CHESS Previews- Page 16

[shomeika]

Posted: 11/14/25 at 5:54pm

(Clarified in previous post), feel free to delete...

 


 

 

Updated On: 11/16/25 at 05:54 PM

[suzcap]

Posted: 11/14/25 at 7:41pm

I didn't see her cringe, Aaron said that sounds super fun after describing the show and Lea and the audience laughed.

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 11/14/25 at 7:48pm

I didn't see her cringe, either.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/14/25 at 8:17pm

"I saw Lea kind of cringe each time."

She didn't cringe at all. They were excited and they all looked/sounded great.

Exciting times for "producer" Lea! I hope she "produced" a show that will bring in rave reviews.

She's a producer, no need for the quotes.

[Huss417]

Posted: 11/14/25 at 10:39pm

Sutton Ross said: ""I saw Lea kind of cringe each time."

She didn't cringe at all. They were excited and they all looked/sounded great.

Exciting times for "producer" Lea! I hope she "produced" a show that will bring in rave reviews.

She's a producer, no need for the quotes."

Again. You aren’t in charge of someone using quotes or not. I know you can’t help yourself but it is so tiresome time and time and time again.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 12:56am

Sutton Ross said: ""I saw Lea kind of cringe each time."

She didn't cringe at all. They were excited and they all looked/sounded great.

Exciting times for "producer" Lea! I hope she "produced" a show that will bring in rave reviews.

She's a producer, no need for the quotes."


How are you so vile all the time? 
what happened in your childhood that brought you to this! 

[PIZZAGIRL2]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 11:44am

 

don't call him vile, ever!

don't you do that!

[shomeika]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 12:49pm

Sutton Ross said: "Exciting times for "producer" Lea! I hope she "produced" a show that will bring in rave reviews.

She's a producer, no need for the quotes."

Thanks so much for the spelling and grammar check. Bless your heart, very kind of you.  However, when you become less snarky and miserable, I will consider my use of quotes.  

 

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 12:55pm

"How are you so vile all the time? 
what happened in your childhood that brought you to this! "

She is not a nice person and known liar. Somebody on this board sarcastically nicknamed her "America's Sweetheart" which is quite funny considering her mean spirited posts. Just ignore her and her need to be in charge of English grammar on BWW -lol

[Mary_Poppins]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 5:29pm

She's a producer, no need for the quotes.

That's simply a correct statement. And please don't try to pretend that the quotes were just an innocent grammar error. And then lecture Sutton about how they're overstepping by lecturing someone about the error. If you have some important grievances about Sutton, attack them for something they say which is actually wrong and vile.

In this case it is actually the person who inserted the unnecessary quotes who is being a little bit vile.

We all agree that Lea is not a producer comparable in competence and power to Hulce or Ahrens. But she is a producer nonetheless. It could be the fairly common way of saying she's an investor, but I doubt she would put more than a symbolic amount of money into such a venture.

I guess it's just some kind of deal that gives her a seat at the table. Not with full voting rights but maybe with a veto right on certain matters. And with more access to information than the smaller investors have.

 

 

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 5:48pm

Zeppie2022 said: ""How are you so vile all the time?
what happened in your childhood that brought you to this! "

She is not a nice person and known liar. Somebody on this board sarcastically nicknamed her "America's Sweetheart" which is quite funny considering her mean spirited posts. Just ignore her and her need to be in charge of English grammar on BWW -lol"

That would be me who named her that, and we’ve seen the last of her on this thread. America’s Sweetheart slinks away and hides in the corner when she gets called out on her bitchery.

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 7:03pm

"If you have some important grievances about Sutton, attack them for something they say which is actually wrong and vile."

It is ancient history now and you probably missed it, but she sent me PM over a year ago where she claimed a poster threatened to kill her. It was not true which I verified with the mod on this board. She also called me incredible vile names and she was suspended. I actually posted her PM to show I was not making it up. Is that important enough for you?

 

Updated On: 11/15/25 at 07:03 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 7:03pm

Mary_Poppins said: That's simply a correct statement. And please don't try to pretend that the quotes were just an innocent grammar error. And then lecture Sutton about how they're overstepping by lecturing someone about the error. If you have some important grievances about Sutton, attack them for something they say which is actually wrong and vile.

In this case it is actually the person who inserted the unnecessary quotes who is being a little bit vile.

