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monkeybardI could write a fucking dissertaion on Chess. Not the game, the musical. I'd never seen the full stage show before today, but that is irrelevant. I've owned the CDs of the original London concept album for many years. I love this show. Or rather, I love the music and lyrics. NordicBoy and I went to see it today and I can honestly say that the book is bad. Just...not a good script. That said, here's my down and dirty review of the production.
In short, I'm glad I went. It was a good production of a difficult show. If you've not seen the show before, it's worth a trip a cross the lake. But brace yourself, because if you know the music like I do, it isn't always what you're expecting.
Loved:
Svetlana's solo. Like Assassins, the original version of Chess is missing one gem of a song that wasn't written until after the original recording was made. For Assassins that song is "Something Just Broke"; for Chess it is Svetlana's second act solo. Unfortunately I couldn't tell you the title because the program failed to print the traditional list of the musical numbers. That aside, the song was such a wonderful surprise! I've always thought Svetlana got short shrift in the original (although she does have one of my favourite lines ever: "A normal person must dismiss you with disgust and weep for those who trusted you."). Which leads me to...
Svetlana. Friends who saw the preview described her as "a delightful surprise". To this I add my emphatic "Hell yeah!" She was amazing, and I'm pretty sure she was holding back in order to balance with the rest of the cast. Just fantastic. I officially *heart* her. Okay, she "birded" a lot, but a more experienced director could have curbed that bad little habit.
Svetlana's solo. Like Assassins, the original version of Chess is missing one gem of a song that wasn't written until after the original recording was made. For Assassins that song is "Something Just Broke"; for Chess it is Svetlana's second act solo. Unfortunately I couldn't tell you the title because the program failed to print the traditional list of the musical numbers. That aside, the song was such a wonderful surprise! I've always thought Svetlana got short shrift in the original (although she does have one of my favourite lines ever: "A normal person must dismiss you with disgust and weep for those who trusted you."). Which leads me to...
Svetlana. Friends who saw the preview described her as "a delightful surprise". To this I add my emphatic "Hell yeah!" She was amazing, and I'm pretty sure she was holding back in order to balance with the rest of the cast. Just fantastic. I officially *heart* her. Okay, she "birded" a lot, but a more experienced director could have curbed that bad little habit.
Enjoyed:
The American. (He has a name in this version. ... He shouldn't.) The actor had a great voice, great stage presence. Shame he was hamstrung by other factors. More on that later.
The Russian. (He also has a name in this version. He also shouldn't.) Truly lovely voice and stage presence. The right look. The right feel. I only wish he'd had the snarky moments I feel the character needs in specific places. He did a beautiful job on "Anthem", which is vitally important. (Side note to the director: Russians wear their wedding ring on the right hand, not the left.)
The ensemble. They were pretty well balanced vocally -- except the one woman who was just flat out unhearable unless she was facing our direction. Part of that problem is the space, but not all of it. Otherwise they were strong and did what the ensemble should do. They were utilized effectively by the director and had a reasonable balance of parts. I could wish for more bass, but that's a tough order to fill in any community theatre.
Music director as Arbiter. Nice. Can't have been easy for anyone, but they made it work well and she did a really nice job of both jobs.
The American. (He has a name in this version. ... He shouldn't.) The actor had a great voice, great stage presence. Shame he was hamstrung by other factors. More on that later.
The Russian. (He also has a name in this version. He also shouldn't.) Truly lovely voice and stage presence. The right look. The right feel. I only wish he'd had the snarky moments I feel the character needs in specific places. He did a beautiful job on "Anthem", which is vitally important. (Side note to the director: Russians wear their wedding ring on the right hand, not the left.)
The ensemble. They were pretty well balanced vocally -- except the one woman who was just flat out unhearable unless she was facing our direction. Part of that problem is the space, but not all of it. Otherwise they were strong and did what the ensemble should do. They were utilized effectively by the director and had a reasonable balance of parts. I could wish for more bass, but that's a tough order to fill in any community theatre.
Music director as Arbiter. Nice. Can't have been easy for anyone, but they made it work well and she did a really nice job of both jobs.
Had problems with:
Lyric changes. This version had multiple changes of lyric which universally weakened the characters/story, IMO. Without exception every time I a heard a lyric that wasn't the same as the original, I felt it was a lame choice. Shame on you Tim Rice! Stand by your art!
