CHESS at the Kennedy Center- Page 3

[jlm]

Posted: 2/15/18 at 9:44am

Would someone who was there last night kindly post the running time?  Thanks in advance!

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 2/15/18 at 9:46am

Started a few minutes late, don’t remember how long intermission ran, but I was on the street at 11.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/15/18 at 11:17am

Wow, I didn't think it would go that late.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/15/18 at 1:45pm

I'm always perplexed at how much Follies keeps coming back and back and back over the years. If there is a cast I'd love to see or hear, it'd be the original one - and there are some good songs I guess. But does anyone think it really works as a satisfying and coherent piece of musical theatre? I wish producers and investors would turn their attention to other projects.

Seriously, Chess has never had a Broadway or West End revival.  And it keeps getting produced in concert form because of its score, which has had a strong following since its original recording.

I am seeing West Side Story in concert so curious to see the comparison.

An old friend of mine is playing percussion for that!  He'll be on the xylophone.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 2/15/18 at 2:01pm

Where does the balcony overhang the orchestra?  Curious if we are under the balcony for our performance date.  we love chess - driving to DC for it.

Posted: 2/15/18 at 3:38pm

@Coffeebreak I think someone earlier said Orchestra R but I don't . I was in Orchestra D on the left, and I couldn't see some of the video footage they used, but could hear it and didn't feel like I missed anything significant.

 

@Mister Matt - excellent, looking forward to seeing that. I saw Corey Cott in Bandstand and want to hear him and the rest of the cast. Plus the music is gorgeous and to see an orchestra perform it, an obvious choice.

@jlm same response as mentioned already, I was out by 11PM as well. They did the full show (including the dialogue) plus intermission but I was surprised as well.

@broadwaynyc I agree, Karen was definitely a crowd favorite and got the loudest applause for her rendition of "Nobody's Side". The Narrator was definitely also a crowd favorite, he was funny and great with his comedic timing and facial expressions.

More generally:

I think it didn't suit Karen's voice vocally 100% and sounded sometimes like she was straining, but I think that's also kind of her singing style. I realize there are a ton of Raul fans here, but my friends and I couldn't understand what he was singing, particularly when he was in the higher register of his voice. His characterization of Freddy was enjoyable though, as I mentioned before. But I lost some of the story and I was trying really hard. Ramin and Ruthie's diction was on point. Ruthie was the only one who got an entrance applause (perhaps because the character doesn't appear for the first act), and it seemed like (in my surrounding anyway) people were looking forward to "Someone else's story". She sounded a little sick to me but perhaps biased because I've seen her perform before and she had no problem with the notes themselves. Or maybe it was a character choice, I have no idea. 

Ramin was vocally my favorite, diction clear and his notes were beautiful. I saw him in Anastasia but he stood out differently in this performance for me.

[binau]

Posted: 2/15/18 at 4:05pm

Mister Matt said: "I'm always perplexed at how much Follies keeps coming back and back and back over the years. If there is a cast I'd love to see or hear, it'd be the originalone - and there are some good songs I guess. But does anyone think it really works as a satisfying and coherent piece of musical theatre? I wish producers and investors would turn their attention to other projects.

Seriously, Chess has never had a Broadway or West End revival. And it keeps getting produced in concert form because of its score, which has had a strong following since its original recording.

I am seeing West Side Story in concert so curious to see the comparison.

An old friend of mine is playing percussion for that! He'll be on the xylophone."

 

Follies is overdone. As is Gypsy. No complaints from me there. 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 2/15/18 at 4:20pm

Elaine Paige got the final bow in the original London production. The entire thing was, of course, written for her. 

I thought the show worked best (and probably only really worked at all) when it was still a concert based on the record. The original London production was a bit of  bizarre mess using the remnants of the original Michael Bennett ideas but it was still thrilling - mostly because it retained that original cast from the recording.  The Broadway production was a total miss-fire, and I think the show sort of stopped working shortly thereafter because the politics quickly rendered it a period piece. Still I have very fond memories of listening to this in the 1980s!

[darquegk]

Posted: 2/15/18 at 5:10pm

What's the song list for this production?

