was CHESS in concert a winner? | Review of Chess at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London Revival
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- čas přidán 27. 06. 2024
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OHMYGOD HEY!
At the start of this week I was invited to a special concert staging of CHESS at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
The production starred Samantha Barks, Hadley Fraser, Joel Harper Jackson and Frances Mayli McCann and featured such popular songs as 'I know him so well', 'Nobody's Side' and 'Anthem'.
Check out today's new video for my full review as a longtime CHESS fan...
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Hadley Fraser is absolutely incredible. One of my absolute favourite actors, particularly in musical theatre. Him and Ramin Karimloo are my top two actors, both of whom have played Anatoly absolutely brilliantly.
Chess has ALWAYS been a hot convoluted mess of a show with a BRILLIANT score!! Sir Tim and friends have reworked this show endlessly for almost 40 years now. The story is just too convoluted and unnecessarily complicated. I’m not sure the “book” can ever work but man oh man those songs!!!!!
You basically stole my comment, but put it much more eloquently!
They need to just consider it as ABBA's "The Wall" or "Tommy" and perform the black and white album as a concert with full orchestra and choir and soloists. Occasional lasers and projections...the plot doesn't need to make sense.
Exactly! The music is AMAZING!!! But the plot gets overly complicated. I've jokingly told people when trying to explain this show, that the plot, like the actual game of chess, is complicated.
Hadley’s version of Anthem is the best thing I have ever seen/heard!
That is all!
Me: reads your title
Me who is actively working on a script for a video about how confusing chess' plot is: oh boy do I feel you.
And I say this as someone who loves the musical no matter how weird/obscure it's plot is.
Fun fact, in the Russian version of Chess the line "in a show with everything but Yul Brynner" is translated to "in the chess show of a great scale takes part everyone except for the band ABBA" and it always makes me giggle because - well, the band ABBA actually DID take part in it, the BB part at least skjfghjk
The one version of Chess I really want to be put on Broadway was the 2018 Washington DC version with Raúl Esparza (Freddie), Ruthie Ann Miles (Florence), Ramin Karimloo (Anatoly), Karen Olivo/KO (Florence), and Bryce Pinkham (the Arbiter). Danny Strong's book makes sense of Chess' plot and everything just flows so well together
I really wish I could've seen that production. Someone I know from college was in the chorus of that production. I'd love to find the script of that production.
I saw the show on Monday night, and find it SO interesting hearing you mention the “different” lyrics, particularly the “maybe he’s scared… etc” because the original lyric from the Elaine Paige and Tommy Körberg version is what Hadley Fraiser sang (this is the version I was raised on and know best, so I have a particular fondness for it, though obviously still adore the Royal Albert Hall version too).
In fact, a lot of this version of chess used the original lyrics, such as Freddie saying “though it gives me no joy adding to your satisfaction, you can safely assume your late unlamented employee knows if he wins then the only thing won is the chess” - which is a truly PHENOMENAL line and explains so much for anyone who might be a bit lost after The Deal. For the royal Albert hall version, this was changed to “how straightforward the game when one is free from distraction, when your only concern is laid out so clearly before you” which is a stupid and totally irrelevant amendment because the Russian IS distracted and it’s NOT his only concern-that’s the point! Don’t know how that amendment was every made in the first place.
I actually thought the show managed to go for most of the lyrics that explained things quite well, honestly, but I did find it weird and jarring as an existing fan of the show that they seemed to chop and change. But what else can more can we expect from the show at this point?
The only real issue I had was the movement of Pity The Child to the first act from the second, cause I think it almost derailed the narrative of the American and made that jump from The Deal to Endgame just so jarring. It was STUNNING and he nailed it (and god I want a recording I will listen to it daily it was perfection) but I’ve always felt like that song hit hard emotionally because it came after all his hope was truly lost; it was all the more heartbreaking for that. It was harder to weep for the guy who’d just called Florence a parasite after being nothing but an annoying little baby compared to after him begging her to come back cause he’s changed.