Missing verses. I don't know how much was the fault of the libretto and the changes that were originally made when the show went from London to New York and how much was cut for the production we saw. Whoever is to blame, I wag an angry finger at them. Some of my favourite lines were missing from "The Opening Ceremony" (both the Arbiter's lyrics and the Merchants') and "The Embassy Lament". The whole freaking second verse of "The Embassy Lament" was missing! WTF?? It's a crime, I tell ya! I crime and a bleeding shame.
The American. (Yes, he can be in more than one category.) He's an asshole. He is an unmitigated asshole misogynist. Or rather, he should be. There's nothing sympathetic about the character, and yet there were moments where you were obviously meant to feel for him. No. No, no, no. And once more, NO. This was the fault of the changes in the lyrics. He was weakend and hamstrung by the changes made in the script by the writers. Shame. "Pity the Child" is irony as rock ballad, but when you make The American the slightest bit sympathetic that irony is lost. And I think we all know by now that "I *heart* irony."
The band. They weren't as tight or as clean as they ought to be. Get it together, gang! This is week two. You should have it down by now.
No fight. The big fight between Florence and the Russian was missing. Shame, because that piece gives great insight into the Russian, his motivations, and his general character.
The book. Good story. Lousy script. Lucas writes better dialogue, and we all know that Lucas can't write dialogue.
Lyric changes. This version had multiple changes of lyric which universally weakened the characters/story, IMO. Without exception every time I a heard a lyric that wasn't the same as the original, I felt it was a lame choice. Shame on you Tim Rice! Stand by your art!
Missing verses. I don't know how much was the fault of the libretto and the changes that were originally made when the show went from London to New York and how much was cut for the production we saw. Whoever is to blame, I wag an angry finger at them. Some of my favourite lines were missing from "The Opening Ceremony" (both the Arbiter's lyrics and the Merchants') and "The Embassy Lament". The whole freaking second verse of "The Embassy Lament" was missing! WTF?? It's a crime, I tell ya! I crime and a bleeding shame.
The American. (Yes, he can be in more than one category.) He's an asshole. He is an unmitigated asshole misogynist. Or rather, he should be. There's nothing sympathetic about the character, and yet there were moments where you were obviously meant to feel for him. No. No, no, no. And once more, NO. This was the fault of the changes in the lyrics. He was weakend and hamstrung by the changes made in the script by the writers. Shame. "Pity the Child" is irony as rock ballad, but when you make The American the slightest bit sympathetic that irony is lost. And I think we all know by now that "I *heart* irony."
The band. They weren't as tight or as clean as they ought to be. Get it together, gang! This is week two. You should have it down by now.
No fight. The big fight between Florence and the Russian was missing. Shame, because that piece gives great insight into the Russian, his motivations, and his general character.
The book. Good story. Lousy script. Lucas writes better dialogue, and we all know that Lucas can't write dialogue.
Was utterly disappointed by:
Florence. The actress would make a lovely Marian the Librarian or Fiona McLaren. She'd probably be a charming Guenivere. She might even make a decent Audrey if she were properly mic-ed (miked? If they stuck a body mic on her.) D'you know the show Chess at all? The role of Florence was originated by Elaine Paige. Elaine. Freakin'. Paige. For a present-day B'way equivalent let me put it this way: Were I mounting this show, I would cast Cady Huffman in the role. (Idina Menzel would be my Svetlana, but that's beside the point.) Put it another way, I have not seen an actress so hideously miscast since Marianne Owen played Hero in Much Ado About Nothing at The Rep in the mid-1980s. If none of that makes any sense to you, I'll put it simply. SHE COULDN'T BELT. 'Nuff said.
Florence. The actress would make a lovely Marian the Librarian or Fiona McLaren. She'd probably be a charming Guenivere. She might even make a decent Audrey if she were properly mic-ed (miked? If they stuck a body mic on her.) D'you know the show Chess at all? The role of Florence was originated by Elaine Paige. Elaine. Freakin'. Paige. For a present-day B'way equivalent let me put it this way: Were I mounting this show, I would cast Cady Huffman in the role. (Idina Menzel would be my Svetlana, but that's beside the point.) Put it another way, I have not seen an actress so hideously miscast since Marianne Owen played Hero in Much Ado About Nothing at The Rep in the mid-1980s. If none of that makes any sense to you, I'll put it simply. SHE COULDN'T BELT. 'Nuff said.
In short, I'm glad I went. It was a good production of a difficult show. If you've not seen the show before, it's worth a trip a cross the lake. But brace yourself, because if you know the music like I do, it isn't always what you're expecting.
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Date: 2008-05-05 06:04 am (UTC)Yeah, those are two of my faves, too. Sanafi and I sang that duet for musical theatre class in college. ... We rocked it. ;D