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/15/18 at 5:17pm

korenglish said "3. Overall, the story line was confusing. I only know songs in Chess, I have never seen a live production and there were a couple of “that seems kind of random” moments. "

I'm familiar with Chess, and the parts I think you're referring to (the bear, the Hindu story, diplomatic talks, the military maneuvers, etc.) were part of the new book.

I have many feelings on the new book/narration I'm still mulling over. Some I liked. Some I'm mixed on. Some I didn't like. (I've never liked the Florence's dad lives ending.) I'm seeing it again, so I think I'll wait to share.

Minor pet peeves- sound wasn't great. The music was louder than the singers and made the lyrics hard to understand. I noticed it especially during Pity the Child and The Deal (No Deal).

Wish they hadn't brought up the lights so quickly at intermission. Nobody's Side's applause went on for a long time, and Anthem's should match it (especially with Ramin), but one the curtain slammed down, the lights came up and everyone abruptly stopped.

I didn't love the finale- a Story of Chess reprise. I prefer the You and I Reprise finale.

The score will always be amazing, the orchestrations were great, and they all sounded great barring the above mentioned sound issues. And walking around at intermission and after the show- it was great to hear other Chess fans talking about the different books, the cut songs, etc. There are dozens of us! Dozens!

[Daniel Baskins]

Posted: 2/15/18 at 7:55pm

I've always wanted a list of all the different endings of Chess just because there are so many.

I really hope this production makes it to Broadway, and they don't screw it up.  Chess is an amazing show that is haunted with so many mistakes that need to be set right. My personal favorite version is the Royal Albert Hall version.  It's the original plot with updated music and lyrics. Why they can't just use that one I will never know.

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 2/15/18 at 8:58pm

orangeskittles said: "I'm familiar with Chess, and the parts I think you're referring to (the bear, ..."

Wait... there's a bear in Chess now?  How does that work?  What does it do?

[pdjennings]

Posted: 2/15/18 at 9:25pm

At intermission now ... holy cow this is good!
I’m really loving the revised book so far ...
People are repeatedly giggling whenever the name Trumper is spoken... unavoidable I suppose.

[JBC3]

Posted: 2/15/18 at 9:34pm

Updated On: 2/16/18 at 09:34 PM

[HSky]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 12:55am

I saw it tonight and sound issues lessened my enjoyment. The mix was awful and the orchestra overpowered the vocals many times or even at times when the ensemble was singing, they would overpower the leads. I at least knew some of the songs but for my friends going in cold, I know they were having a lot of trouble understanding parts of the story. 

I can't speak to the differences in book but felt I could pinpoint some of the rewrites that felt more current and applicable to today's politics. Re: the bear -

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

The bear is a Ronald Reagan campaign commercial featuring a bear that runs after the Arbiter indicates the unexpected "bear" is coming to enter the story.

There was entrance applause for Ramin Karimloo, Karen Olivo, and Ruthie Ann Miles tonight. There wasn't any when Raul Esparza made his first appearance but that seemed to be a function of timing in the show and there was hearty applause following his first song.

Karen Olivo was the "WOW" factor for me with her vocals. I agree that along with Ramin Karimloo, her vocals were the crispest with Raul Esparza's higher vocals often getting muddled but I think that was partly a mix of his singing style along with the sound mix because I felt the same way about some of the background vocals when they went higher.  

I liked Sean Allan Krill's CIA Agent, who got many laughs from the audience. 

The semi-concert staging worked well. Numbers like "One Night in Bangkok" were pretty much fully staged. The times performers had to refer to their books didn't bother me, although it felt a little more organic earlier in Act 1 when it was often incorporated into interactions. In Act 2, their purpose as prompts seemed more obvious. The orchestra was raised above the cast with shelves serving as the background below filled with oversized chess pieces. Projections and video appeared on the top of the screen behind everything (above the height of the orchestra), and there was a semicircle of chairs in front of the shelves for the cast to sit on. The ensemble would occupy the middle chairs with the end ones mostly being arranged Russia SR and USA SL for Act 1, then flipped to start Act 2. 