Please excuse how huge this comment was oh my days-I still loved it. It has its flaws-and I did enjoy the 2018 version I saw on the west end more, but it’s arguably my favourite show, and I’m always going to be biased and say it’s incredible. Also both the Russian and the American were just too perfect not to give endless praise, and the best version of the Soviet Machine known to man oh my!
Sounds like they removed Walter de Courcey and used Freddie as per the concept album. As that lyric in endgame is sung by Walter to Molokov x
“How straightforward the game” is usually used in productions where Talking Chess is used and Freddie isn’t playing in the second act. He’s talked to Anatoly and is confident that Anatoly will push his hesitations aside and win the game.
Chess had a London run in 2018 at the Coliseum. I’m surprised you didn’t see that version or comment upon that production at all. I’ve seen 5 different versions of Chess since 1990. The original UK tour with Rebecca Storm was my favourite.
I was there for Hadleys Anthem I loved that he went without optioning up or over doing things and just delivered it in a moving way. I am honestly convinced that he has an extra lung for that super long never... in Endgame. I have to agree too that Pity the Child was the best version I'd heard of that.
I mostly liked that he kept things simple, but I do wish he'd taken the opt up on the last note of Endgame. The orchestra drowned out the lower note.
@@cgm530 I was hoping for that too. I know Ramin likes to do that, and was half-expecting Hadley to do so too. Can’t be too disappointed though, he was absolutely phenomenal throughout nevertheless
I was very lucky to see Chess the musical around 20 times in 1986 -1988 . And I also saw the Swedish version in 2002 in Stockholm. So you can see I’m a CHESS nut.
I did go to see this production on Monday.
I did enjoy it . The original had the year gap between the romance between the Russian and Florence. The only song which baffled me was Someone Else’s Story. In the Swedish version Florence sings this and it makes more sense.
Also once you have heard Tommy Körberg sing Anthem it just ruins it for me as Tommy just knocks it out of the park.
Chess is one of my all-time favorite musicals and right up there in my top five all-time favorite scores! The concert version with Adam Pascal, Idina Menzel and Josh Groban is one of my favorite videos and I watch it two or three times a year - just love it! Perhaps the version Mickey saw is different because the storyline isn't confusing at all? Or it could just be Mickey, right? (;
Hear hear for the Josh Groban / Idina Menzel concert version at Albert Hall, and also one of my all time faves musicals, massively underrated (saw the original with Elaine Paige too). Beautiful music, and Anthem - wow, what a song.
I mean ... That's the whole point of his review, that this version WAS different and changes were made ... he knows the story. Maybe the review is confusing but maybe it's just you :D
I saw a concert version of CHESS at the Kennedy Center in DC and "The Soviet Machine" was a huge crowd-pleaser there, too. It seems like a very, very different production, so it's funny that both had the same unexpected highlight.
Is that the Ramin Karimloo, Raul Esparza, and Karen Olivo version? I saw that too and, for the most part, really loved it! The whole cast was fantastic, but Ramin is absolutely brilliant as Anatoly. I saw him play the part again but in Japan with Samantha Barks and they were fantastic together as well. Both productions were very different - the Kennedy Center version had a much more extensive book and more overt cold war story, and the Japan version was focused more on the love story between Anatoly and Florence. The Japan version was directed by Nick Winston just like this one so it was probably the same production, or very similar.
@@fullmetalandtheflame438 Yes, that’s the one! I saw it on the night that Raul Esparza absolutely shredded his voice, but he still did a great job! All the leads killed it.
I am a believer of the original West End show. Wish that it had recorded. I love the extra songs that were not on the concept album. In my dream there is a new production of the original version.
Please please please recommend the best chess album to listen to! :) the Original London cast?
