CHESS is a musical with a great score by Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersen ("Abba") and Tim Rice. It began life in the early 1990s as a "concept album" and then was staged in the West End, starring Elaine Paige, Tommy Korberg and Murray Head. I saw that production and loved it.
When it transferred to Broadway it underwent some book and score changes in order to "Americanize" it - and was a huge flop! Since then it has undergone many transitions/rewrites and has been perfromed in various forms in Sweden and ion concert versions in the USA (most recently in New York back in September).
I think its major problems have always been with the Book - dealing with World Chess Championship matches between an American and Russian who defects temporarily to the West. The original version was set in two locations during the course of two chess matches - Merano in Switzerland and Bangkok, while the Broadway version was set in New York and Bangkok; later versions have reverted to the Swiss locale. It has undertones of the Cold War - which have now become rather passe - and has a central love story between the Russian and a woman of Hungarian origins, who at the beginning works for - and is involved with - the American player. The woman is concerned for the safety of her father in Hungary and the Russian man is torn between his love for his new mistress and his love for wife and his native country. Confused???? - Yeah, I think that's the problem.
But the score is wonderful. I suggest you check out Amazon.com and choose a CD to buy. There are a number of recordings - including the original concept album, the Original West End Cast, the Original Broadway Cast (with the fantastic Judy Kuhn and David Carroll), a full studio recording of one of the latest versions (with Stig Rossen and Emma Kershaw) and a full Swedish language version.
There is talk of there being a full scale revival - I hope this happens as I would love to see it again.
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
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