Any CHESS Fans?

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 6:45am

Well, a friend of mine told me about CHESS, it's really terrific, Judy Kuhn is perfection (as usual) on the recording. Fantastic!!! Who would have known that the guys from Mamma Mia were so talented?!

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 6:59am

Are you for real?

But the recording you need is the one with:

Rosie O'Donnell as Svetlana
Harvey Fierstein as Anatoly

Perfect in everyway.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 7:02am

Yes! I saw the London production maybe 10 or more times with different friends in the cast etc. I also saw the terrible UK touring production- absolutely dire! I love the Broadway CD and play it often. Shame its just a single CD. Judy Khun is great, ive liked her since first seeing her in Metroplolis in the West End in 89. If you like her you should get the CD of the show. Amazon $40

[Anon2]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 7:43am

I saw Miss Paige () in chess and WB" i also saw 'that' UK tour..... *shudders*

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 7:52am

If i remember corrctly 'that' tour was taken off after a few weeks.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 8:08am

I was an ABBA junkie so I was immediately drawn to the members' side projects and I've always loved the music. The show itself in the forms I've seen it in, less so.

I saw the Broadway incarnation and though the first act was excellent, but the second act was so top-heavy that it was pretty understandable that it closed so quickly. I did think David Carroll as Anatoly was absolutely amazing--broke my heart when he died.

Also saw a touring version two years later with Carolee Carmello as Florence. Some story changes but still dramatically lumpy.

In other words, a great score still in search of a cogent book.

I'd also kill to hear Josh Groban's take on "Anthem."

[RyToast1]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 8:23am

Josh Groban singing Chess

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jt-ep5JDBQ

[One Song Glory]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 8:29am

I love the music for Chess, but the story is a little off for me.

[Poppy]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 9:13am

I saw it at the John Houseman Theater on 42nd Street in 1998.
Alice Ripley was cast as Svetlana, Christiane Noll as Florence, Brian d'Arcy James as Freddie, Michael Cerveris as the narrator, Ray McLeod as Molokov and Danny Zolli, the Arbiter.
Rob Evan was co-producer and a very strong Anatoly. His "Anthem" is one of his best pieces to date. I also saw it a second time in Nyack, at the former Helen Hayes Theater sometime after that date with practically the same cast. They were excellent productions.

[musical_devotee]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 9:30am

I like Chess very much and have the studio recording and 1994 concert album. Tim Rice spoke about a possible London revival, so let's hope it will happen.

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 9:33am

CHESS is amazing!!!

so um... 2003 Benefit concert anyone... the best cast I've ever heard!

[*brina-doll*]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 9:37am

The benefit concert of 2003 = PERFECTION!

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 9:46am

It's a damn shame that the Actor's Fund cast wasn't recorded.

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 9:47am

It definitely was recorded (for archive purposes and such), but it's a damn shame it was never released...legally...
Updated On: 8/16/07 at 09:47 AM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 9:48am

I'm so glad you love CHESS, muscle23ftl! I was listening to it again last night and on the subway this morning...what an incredible score. I wish I could have seen it on Broadway.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 10:05am

Would anyone give me a short synopsis?

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 10:11am

well there are many different versions....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_%28musical%29

check that out, it has very basic plot details of each productions.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 10:21am

Muscle, I am really amazed that you don't know about this show before now. I would have thought with your love of AWL you would have looked at Tim Rice's other work.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 10:23am

I've loved this show since the late 80s when I first heard it. Excellent music weighed down by a problematic book... I'm hoping the most recent Swedish version is brought to the US. I'm a fan of the Original Concept Album, it's near perfection for me. The only song I miss is "Someone Else's Story."

I'm getting to direct it next spring... very excited about it.

Posted: 8/16/07 at 10:24am

There are many recordings- get your hands on ALL of them (even the Swedish ones)

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 10:26am

"Muscle, I am really amazed that you don't know about this show before now. I would have thought with your love of AWL you would have looked at Tim Rice's other work"

It's ALW, hehe, Im not familiar with all his work. This is way before my time!

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 10:27am

There are also some great performances on "the site."

[Norma D]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 10:39am

I love Chess! I have only heard the original concept album--(so I don't know if I would like the Broadway recording or not)I love it! It's one of my favorite Elaine Paige recordings. I'll admit because I haven't seen the show the plot seems kind of confusing? But I love the music!!

[Lorelai]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 12:33pm

I love Chess, but the only production I have seen is the 2003 benefit concert. But it was absolutely amazing.

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 12:49pm

Chess was my second show in the community theater world, at 14. I loved the music and would love to see a revival or at least a good regional production. I have seen the show 3 times, but they were all really bad (including the one I was in).