@@goatpie882 …. In my opinion, Chess the original London concept album is THE best version!! You can’t beat Tommy Korberg, Elaine Paige and Murray Head! A nice companion piece would be Chess the complete album which features a Danish touring cast, sung in English. It’s the closest to the original London show as you can get. Plus they have added Someone Else’s Story. Although, that song still makes more sense being sung by Florence than Svetlana. The 1989 concert in Skelleftea Sweden is a great watch on CZcams! It features Tommy Korberg, Murray Head and Judy Kuhn. It’s pretty much the concept album in concert form, but, they also added in Someone Else’s Story, sung by Florence and it’s in a better spot in the show.
Wasn't the original show recorded?
@@malcolmubesio8523 it was a concept album which was a popular thing to do at the time. Because the cast was almost all the same and most of the songs were recorded they decided not to do an original west end cast recording. The broadway cast got an album but they had made massive changes.
There may or may not be unofficial recordings of many early versions, possibly even here on youtube. Easier to find than thought. Quality is obviously is of its time, so it varies between versions
I wish you'd seen the production a couple of years ago at the London Coliseum. The staging was amazing and had the full ENO orchestra and choir. They had a lot of live filming and projections. I couldn't watch 2 men playing chess to music (three times) would be so intense. Michael Ball's rendition of Anthem was worth the ticket money alone!
I saw that production too and it was a memorable experience hearing the score delivered in such an atmospheric place with a full orchestra. I was hoping that the production would be released as a soundtrack or a DVD release but no such luck.
About the lyric change, 'Maybe he's scared, just as scared as he was in the game,' is the original lyric. I don't know when they changed it but that's what Tommy Körberg sings in the concept album, so this show was a change back to the original, not a baseless deviation.
yes exactly
I think that with the aggetatation Freddie shows during the game including the tantrum at the end that makes sense too.
One of my favourite moments in the Original Concept Album that often gets dropped is The Argument. Florence and Anatoly reacting to the news as Svetlana arrives at the airport. A lovely and passionate bit of recitative that I think captures their dynamic and leads powerfully into I Know Him So Well.
My most favourite section of the score is, however, the whole Where I Want To Be, including the lead in dialogue between Anatoly and Molokov.
Chess is one of the shows I have been obsessed with for years! Kerry Ellis is amazing as Svetlana and I think for me she has always made Someone Else's Story make sense for that character. It's almost as if she is singing about the what ifs and how she would be different if she had left Anatoli sooner.
Also there's a version of Nobody's Side sung by Maria Luccia where she slides up an octave at one point (I think it was an octave) and I can't help but be underwhelmed when people don't perform it that way now.
As someone who has sang Someone Else's Story (for a singing exam mind you rather than playing Svetlana but go with it), I disagree with your point on the song as a whole. To me, Svetlana is thinking back to a time when she & Anatoly were happy but then it fizzled out. It's the end for me, the idea of if she met her past self, she'd tell her to run, but now she feels trapped in this situation. There's a kind of irony for me.
Completely respect what you say though, don't get me wrong. Just opening up the debate here XD
I just want to say...35 seconds in... I know it doesn't have sleeves, but just seeing you in that knitted jumper/vest situation makes me break out in sympathy sweat ☀☀☀🥵🥵🥵
Fun video. I love CHESS. I think part of the experience is that you rarely know precisely which combination of plot, character, and song you are going to get in any production. The first staging I saw was a tour of the American version (apparently slightly different from the Broadway rendering) in which the story lasts over a weekend in Bangkok, and then a few re-imaginings keeping the story in Bangkok but setting it AFTER the fall of the USSR (putting Florence well into middle-age and all the changes in perspective the come with that). It wasn't until the 2000's that I actually saw a production following the original Brit plot (Finally, saw "Merano!" on stage), and in general. As to "Someone Else's Story," I first saw the song assigned to Svetlana in one of the post-Cold War re-tellings, and set in the mid 90's, it made more sense than when they let the character keep the song some later versions set back during the Cold War.
I played Florence in a concert version of Chess and singing both the reprise of Pity the Child and Anthem were two of my favourite moments in the show. I would have been devastated to see a production where they were cut! Our production was using the original score (though we cut Merano, as well). I live in Montreal, where the main language is French. Nobody seemed to have an issue following the store, despite it being in English. Thank you for your in-depth review. I love Chess so, so much and look forward to the next N. American production!
