Signature's Chess- Page 2

[Sean2]

Posted: 8/17/10 at 3:18am

ZiggyCringe, I like what you have to say. 'Chess' has had so many incarnations that it's difficult to know what the definitive layout should be for the score. According to Tim Rice, the 'Chess in Concert' London production was the final version of the score, but I haven't seen that yet.

I did, however, manage to see 'Chess' in London with the original cast, and for me it is the best version of the piece I've seen. I agree with you that there isn't a straightforward protagonist; I think that's why I liked it so much. It became a real metaphor for not knowing who to trust or where your alliances were supposed to lay. And that set in London. Damn. I mean, DAMN. It was like nothing I've ever seen before or since.

[pdjennings]

Posted: 8/17/10 at 9:29am

Here's a very interesting early review that kind of speaks to ZiggyCringe's point. Here's hoping that Eric Schaeffer "gets it" after all :)

"Signature's version will be a bit jarring for Chess traditionalists, but Signature has arguably improved the product by making this musical far more plausible and coherent."

http://www.occams-razor.info/2010/08/review_chess_at_signature_theater.html

Granted, the blogger gets a few facts wrong and doesn't seem to be familiar with the Broadway recording at all -- but he makes some great points. I was bummed to find out that the full, Tim Rice endorsed version used at the RAH concert wasn't going to be used here -- but this review definitely cheered me up!

[pdjennings]

Posted: 8/17/10 at 10:17am

Another positive review:

http://immagini-di-vita.com/2010/08/16/a-model-of-decorum-and-tranquility/

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 8/17/10 at 10:26am

"'Chess' has had so many incarnations that it's difficult to know what the definitive layout should be for the score. According to Tim Rice, the 'Chess in Concert' London production was the final version of the score, but I haven't seen that yet."

Is there another musical that they tried so hard to fix, and yet ends up worse with each incarnation?

The "Chess in Concert" (which I think is available on Netflix) was the worst incarnation yet.

I think you're onto something, though. In the original Bennet production, there was no protagonist. There was a chess board, and everyone kept moving around, taking the lead, falling behind, etc. And that WAS interesting, as well as problematic.

In the Broadway production, they added "Someone Else's Story," which really defined Florence, but didn't help with telling the boys' stories.

At the Signature (which I haven't seen), the song list seems to have changed again, with a new opening number. (Has there ever been a show with more opening numbers than this one? "Forum" perhaps). I do like Jill Paice's "Nobody's Side" on that clip, she sounds terrific (much better than Judy Kuhn, but not quite with Elaine Paige's edge).

I have no idea how to fix "Chess." More Anatoly, less Freddie? Vice Versa? Florence owns the show? Nobody owns the show? (Nobody's on Nobody's side?)

Perhaps it's a Gertrude Stein thing, and there's simply no there there, and it will never work.

I do love that people keep trying, because it's a terrific score, which is always fun to hear.

[newintown]

Posted: 8/17/10 at 10:41am

It is a fun score, but after seeing several productions, I think the book can't be salvaged. As pointed out, there's just no character to love.

Freddie is the most interesting for a while, because he's such a mess, but then he sinks into maudlin self-pity with "Pity the Child." Anatoly and Florence are just humorless cardboard bores.

In order to be a really good show, an entirely new book and story would have to be devised, and new songs written expressly for that new book. It's just so hard to fashion a first-class book around pre-existing songs. The best you can get is a campy jukebox show like Mamma Mia, not a first-rate musical drama.

[mallardo]

Posted: 8/17/10 at 12:17pm

I agree with all that's been said about the problems with Chess. Its book is simply dire. Maybe it's the whole conceit of trying to make chess some kind of sexy sporting event. It doesn't play and Freddie is a ridiculous character. If ever a show was better represented by its highlights than by the full package it's this one.

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/17/10 at 12:47pm

I have not seen a production of it but it is one of my favorite scores. I own the double album recording and used to listen to it all the way through over and over.

From the clip, I was not thrilled with the arrangement, vocally, of "Nobody's Side" and didn't care for Ms. Paice's vocals. She has a nice voice but I like that song sung, as Ziggy refereed to, with a bit more edge. I also didn't care for Idina's performance of the song.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/17/10 at 1:00pm

Just checked online for tickets and they're going for $85 (plus charges). I'll skip this and Eric Schaeffer's greed.

[pdjennings]

Posted: 8/17/10 at 1:59pm

Wow -- what an incredibly ****ty thing to say. Do you realize how much a production like this costs? Salaries alone have got to be astronomical -- every cast member, orchestra member, stage crew, the house staff! And then there is still the licensing fees and the cost of the physical production itself. This isn't homemade community theater we're talking about here. I've never once blinked at the price of a ticket to the Signature.

[Amalia Balash]

Posted: 8/17/10 at 2:36pm

I loved the original West End set. Someone Else's Story is one of my favorite songs from any musical. I'm looking forward to seeing the Signature production.

[darquegk]

Posted: 8/17/10 at 2:40pm

As far as Freddie being a weak, self-pitying character, I remember reading of one produoction in which Pity The Child was played directly to the television cameras as a manipulative bid for audience sympathy when he sensed Anatoly becoming the dominant figure in the sport. It put a very different spin on the character.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 8/17/10 at 5:25pm

$85 is still pretty steep for Signature. To be fair, weekday and matinees are $79, but that's still more than I paid for George Hearn and Chita Rivera in The Visit.