Thanks Mary, it was pretty clear they were trying to demean Lea with the whole quote thing, but the only response I see is from that same person continuing with their rudeness and sarcasm. Nothing new around these parts, but I appreciate the intelligence and common sense. The people who have constantly trolled, harassed or stalked me on BWW were blocked years ago (although the gormless MAGAts much more recently), and I never have the pleasure (haha) of seeing their posts. The block button is a beautiful thing and so is protecting my peace, as those smart kids say just like the term "touch grass!!" which always sends me.

 Have a pleasant rest of your weekend and stay warm out there. Unless you live in Kauai and in that case bite me   

You're a real one Mary, thanks again.



 

 

 

 

Updated On: 11/15/25 at 07:03 PM

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 7:04pm

"That would be me who named her that, and we’ve seen the last of her on this thread. America’s Sweetheart slinks away and hides in the corner when she gets called out on her bitchery."

Thank you, I always get a good laugh when you call her that nickname.

[MysteriousLady]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 7:14pm

If someone wouldn't mind putting the RFK and Biden jokes in a spoiler box, I would appreciate it. I can't imagine how either person would be relevant to this show, so I was just curious what the jokes were, as it may be a few months before I am able to travel from out of state to see this. 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 11:13pm

RFKII and Biden jokes sprinkled into this show at this moment speaks to a tone deafness in the minds of the creatives eleven months into the political hellscape that is 2025. Maybe with the narratively pointless and utterly audience indifferent Queen of Versailles playing a block away we're witnessing Broadway power brokers' middle finger to earnest resistance. It's hard to fathom why anyone would capture this moment with cynicism. Whatever their motives, conscious or un, I remain baffled by everything reported on Strong's annotating. A guy with no theater street cred correcting others' work by commenting on the forerunners failure is just lazy. "Someone Else's Libretto" seems his message, and I think it's a cheap shot.

Updated On: 11/15/25 at 11:13 PM

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 11/15/25 at 11:40pm

Auggie27 said: "RFKII and Biden jokes sprinkled intothis show at this moment speaks to a tone deafness in the minds of the creatives eleven months into the political hellscape that is 2025. Maybe with the narratively pointless and utterly audience indifferent Queen of Versailles playing a block awaywe're witnessingBroadway power brokers' middle finger toearnest resistance. It's hard to fathom why anyone would capture this moment with cynicism. Whatever their motives, conscious or un, I remain baffled by everything reported on Strong's annotating. A guy with no theater street cred correcting others' work by commenting on the forerunners failure is justlazy. "Someone Else's Libretto" seems his message, and I think it's a cheap shot."

you really don't want to say anything at all positive about this production do you? You just keep harping on the same things and I assume you have still not seen it?   There are some that have actually seen the show that have issues with those jokes and others that are fine with them. They are not my vibe but having not the seen this production I'm not going to lash Danny Strong when many are liking not just the jokes but the new book.

 Chess will always be divisive beyond the music as everyone who has seen it has a favourite version of it but at least I've seen many people who love other versions of the show who have gone in with an open mind, when actually going to see it, and have talked about the things they enjoyed as much as those they didn't. Not damning without having actually seen it. 

I'm sure if I had the chance to see it I would have quibbles with parts of it but I don't feel like I can damn something I've not actually seen. 

Updated On: 11/16/25 at 11:40 PM

[suzcap]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 1:55am

For some around here, it seems it they don't like what they have heard or seen about the show they are gonna make sure others don't like it either. 

[shomeika]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 4:55am

Well, today is the day for Chess.  I am so excited.  I have followed this show for four decades.  I'm old af.

My favourite musicians, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus wrote the score, the melodies, and their did their part with perfection, coming out the gate with accolades and landing hits in the 80's.  The Tim Rice book just didn't fare as well.   I am just praying that crtitics like the book this time.  As a side note, I had seen "Chess" in regional shows, at least four times over the decades, and never ever once understood what was going on-- until this production.  For that, I am grateful!
 

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 6:16am

shomeika said: "Well, today is the day for Chess. I am so excited. I have followed this show for four decades. I'm old af.