I've been waiting for you to do this.
I was a couple of rows behind you on Tuesday night! I totally agree on the confusing plot/lyric/accent choices - especially the small bag of cocaine offered to Freddie where he 'keeps fun above the waistline' as if he would take cocaine /below/ the waistline?!
Always a one that likes discovering different people on CZcams, The best social media/video sharing site.
A really insightful analysis and, as someone who has loved Chess since the concept album, I agree with probably everything you have said. My only two "howevers" are that the music/songs themselves are so good, well written and much, much more symphonic than many others (this is what ALW strives for in Phantom but does not achieve as well as B&B do!) that they can stand on their own. The Chess theme is superb. My second "however" concerns Merano. I agree that it is a scene-setter but it also brilliant introduces Feddie as the brash american when the music changes so suddenly ("what a scene, what a show") and he is exposed as the huge egoist. I missed that. Also the Merchanisers song was cut, not so worried about that (Kings and Queens on bouncing breasts etc.). Hadley stole the show for me - brilliantly underplayed in parts so less was completely more. Thanks for the review and I would add another star simply for this amazing score!
Great video! Hahaha when you first said “Abba has nothing to do with Chess” I was like 😱 glad you caught that. 😉
I just recently found your channel and I love your content!
Oh god, "Mountain Duet" is like "pick a lyric, any lyric." the Broadway version actually had the "just as scared as he was/but he didn't seem scared" lyric change - where it was renamed "Terrace Duet" since the whole thing is in Bangkok and not in the mountains of Merano. I suspect it was because they amped up the American who acts completely cocky in the first match. Freddie also never made it to the restaurant in that version "he has to come back" becomes "he has to show up." It also clunked the ending - "that he can go jump of the mountain I won't care" becomes "nothing about that meeting matters any more" and "wasting my time on mountains with you" becomes more generic "wasting my time with someone like you".
In verifying the lyrics, I found another substitution: Instead of Florence's "All I can say is moments ago he was right here, ready and waiting" becomes "He couldn't wait to join you up here. Maybe he walked--cable cars scare him." which is actually _hilarious_ shade from her but also requires a mountain!
I loved your comment. I know this show pretty well and wasn't aware of all the wacky lyric changes along the way. :)
In the Broadway version, "All I can say is, moments ago, he was right here, ready and waiting" was changed to the ridiculous and clunky line "How could I not? Ms. Vassey regrets, anything goes with your opponent."
Thanks to production in my country I’m so big Chess fan
Glad to hear about uk production
I saw Joel Harper Jackson in Kinky boots when it came to Dublin and he was absolutely phenomenal. So much colour in his voice whether it was the poppy upbeat stuff or the ballads. His 'Soul of a Man' was one of the best solo performances I have ever seen in any show. He is a star and will be the leading man in the West End in the next few years. A future Val Jean/Phantom turn awaits.
Hmm, really interesting changes you mention. I lsaw the semi staged performance that was on for a couple of days in Helsingborg, Sweden earlier this summer and while it was the re worked version that they did when it premiered in Sweden long ago the songs where sung by the "right" characters in the "right" order. Though there were som inexplicable lyric changes that did not improve the score at all.
I was in the chorus on a performance of Chess in Concert, in Norway, 2018. In this production, we had Knut Marius Djupvik, as Freddie Trumper, and I can not imagine having heard a better Pity the child!
This is a show I’ve not seen. Thanks for your review!
I saw chess at the Kennedy center a few years ago and that cast was insane. I had never seen the show so I lack familiarity with the other versions, but this version had an updated book by Danny Smalls. I was really hoping it’d transfer to Broadway.
THISSSSSSSSS
I did find it interesting they chose to do it considering the last production of it in London was only 4 years ago and it is usually so rarely produced - but so glad as it's one of my favourites to watch. Wish I could've seen it this year but the tickets were just too expensive for me so I could only pick one of the 3 concerts and I chose Treason as a new musical.
