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Post by Brian on May 2, 2018 7:39:47 GMT
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36 posts
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Post by etceteranz on May 2, 2018 8:01:43 GMT
i think this will be marmite...
I saw it last night..my very first Chess production as well...so was very excited that it was going to be this production.
And unfortunately it wasn't my cup of tea..i was sat in the dress circle and the applause and reactions around me were quite muted
Alexandra Burke, i love her but she seemed to struggle with the low range and i was gutted as i know she can really kill the songs. The production seemed a bit confused on a whole but the whole cast really gives it all they would.
The 'one night in bangkok' scene was a replica of miss saigon but seemed like it was only done with 50% of the effort / quality as saigon.
Highlight was 'I know him so well' which in hindsight stuck out from the production as it didn't seem to fit in but also generated the longest applause of the night
Unfortunately wouldn't go back again but still a very slick production especially with the visuals
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294 posts
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Chess
May 2, 2018 9:47:53 GMT
Post by dani on May 2, 2018 9:47:53 GMT
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1,210 posts
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Chess
May 2, 2018 10:00:13 GMT
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Post by musicalmarge on May 2, 2018 10:00:13 GMT
“This production’s politics have accidentally stayed in the 80s. The cast is generally impressively diverse, but one scene in Thailand has the ensemble dressed and made up as Thai people, and two men as ladyboys”.
”Elsewhere, there’s iffy gender politics and dubious racial depictions: I could just about smirk at the kitschy othering of Russia and Eastern Europe, but the orientalist cliches in the yellowfacey Bangkok sequence are pretty gross and almost totally unnecessary”.
IT’S MARIAGATE ALL OVER AGAIN! Aaarrrrghhhh!!
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151 posts
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Post by gra on May 2, 2018 10:10:18 GMT
A lot of the negative reaction in the press comments seems to concern the musical itself and not the present production.
A shame they cannot just accept it is a revival of an 80's musical, and may well seem dated and un -pc,and concentrate on the performance itself.
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68 posts
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Chess
May 2, 2018 11:35:09 GMT
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Post by Brian on May 2, 2018 11:35:09 GMT
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642 posts
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Chess
May 2, 2018 11:58:23 GMT
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Post by Stasia on May 2, 2018 11:58:23 GMT
On a different note we sat next to a really interesting young man from Uzbekistan who told us he was a stage manager and had just done Evita in Moscow and was very excited as he had just spotted Tim Rice in the audience during the interval. 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! |
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Chess
May 2, 2018 12:48:33 GMT
Post by wickedgrin on May 2, 2018 12:48:33 GMT
The reviews on the negative side I would say....
5* Daily Express
4* Mark Shenton (who likes everything) for London Theatre
4* WOS (who we don't mention).
3* Mail
3* Broadway World
2* The Stage
2* The Times
2* Time Out
2* Evening Standard
2* The Indy Arts
No reviews (as yet) from the Guardian or Telegraph.
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Chess
May 2, 2018 12:52:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2018 12:52:27 GMT
The reviews on the negative side I would say.... 5* Daily Express 4* Mark Shenton (who likes everything) for London Theatre 4* WOS (who we don't mention). 3* Mail 3* Broadway World 2* The Stage 2* The Times 2* Time Out 2* Evening Standard 2* The Indy Arts No reviews (as yet) from the Guardian or Telegraph. But don’t forget People on here loved it and found it stylish and wonderful Although you can’t hear half of what they are singing My friend who is desperate to like all musicals said to me “Isn’t it the same in opera” To mention the word “opera” alongside chess was the funniest thing I have heard for ages I do wonder that the ENO hang their heads having to try and fill the large auditorium with this sort of rubbish every year now |
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68 posts
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Chess
May 2, 2018 12:55:42 GMT
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Post by Brian on May 2, 2018 12:55:42 GMT
The reviews on the negative side I would say.... 5* Daily Express 4* Mark Shenton (who likes everything) for London Theatre 4* WOS (who we don't mention). 3* Mail 3* Broadway World 2* The Stage 2* The Times 2* Time Out 2* Evening Standard 2* The Indy Arts No reviews (as yet) from the Guardian or Telegraph. Reviews Hub gave it a cheery 4.5* and The Arts desk gave it 3 * |
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68 posts
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Post by Brian on May 2, 2018 12:59:33 GMT
Sorry Parsley, are you suggesting that we aren’t entitled to enjoy the show simply because you and some critics didn’t enjoy it?
As I recall it, you walked out after 45 minutes.
It’s all completely subjective but maybe less of the sounding personally affronted by a piece of musical theatre, please?