My favourite musicians, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus wrote the score, the melodies, and their did their part with perfection, coming out the gate with accolades and landing hits in the 80's. The Tim Rice book just didn't fare as well. I am just praying that crtitics like the book this time. As a side note, I had seen "Chess" in regional shows, at least four times over the decades, and never ever once understood what was going on-- until this production. For that, I am grateful!
"

I love this take. I haven't been following Chess as long as you but ive been such a fan of the score for so long but then I've loved ABBA since I was a little girl in the 70s.  

I'm thinking of Benny, Bjorn and Tim especially today,  after they felt so burned 37 years ago, particularly Tim and Bjorn. I will be interested to see if Bjorn is there for the opening night given he didn't come to the Sitzprobe with Tim and Benny.

For them in particular I hope its a success.

[Mary_Poppins]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 9:02am

Nice words by shomeika and GirlFromOz68.


Any word on the embargo lift time?

 

 

Updated On: 11/16/25 at 09:02 AM

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 9:27am

"If someone wouldn't mind putting the RFK and Biden jokes in a spoiler box, I would appreciate it. I can't imagine how either person would be relevant to this show, so I was just curious what the jokes were, as it may be a few months before I am able to travel from out of state to see this. "

Same here, seeing the show in March. I assume I might get a chuckle out of the jokes but don't see the point of them. No big deal.

[shomeika]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 12:18pm

GirlFromOz68 said: "I love this take. I haven't been following Chess as long as you but ive been such a fan of the score for so long but then I've loved ABBA since I was a little girl in the 70s.
I'm thinking of Benny, Bjorn and Tim especially today, after they felt so burned 37 years ago, particularly Tim and Bjorn. I will be interested to see if Bjorn is there for the opening night given he didn't come to the Sitzprobe with Tim and Benny.
For them in particular I hope its a success."

I know (well I suppose) Bjorn will be there as he posted from Mamma Mia! in NYC on his insta.  I betcha that Benny will be there as well. I would be thrilled if Frida came (she goes to ABBA Voyage in London all the time), but would bet that Agnetha will *NOT* be there.

I'm so nervous for reviews! 

Updated On: 11/16/25 at 12:18 PM

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 2:46pm

shomeika said: "GirlFromOz68 said: "I love this take. I haven't been following Chess as long as you but ive been such a fan of the score for so long but then I've loved ABBA since I was a little girl in the 70s.
I'm thinking of Benny, Bjorn and Tim especially today, after they felt so burned 37 years ago, particularly Tim and Bjorn. I will be interested to see if Bjorn is there for the opening night given he didn't come to the Sitzprobe with Tim and Benny.
For them in particular I hope its a success."

I know (well I suppose) Bjorn will be there as he posted from Mamma Mia! in NYC on his insta. I betcha that Benny will be there as well. I would be thrilled if Frida came (she goes to ABBA Voyage in London all the time), but would bet that Agnetha will *NOT* be there.

I'm so nervous for reviews!"

that's good to hear that Bjorn is in NYC and yes im sure Benny will be there. I would love it if Frida came as she was my fave. yes Agnetha always struggled with the travel and the fame. She was so overwhelmed here in Australia where ABBA was bigger than everywhere else.

 B roll just dropped

 

https://youtu.be/NDiBtxPa4p4?si=Ra-MHjfq3Rq1uRkQ

Updated On: 11/16/25 at 02:46 PM

[Kryz2]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 3:34pm

Looking forward to seeing the reviews.  I saw it last week - my fourth version.  Being a Londoner (and old) I have extremely fond memories of the original and that meant I both loved this version (thanks to - in the main - it provoking some happy memories) and sadly did not.  

I found this today BTW - a reminder of the (in my view) simplicity but also spectacle of the original : https://mega.nz/file/Rd5zBKSA#JGPcyIlpUo8KLuUQdvB2cvenpb3QMaRswIs_Hi6HB6w

For me - the long and the short of it is that the original concept album is so brilliantly put together - from structure through to orchestration - that it’s hard to screw up - no matter how hard people seem to try.  Whilst this version had its big pluses (Aaron T principal amongst them - one of today’s great singer actors) the minuses (the addition of an overture, the thin orchestration, the weirdly overblown minimalism) were too much in the opposite direction.  And the costumes (or lack thereof) in ONIB seemed wildly off colour. 
 

It didn’t leave me toooo disappointed - because it’s a joy to see it in any form - but you do want someone else to have another go at some point.  And if we can do re-creations of original productions, sometimes, how about for this?