I was working front of house for this show and got to see it through those 3 performances and it’s interesting to hear the parts that had been missed out and more background about the plot and it makes the show make a lot more sense than how it came across in this version. I don’t know chess well other than it’s great score and I’d gotten the idea from this version that it was a really mysoginistic ‘men win’ type show and I think it just missed a lot of context about being in the Cold War and that’s why the characters make the decisions they do or are forced to stay where they are. Very interesting thanks so much for the video xx wish I’d seen you about to say hi
This is a show I would have loved to have seen, especially Joel Harper Jackson. Sadly I could only manage to see one of the concerts they're doing so chose to get a ticket for Treason. I hope you're going to see and review all 3 because again the cast for kinky boots concert looks amazing. It's a shame they only do 2 nights and not a week of shows though i appreciate they can't get people or space for that many shows
I saw Chess when it first came to the Prince Edward Theater London. It was amazing (as I remember it).
"Maybe he's scared. just as scared as he was in the game" is what I've heard in the productions I've seen.
"There's a time and there's a place..." 🤣🤣
Oh, I loved it! I saw the matinee and almost went back for the 7pm show. I'm hoping this leads to a revival. But I was bummed that they cut so many great songs!
He made the lyric change about being scared in the matinee as well.
I've never felt like the show needed a new book like the Broadway version, it just needed to be trimmed and that's exactly what they did with this concert. It was structurally similar to the original London production and Albert Hall concert version but they trimmed 20 minutes from the first act by cutting Merano, Commie Newspapers, Hymn to Chess, The Merchandisers, Florence and Molokov and Der Kleine Franz. They also used Someone Else's Story in the first act rather than in the second act as it was so placed in the Albert Hall concert version, and the full Pity the Child is in act one instead of act two. I'm not sure why those cuts would make the show confusing. Maybe because some songs are missing the story wasn't as clear? You'd think cutting some of the more extraneous material would have focused the story and made it simpler and easier to understand.
I appreciate your outfit in relation to the content of the video. Well done :D
There's even a satirical parody of I know him so well on Goodness Gracious Me in the 90s it's that much of a cultural icon.
I missed seeing the tour, but in the last 12 monyhs Australia had a tour of the show as a semi concert
Really enjoyed your analysis even though I have not seen this production. Chess fan since 1984 when I bought the LP following the Bangkok single release AND the ABBA pedigree. If there had been a book to match the score, this could have been one of the great musicals of the 1980s. Oh well. Thanks again.
I saw all three performances of this. Maybe that helped me to understand it all. I saw all three performances and I have to say I would do it again. Samantha and Hadley were the stand outs for me. Loved them so much.
I liked the move of the song to Svetlana; though I would have loved to have heard Samantha sing it with her incredible voice.
Super Thanks!!
Let me start by saying how much I enjoyed your review… when I saw the title I went in with claws out ready to pounce (can you tell I was in Cats for many years…?). I’m one of the lucky people who have seen the original uk production back in…. Ok now you also know I’m old!
This show has ALWAYS suffered from staging, directing and choreography issues. In the original; it looked like they each worked separately and met on the first preview… and didn’t bother adapting to each other. I have never heard of any production/adaptation in the history of this show that actually worked 100%. Of course my memory is fading as I was 20/21 years old when I saw it and I already had been listening to the original recording for about a year already… come on people… this was ABBA !!!! So yes despite all its flaws, that will always be the production I will cherish forever but all your notes and insights were spot on young prince ( though you forgot about the first concert in Sweden featuring most of the artists who made the concept album)
Anyway
Thanks for the great review
Hugs from Japan
This is the VERY first time I’m ever hearing of the musical Chess, but since Idina Menzel was originally in it, I HAVE to binge listen to this while on a flight, or something! 🙌🏻😍😍
I don’t think she was in the original.
I'm not sure Idina was even born with the original came out. Lol. She did a good concert version of it tho. Well worth checking out.
