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CHESS at the Kennedy Center — Page 6

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#126

CHESS at the Kennedy Center

I want this to come to NYC, but in a stripped-down version...with just Raul and Ramin shirtless...battle singing "One Night In Bangkok"

Excuse me...I'm due for a cold shower


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#127

CHESS at the Kennedy Center

Mmm I'm not impressed with Ramin at all. All his notes are off key except (sometimes) the long straight "Moo's" at the end of a line.

As for all of them, they are overdoing it. They need to understand that this music and material is already very intense, so treating each word, note and syllable with such exaggeration and also separating many sung words from spoken words, sometimes multiple times in 1 line, and then when the next syllable is sung they make it extremely exaggerated, makes it feel very tiresome, overly dramatic, posturing and unfortunately feel more fake and less real and intense.

People need to learn that this material should be approached in a more natural way. More respect for the sung lines and they audience will engage much more. There is a reason why they are singing, because this art form is about sung thoughts. More than 75% of the lyrics and music should not be sung in a soap opera way (speaking/bleating) in someone else's face in a way too literal and exaggerated way and pretend that that gives the essence or intention more power. It does not. The essence should not be that literal. There is a higher power in this art form. Less literal soap opera, more natural opera feeling.

Here is a clip with some good examples of that. The naturally sung scenes are much better acted too. Because acting through song is an interaction of both, not a separation. The naturally sung notes work as emotion evoking factors. Not the forced/overdone ones in the wrong places.


https://youtu.be/Q4NNlEPraKo

Updated On: 3/3/18 at 05:29 AM

#128

CHESS at the Kennedy Center

is that Hugh Maynard in that first clip ? if so he gives one of the worst performances I've seen in a musical, best described as a bad ott xfactor audition. trying so hard to show off what he can do with his vocals he loses all sense of performance. this was also a pretty common opinion during the London run.

That Chess video is not great at all, in fact is shockingly poor, but I wouldn't hold miss saigon up as a shining example either
#129

CHESS at the Kennedy Center

Can you explain in which line in this video he is showing off?

I think he sings it very truthfully.

He might have gone overboard more at the end of the song, like they do in this Chess clip, but not in the part shown here. Which is the point.

Updated On: 3/3/18 at 07:19 PM

#130

CHESS at the Kennedy Center

Robbie2 said: "Well, that was painful to watch. Ramin is the only one that vocally can handle this score.

Just listen to the OBC of Chess!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYxROvBeCGQ&list=PLF9C08C4CE52FB7F1


"

I don’t know how one could listen to those clips and think that Olivo can’t handle the score. She’s significantly stronger and less shout-y than Idina Menzel and Julia Murney in the last few concerts. Could see arguments re: the others, however, and decidedly did not like Miles as Svetlana.

#131

CHESS at the Kennedy Center

Interesting to see all the different opinions on here. Personally, I was so enraptured with the first night's performance I stayed for the second and honestly would have stayed all weekend if money allowed. Ruthie had bronchitis and was pregnant, Raul had a throat infection and Karen had a cold the whole run so it was a miracle any of them pulled it off. I loved the new book as the story never made much sense to me but I agree about too many f-bombs (and I'm from Jersey). I could wax poetic about this production forever.

#133

CHESS at the Kennedy Center

I hope so, but I haven't heard anything recently.

There's also the factor of Moulin Rouge since Karen Olivo was involved in both projects, and that will definitely transfer (it's just a matter of when/where at this point).

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