There have been versions that lead off with the prologue before. It's not a new opening number, it just hasn't been done in the major New York and London productions.

[aliceidinabernadette]

Posted: 8/17/10 at 8:49pm

"In the Broadway production, they added "Someone Else's Story," which really defined Florence, but didn't help with telling the boys' stories."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't "Someone Else's Story" sung by Svetlana?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/17/10 at 9:05pm

Someone Else's Story has always been sung by Florence (at least in the 3 productions I've seen).

[mallardo]

Posted: 8/17/10 at 11:28pm

It was given to Svetlana in the Josh Groban London concert last year. It was also sung by Svetlana (Sutton Foster) in the New York concert a few years back.

[Sean2]

Posted: 8/17/10 at 11:56pm

I went to the Signature on August 4th because I was visiting D.C., and of course the timing didn't work out, so I'm glad to hear the reviews on here.

For myself, I think 'Chess' works. I think it isn't supposed to be easy to access, much like the game, but rather different people see different things. It isn't the emotionally charged musical for most people, but I found it thrilling. It's my favorite musical right behind Sweeney Todd.

Someone mentioned other problem books that seemed to worsen with subsequent productions: 'The Baker's Wife' in London was such a colossal disaster that I'm not sure it's ever recovered. But I haven't seen enough productions to know for sure.

[aliceidinabernadette]

Posted: 8/18/10 at 12:34am

Thanks for the correction! When I think back to the different recordings, that makes sense, I was just remembering the video from the concert version when Kerry Ellis performed it. My bad!

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 8/18/10 at 3:13am

"It was given to Svetlana in the Josh Groban London concert last year. It was also sung by Svetlana (Sutton Foster) in the New York concert a few years back."

Now that's just whacky. Svetlana is not even a character in "Chess," she simply existed so that Elaine Paige could sing harmonies with someone on "I Know Him So Well." Did they really give her "Someone Else's Story" in the concert? That's just bizarre. And wrong.

Which character sings it at Signature?
Updated On: 8/18/10 at 03:13 AM

[edyw32]

Posted: 8/18/10 at 5:23am

In the Australian production, it was Svetlana's song, which makes sense.
This production got rid of the Florence Budapest crap, simplified it, set it in a Bangkok hotel lobby. Tim Rice said it was the ultimate then, lol.
I met Natashia Richadson at the opening night in Sydney, she was then the GF of producer Robert Fox, and she was simply DIVINE. Had the best time with her , she was charming and full of pure class :)

[AngusN]

Posted: 8/18/10 at 7:14am

In the London versions of the show, Svetlana more often tha not sings Someone Else's Story and it works pretty well. As Svetlana and Florence are at a similar place with men.
I disagree that a show needs to centre around one protagonist and actually feel that the Broadway version does, very much, focus on Florence as the protagonist, as it starts with her history and this is a recurring motif throughout the show. Plus, there are many great ensemble pieces, without a lead protagonist.
I happen to really like the version presented at The Royal Albert Hall, not so much all the performances, but I liked the adaptation of the book to make the story more obvious. However, I think one of the problems the show encounters, is people (in general) just don't listen to lyrics anymore; they forget songs are narratives that need to be followed. If you don't do that with Chess, you're stuck because it's an incredibly complex, but challenging show. I personally, love the extended metaphor of Chess; reflecting the changing relationships between Florence, Freddie, Anatoly and Svetlana AND also the Cold War conflict between the USA and USSR.
Finally, regardless of all this, it has, undoubtedly, one of the greatest scores of all time.

[ObiHave]

Posted: 8/18/10 at 9:40am

^Well said. Chess is sort of the anti-musical...it doesn't follow any of the rules. As a metaphor for the cold war it doesn't need a protaganist.

[newintown]

Posted: 8/18/10 at 9:53am

Finally, regardless of all this, it has, undoubtedly, one of the greatest scores of all time.

Milk came out my nose, and I wasn't even drinking milk.

It's a tuneful batch of songs, but one of the greatest? I think that's a bit hyperbolic - you're certainly entitled to an opinion, but isn't that like saying Air Supply is one of the greatest music making groups in history?

[AngusN]

Posted: 8/18/10 at 11:24am

Critics frequently acknowledge that despite the show's flaws, it does have one of the 'greatest' scores of all time. It's not just MY opinion.
The music is diverse, melodic, dramatic, incandescent, searing and fragile. Sir Lloyd Webber openly states of all the songs ever composed the one he wishes he had written was I Know Him So Well.
Although recently Sir Tim Rice has come under a lot criticism for his lyrics, the lyrics in this show are genius.

[Sean2]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 2:16am

Well put, AngusN. The score is utterly brilliant and the lyrics are Tim Rice's best. I really wish I could see Signature Theatre's take.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 2:20am

When I listen to Judy saying "you want to lose your only friend, well keep it up your doing fine" it gives me goosebumps. It's terrific! Bring this and Sunset and Aspects to Broadway pronto!!!