'Maybe he's scared, just as scared as he was in the game' is the lyric that I'm used to hearing. The line you said sounds odd to me. it's down to the recording you most listen to, for me its all about the Complete Danish Tour recording.
What a masterpiece of music !!!!
The “just as scared as he was in the game” is from the OG concept album with Elaine Paige in 1988(?). Idk why they keep flip flopping it
Hi guys. As I've mentioned I've performed in 3 very different versions of Chess. In two productions nobodys on nobodys side was cut, and Florence sang, someone else's story. But are your opinions on this?
Love to hear from u too on this decision mickey Jo x
To me, the musical "Chess" is something like the fable of "The Emperor's New Clothes." Some people can see them, I cannot! I saw a regional production of "Chess" about 10 or 12 years ago. I left the theater wondering what all the fuss was about.
Don't forget about Der Klein Franz, another song to setup atmosohere.
Actually, Der Klein Franz is rarely ever performed, even in the Royal Albert Hall version with Adam Pascal.
I've many a thought on many of the issues associated with the variations of 'Chess' but I'll hold my peace for the time being.
I am intrigued about what made 'The Soviet Machine' so distinctive in this particular concert production.
What they should do is give Florence Someone Else's Story right after You and I Reprise followed by Anthem reprise.
In place of Someone Else's Story in act 1 (flr this version), insert He is A Man, He Is A Child so it can introduce Svetlana before going into Act II, because i think we are intrkduced to Svetlana too late in the musical through "one more Opponent" or The Interview.
In fact, if Tim Rice wants a successful version of Chess, he should translate the whole intro scene from Chess Pa Svenska's version of The Story of Chess. Although not on the CD, there's a lot of dialogue where Anatoly exchanges with his whole family before singing to his son The Story of Chess and then you actualky see him board the airplane singing Where I Want to Be. Its genius storytelling. And it needs to be translated to all versions of Chess.
When are we getting the voyage concert review
I saw the UK tour in 2010 that you mentioned. I found it so confusing. My companions thought there was something wrong with the sound mixing because we struggled to hear the lyrics, and as you said, a lot of the plot is in the lyrics. Also the staging of the mirrored chess board was cool but meant that you had limited context for where scenes were set. We just thought that we had seen it on a day with some technical issues but now my confusing experience makes a lot more sense, hearing how you describe the musical. It doesn't come across as a very accessible musical if you aren't familiar with it.
Saw the original production at the Prince of Wales twice. Still my favorite version and the staging was mind blowing!
I think you meant the Prince Edward Theatre.
@@DDTC73 Yes it was the Prince Edward Theatre, thank you. I remember getting so excited about it's transfer to Broadway and then i heard the OBC recording and thought, what did they do..Why?
@@darrinda You should check out the 1990 Australia production here on YT. I think that one is even more bizarre than the choices made for the Broadway transfer.
You're not alone Mickey lol As someone who saw the original musical back in the 80s on the very futuristic modular staging it was confusing. I think you needed a good knowledge of the Cold War to totally get the show :D
I saw it! I had no idea about the plot but I knew it was political… the music and singing was great but I had no idea what was happening 90% of the time. I had a bit to drink and this enhanced the singing greatly but I genuinely dokt think I could have sat through it sober because I was so lost
Chess, is in my top 5 favorite musicals of all time. The only version for me is the original London version, though. Whenever they try to “improve “ on the show, they just make a huge mess out of it. The only good thing that ever came out of the original Broadway version, besides Judy Kuhn, was Someone Else’s Story which was moved, in my opinion, to the correct spot in the 1989 Swedish concert version with Judy Kuhn, Murray Head and Tommy Korberg. A Broadway revival would be great, but, I already know that whoever takes the helm will have to screw with the story/score and we will end up with an inferior production of a once great show with performers who will inevitably over sing.
Hey Mickey, are you going to KINKY BOOTS in concert this Monday 8th?
I will be there and it would be great to see your video talking about it. 🙂🌷
Not the 2:22 shade lmao. Have you seen it with mandip gill?