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 1:41am

HSky said: "There was entrance applause for Ramin Karimloo, Karen Olivo, and Ruthie Ann Miles tonight. There wasn't any when Raul Esparza made his first appearance but that seemed to be a function of timing in the show and there was hearty applause following his first song."

Yeah, it's the direction. Ramin, Karen and Ruthie come out onstage and are introduced by the Arbiter. Raul kind of sneaks on in the dark mid-scene, and it immediately transitions into dialogue with him, so there's no chance. I don't like that there's no chance for applause after Endgame for that same reason.

Song List:

Act 1

Difficult and Dangerous Times
Where I Want to Be
Merano
What a Scene What a Joy
Molokov and Anatoly
Commie Newspapers
Press Conference
The Arbiter
Chess Game #1
Model of Decorum and Tranquility (Quartet)
1956 (Budapest is Rising)
Nobody's Side
Mountain Duet
Florence Quits
Pity the Child #1
Heaven Help My Heart
Anthem


Act 2

Story of Chess
Golden Bangkok
One Night in Bangkok
Someone Else's Story
Soviet Machine
The Interview
You and I
The Deal (No Deal)
Pity the Child
I Know Him So Well
Endgame
You and I Reprise
Story of Chess Reprise

[Fan123]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 3:11am

Daniel Baskins said: "Chess is an amazing show that is haunted with so many mistakes that need to be set right."

Each staging / of Chess / means there's / one less / variation left to be played.
Each production / got through / means one / or two / less mistakes remain to be made. 

Anyway, I wonder which version the upcoming ENO production will use. The site's a bit vague at this stage. https://www.eno.org/whats-on/chess/

 

 

[devonian.t]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 4:14am

How odd that the original concept album has the clearest story and structure.

This show is an object lesson in the dangers of tinkering.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 7:27am

Orangeskittles, I'm impressed that you managed to jot down the song list!!

I was there last night.  The sound levels were awful.  The electric guitar was a bit much throughout.  That being said, it was nice to hear the score live.

Ramin got me all choked up with his rendition of Anthem.  I agree that the curtain should have been held just a bit longer before dropping at the end of the song/act.

Raul sounded amazing, but his diction wasn't great at all.

Karen - loved her!!

Ruthie Ann Miles - the weakest link unfortunately.  The songs did not sit in a good place in her voice.  I'm sorry they gave Someone Else's Story to Svetlana.

I really enjoyed Bryce Pinkham as the Arbiter.

Kudos to the supporting cast and the ensemble.

Out of all of the productions I've seen, the first national tour starring Carolee Carmello is still the one that resonates with me, though last night was a very close second.

Updated On: 2/16/18 at 07:27 AM

[gypsy101]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 8:23am

i’m so sad i’m not seeing this production, this cast may be my favorite of any production of Chess. i would kill for a recording though obviously that’s highly doubtful so sad.

[irishgator1]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 8:23am

I was there last night too and thought the music, specifically the electric guitar, drowned out the singers too often.

My friends and I didn’t care for how Freddie’s personality was explained. Also, I thought they cursed too much. I’m no prude and can have my own potty mouth at times, but it was distracting to me.

Anyway, it was an amazing performance all around! So happy to have seen it.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 8:49am

^The electric guitar was obnoxious!!

[HSky]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 9:25am

There were times when the language made a point but other exchanges seemed quite gratuitous.

[RJSChess]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 9:32am

Thanks so much guys for the info about this. I'm super interested to hear about the new book. The cast sound amazing and I so wish I could have been there! 

[darquegk]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 11:42am

Unless it comes across as lazy or deliberately unintelligent, I doubt I'll be bothered by Freddie's language- one defect in the character has always been that he's an "ugly American" who talks more like Hugh Laurie than Greg House.

As far back as the Actor's fund concert (where Raul played the Arbiter), they've been tweaking Freddie's dialogue (though rarely the lyrics) to have more swears and less fussy-sounding adjectives. Since that was my first exposure to "Chess," I was surprised to find out that Freddie does not drop the F-bomb in most versions of "One Night in Bangkok."