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Chess
May 2, 2018 13:07:01 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2018 13:07:01 GMT
Sorry Parsley, are you suggesting that we aren’t entitled to enjoy the show simply because you and some critics didn’t enjoy it? As I recall it, you walked out after 45 minutes. It’s all completely subjective but maybe less of the sounding personally affronted by a piece of musical theatre, please? I am suggesting I couldn’t hear most of it And this is unacceptable Many people seem to be disregarding The fact they couldn’t hear the lyrics And this seems like a rather generous concession to be making |
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Chess
May 2, 2018 13:25:14 GMT
Post by Mr Snow on May 2, 2018 13:25:14 GMT
The reviews on the negative side I would say.... 5* Daily Express 4* Mark Shenton (who likes everything) for London Theatre 4* WOS (who we don't mention). 3* Mail 3* Broadway World 2* The Stage 2* The Times 2* Time Out 2* Evening Standard 2* The Indy Arts No reviews (as yet) from the Guardian or Telegraph. But don’t forget People on here loved it and found it stylish and wonderful Although you can’t hear half of what they are singing My friend who is desperate to like all musicals said to me “Isn’t it the same in opera” To mention the word “opera” alongside chess was the funniest thing I have heard for ages I do wonder that the ENO hang their heads having to try and fill the large auditorium with this sort of rubbish every year now Sweeney Todd, Carousel, "rubbish". ahh Parsely.... |
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8,108 posts
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Chess
May 2, 2018 13:31:57 GMT
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Post by alece10 on May 2, 2018 13:31:57 GMT
On a different note we sat next to a really interesting young man from Uzbekistan who told us he was a stage manager and had just done Evita in Moscow and was very excited as he had just spotted Tim Rice in the audience during the interval. 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? |
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Chess
May 2, 2018 14:38:18 GMT
Post by Deleted on May 2, 2018 14:38:18 GMT
Still doing stealth discounting by releasing extra rush tickets through TodayTix during the day - currently you can get dress circle for £25.
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8,108 posts
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Chess
May 2, 2018 14:51:14 GMT
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Post by alece10 on May 2, 2018 14:51:14 GMT
Still doing stealth discounting by releasing extra rush tickets through TodayTix during the day - currently you can get dress circle for £25. Thanks for that. I want to go again but can't really afford buying stalls seats again for 2nd viewing. Seems that if you wait until later in the day then better seats get released. Great if you live in London and are flexible. |
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2,681 posts
Member is Online
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Chess
May 2, 2018 14:55:04 GMT
Post by viserys on May 2, 2018 14:55:04 GMT
Guardian review out now too, 2*
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2,245 posts
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Chess
May 2, 2018 15:05:21 GMT
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Post by richey on May 2, 2018 15:05:21 GMT
At the matinee interval now. Loving it so far. Yes there are sound issues but these are in the large ensemble numbers and I've always found it was the same in the other productions I've seen (and all are in the first 45 mins... just saying, Parsley) I think it's more to do with the style of writing not the production itself.
More thoughts afterwards
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Post by sf on May 2, 2018 15:57:14 GMT
Sorry Parsley, are you suggesting that we aren’t entitled to enjoy the show simply because you and some critics didn’t enjoy it? As I recall it, you walked out after 45 minutes. It’s all completely subjective but maybe less of the sounding personally affronted by a piece of musical theatre, please? I am suggesting I couldn’t hear most of it And this is unacceptable Many people seem to be disregarding The fact they couldn’t hear the lyrics And this seems like a rather generous concession to be making If you walked out after 45 minutes, you didn't even try to hear most of it. |
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86 posts
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Chess
May 2, 2018 15:57:50 GMT
Post by woobl on May 2, 2018 15:57:50 GMT
People are right to point out bad sound design. If you can't hear the lyrics what's the point?
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Chess
May 2, 2018 16:24:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2018 16:24:40 GMT
I went to see the rush ticket situation just to see what is on offer. I got offered central Row E of the Dress Circle for tonight. I'm not going tonight, but out of curiosity.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2018 17:14:08 GMT
People are right to point out bad sound design. If you can't hear the lyrics what's the point? The only time the lyrics are muffled are during the large group numbers, such as Merano, The Soviet Machine and those songs are just scene setting. They do nothing to advance the plot or character so you really don't miss much. All the important bits are perfectly clear. I don't mind the reviews. it means I can get cheap rush tickets more easily! |
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Chess
May 2, 2018 17:36:04 GMT
Post by lem on May 2, 2018 17:36:04 GMT
People are right to point out bad sound design. If you can't hear the lyrics what's the point? What is it with Chess and sound issues? Seems quite a few here remember the total mess at the Royal Albert Hall - I wonder how many refunds they ended up giving on that fiasco? Thinking about it though, some of the big numbers even on the album recordings are difficult to decipher without the lyrics book too. |
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Post by d'James on May 2, 2018 17:43:31 GMT
Do the main cast have any holidays planned?
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