I definitely agree that the songs which stood out were not the ones you'd normally expect to in Chess. Bangkok & Anthem were both pretty underwhelming, but Pity the Child and Where I Want to Be (!) were easily the highlights for me. Absolutely stunning vocals from all three principals but I think the orchestra was almost too overpowered.
I love the original chess album .
Please review Yeast Nation at Southwark playhouse!!
I've done 3 different versions of chess played molokov in all 3 versions, and yes it can be very confusing, depending on how it's staged etc x
I too love Chess and when I saw the thumbnail, I sang several of the songs. An interesting fact about Chess is that there are three versions that were written. There is the original British version, the American version and the Australian version. In the different versions songs, plot points and endings change and are different. In the British version the Russian wins the tournament in the end, however since the Cold War (the main context of the plot) was very much going on at the time that this show went to Broadway, the decision was made to rewrite the show so that the American wins the tournament in the end. It was believed that American audiences would not view the Russian character sympathetically enough for Anatoly to be a secondary protagonist. Then there is the Australian version and it is just best that we pretend it doesn’t exist. The British version is the best in my opinion. I’m glad to see that Chess is getting attention again.
Ps. We had permission from Tim Rice to include The Argument as heard on the concert version xx
When was that? I know of companies in the past few years who have been denied such permission. And 'Argument' is essential to the plot, I would argue.
A few things having seen the 2018 coliseum show
1) There are actually Svetlana lyrics to someone else's story! czcams.com/video/uUPdC1LHVnw/video.html&ab_channel=operathephantom they were originally written for the Sydney 1990 version, restored for the 2018 version so I was very upset they took it back to the Florence lyrics in this version
2) Walter was cut in the 2018 show too - to be honest not the worst thing to happen but it meant, like this version they didn't have the final Florence " actually your father probably is dead" stuff (although there was more detail about it) . However, the 2018 version didn't end on anthem which made the father stuff not so noticeable -and to be honest I was sort of dreading Freddy having to tell Florence about her father (as he'd had all the father information before) and I just didn't think I could cope with that so I guess I was pleased
3) Florence and Freddy have no romantic relationship at all in the 2018 show, which was odd, and I thought took from it - so maybe they're heading that way in general when they redo it? (Though 2018 had no "the deal" which was how they got away with not including the relationship at all) - in general I didn't like this decision because I think the Florence/Freddy relationship makes the grey morality more interesting
4) in general I preferred the 2018 version, I think they made an imperfect but good effort to make the plot work and had some interesting extra songs (and extra one for Svetlana and an interesting one that's only been on the concept album before) - this one felt like just a way of putting all the nice songs in while abridging the show so much it didn't make sense. Also what was that order of songs? Why was "I Know him so well" after "the deal" when the women make most of their revelations about Anatoly?
I attended THE closing night performance of the original Broadway run in 1988. At that point, there were only two versions of Chess - the original Elaine Page/Murray Head Concept Album and the (then) current Judy Kuhn/Philip Casnoff Broadway Version... although I don't know if the original London West End version differed from the Concept Album. Anyway, when I did stage door, out popped Mr. Trevor Nunn. While he signed my program, I asked him which version of Chess was his favorite (at the time in 1988/89), and he selected the (then-current) American version.
Well, he did instigate all the changes so ...
omg i was there, wish i had run into you lol. would have lost my shit!
I have to say that I was really disappointed that they cut ‘The Merchandisers’ from the performance. I find it a really fun number and I don’t buy the directors ‘excuse’ for excluding it (or Merano) from the show. But other than that, I really enjoyed the performance. 😊
I have a general question for the theatregoers... how do you know if you can record a Curtain call or not?
You should check out the scandinavian version of chess(mainly the swedish and norwegian)
Its completely rewritten with more focus on the personal life of the characters and the story is way more cohesive and well written👍🏻 They wrote two new songs, one for Svetlana and one for Molokov too give them WAY more depth and meaning, theyre incredible. Both versions have cast recordings on spotify(Chess på Svenska & Chess på Norsk) and the swedish version has a proshot too, i think its on youtube😊👍🏻
I find the changes so utterly frustrating and confusing. I saw Chess in NZ 1992 with Tommy Körberg and Murray Head after falling in love with the music when it was topping charts on its debut in 1984/5. I listened to the cast recording repeatedly. I know they made changes when it moved to Broadway, I just never really understood why? But I do love Julia Murney's "Nobody's Side".
I miss seeing your couch and theater pillows/
THANK YOU, I know Florence already has 50 songs in this show but it doesn’t make any sense for Svetlana to sing “Someone Else’s Story”. Despite that, my favorite version is the one with Julia Murney, Josh Groban, and Adam Pascal. There’s a pretty good bootleg on CZcams!
I was also sitting a couple of rows behind you and I pretty much agree with everything you’ve said, with the exception that I thought the choreography was terrible and distracting. Joel Harper Jackson was truly the great revelation of the night. Holy crap! He was born to play that role. Future Freddie’s should be compared to him.
It actually has a production at Leicester’s Curve from August 10th though a short run, and l think it may be an amateur production .
Samantha Barks is not English, she is Manx
I saw the original West End production in the 80’s. Micheal Bennett started directing the show before he fell ILL and died. I forget who came in to redirect or finish directing BUT I was mesmerized by the set and design plus the music. This was a feast for the eyes. However the simple plot did NOT warrent this expensive huge production.
saw the original broadwway show.....with david carrol-who got a tony nomination.....and loved the show
why change it....????????? need to do a restaging of the original.....
Are you planning to watch the current tour of Bugsy Malone at any point? Would love to hear your thoughts!
I actually like Someone else´s story for Svetlana, the plot needs a second main role for women and it shows how she is now ready to move out of the relationship emotionally. She is used as a ploy by the USSR and is using this moment to take her own faith in her own hands. I dont think Florence needs it and like that particular change.
agreed. florence absolutely doesn't need another solo & without it svetlana becomes pretty expendable.
There's actually Svetlana lyrics for someone else's story that make a lot more sense! czcams.com/video/uUPdC1LHVnw/video.html&ab_channel=operathephantom
Seeing Kinky boots concert on Monday
Anthem was song by the Russian in the Original
Mickyjoe you should review GET UP STAND UP:the Bob Marley Musical, before it closes in 2023. Should be fun.
I also went on Tuesday and it was my first experience of Chess! I went in completely blind with no clue of the plot and only knowing Anthem and I Know Him So Well out of context. I absolutely loved the music but I was completely lost with what the hell was going on most of the time, so this reassures me I wasn’t just being stupid haha!
Nooo Merano is one of my favourite songs in the show!!
also are we forgetting about the Coliseum production in 2018? I saw that and it was incredible; one of the best shows I've seen
Yeah, I actually love the quirky little tone change there. Highlights the gravity of everything else. This is a very considered show and it’s there for a reason.
I’m a huge chess fan and I was prepared to be up in arms because a lot of coverage of the show is negative- I was glad to see that you’re a fan and judged the individual production you saw instead of the show as a whole. I hope I’m lucky enough to see a production live some day!!! Until then it’s bootlegs for me…
Elier this year My wife and I went to see a Barbera Dickson Concert ( a la the original cast of Chess, I know him so well with Elain Page ) She avoided singing any songs from the musical and let slip she became completely disillusioned with the project. Just a bit of goss
Hadley forgets lyrics all the time.
No Merrano??? Wow that’s heavy
Can't think of a more sumptuous score. And only a Sondheim show could rival the lyrics for their sheer inventiveness and intellect. The book has always been a bit of a muddle; I've always felt that somewhere between the WE version and the Broadway there existed a book that the score deserved.
Curious what MJT 's opinion is concerning when directors -- I assume it is a directorial decision -- decide, "Hey, I think I'll 'reassign' this song to another character." Do we assume the creators have approved such artistic license, or...?
Must have been very frustrating to not have some of those songs in the production. Would have affected the flow. The Josh Groban version was excellent.