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Chess
Apr 28, 2016 14:29:42 GMT
Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2016 14:29:42 GMT
By John Doyle do you mean the actors playing their own instruments? If so, that's already been done with the Craig Revel Horwood version. That's not a device he always uses. That's why I qualified it by asking if that what was meant!  |
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155 posts
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Post by synchrony on Apr 28, 2016 14:41:26 GMT
Chess meets Return to the Forbidden Planet! Wow, that sounds amazing! Haha! I LOVE the score and have the wonderful Danish Complete Recording 2CD (sung in English). I listen to it very happily. My favourite song is ‘Someone Else’s Story’. There’s a version by Sutton Foster on YouTube which I watch often - I think she is completely believable singing it. I have only seen it once, in a truly awful Am Dram production that is memorable for all the wrong reasons. I would very much like to see a good production, but TBH I do think the book is flawed and it’s better in concert. This Chess-themed dance routine might interest some: |
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4,214 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 28, 2016 20:43:50 GMT
I LOVE Chess!
The original show was 86/87. I was finishing High School in Sydney, Australia and this was 'the show' everyone was talking about. We even did a Soiree evening in our drama class that included choreographed routines to The Opening Ceremony.
I had the double LP (still have it back home but now have it on CD).
At the time I went to the Sydney Opera House with a friend to see Chess- in Concert.
Tim Rice, Elaine paige and Tommy Korberg. What I vividly remember was Elaine Paige sining her solo songs and Tommy Korberg singing Anthem. In the absence of Murray Head (unbelievable in hindsight) Tim Rice sang One Night in Bangkok.
Even though I never got go see the original show, my friend and his family did and to this day still talk about it.
The were kind enough to purchased a brochure and programme for me, which I still have.
I also have the hardback book of the show.
We also had a rubbish version of the show in Australia.
Years later, I now live in London and I went to the Royal Albert Hall (wow!) to see chess in Concert, which I have on DVD. At the time I was lucky enough to have seen Indina in Rent and Adam Pascal in AIDA. I was (still) am a Josh Groan fan.
Amongst many other musicals, Chess is on my i-Pod on random play
I also have a DVD about the ABBA story in which it refers to the fact that after ABBA split, that Benny and Bjorn were writing for two different women (I Know Him So Well). The documentary also refers to Chess being the best original show of the 80's.
God bless Chess.
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77 posts
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Post by adolphus on Apr 28, 2016 21:12:49 GMT
I saw the original production shortly after it opened in London. It must have been the first night after previews as I still have my programme signed by Elaine Paige, Tim and the Abba boys, as well as one of the sponge frisbees with the Chess logo which for some reason were thrown to the audience. Spectacular score and sung with gusto - Paige was magnificent and both she and Murray Head had had UK hit singles from the show which added to the excitement of it all (epic pop ballads were flavour of the day) Now its dated, but at the time no one was at all sure that the wall would fall and the Cold war end: it had enormous relevance , danger and sexiness. And timeless songs - I Know Him So Well, Anthem and Nobody's Side
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2016 22:48:51 GMT
I think my favourite productio was the first UK tour, with Rebecca Storm and Maurice Clarke (i think thats his name...what ever happened to him?) For some reason, it's the Danish Tour Recording that I listen to most.
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118 posts
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Post by rosscoe on Apr 28, 2016 23:34:48 GMT
By John Doyle do you mean the actors playing their own instruments? If so, that's already been done with the Craig Revel Horwood version. Oh God No, I mean strip it back like he did with The Color Purple, find the real story within the text |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2016 5:55:30 GMT
I think my favourite productio was the first UK tour, with Rebecca Storm and Maurice Clarke (i think thats his name...what ever happened to him?) For some reason, it's the Danish Tour Recording that I listen to most. Just Googled Maurice Clarke and before I had chance to type "Chess" the words "vocal coach" popped up! That's him! |
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655 posts
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Post by ptwest on Apr 29, 2016 20:27:10 GMT
I think my favourite productio was the first UK tour, with Rebecca Storm and Maurice Clarke (i think thats his name...what ever happened to him?) For some reason, it's the Danish Tour Recording that I listen to most. Just Googled Maurice Clarke and before I had chance to type "Chess" the words "vocal coach" popped up! That's him! This was my favourite version as well out of the ones I've seen- the clearest storytelling and the inclusion of "someone else's story". Loved Maurice Clarke too, last thing I saw him in was Martin Guerre at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 1998! |
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204 posts
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Post by Sue on Apr 29, 2016 20:38:43 GMT
I vote Chess for the next ENO musical! Get Ria Jones to do it again! And Glenn Close as understudy perhaps?! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2016 16:01:25 GMT
Any Chess fans should watch the clip on Youtube of Karin Glenmark saving the day in the Chess Concert 1884. Barbara Dickson, playing Svetlana, had become ill backstage mid performance. Tommy Korberg is going at it full welly in Engame, when suddenly he becomes aware that there's no Barbara... There's a missed line. He looks around for her, and at that point Karin Glenmark (one of the chorus here, but who had played the role previously) steps in and delivers all Svetlana's lines. And just listen to how she does it! Priceless viewing...
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Chess
Apr 30, 2016 18:45:07 GMT
Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2016 18:45:07 GMT
Any Chess fans should watch the clip on Youtube of Karin Glenmark saving the day in the Chess Concert 1884. And also, I assume, kudos to whoever was on sound and lighting for catching on and adjusting to suit. |
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243 posts
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Post by musicallady on May 1, 2016 14:54:48 GMT
I think my favourite productio was the first UK tour, with Rebecca Storm and Maurice Clarke (i think thats his name...what ever happened to him?) For some reason, it's the Danish Tour Recording that I listen to most. Mine to. Saw it countless times. Maurice Ckarke singing Anthem was the highlight of the show. Nobody can sing it better. |
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Chess
Sept 29, 2016 21:37:04 GMT
via mobile
Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2016 21:37:04 GMT
ENO reviving this 2017/18
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2,452 posts
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Chess
Sept 29, 2016 21:51:30 GMT
Post by theatremadness on Sept 29, 2016 21:51:30 GMT
ENO reviving this 2017/18 Really? I'm bored already! One of the only musicals I really can't get into. |
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Chess
Sept 29, 2016 21:54:34 GMT
via mobile
Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2016 21:54:34 GMT
Sir Rice 'confirmed' it in Brighton tonight. Says it's never really worked as a production but does as concert and says he's excited bout the ENO production.
Seen an amateur production years ago and hated it but I'm a SUCKER for I know him so well so I'm in!
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1,351 posts
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Chess
Sept 29, 2016 22:41:00 GMT
Post by CG on the loose on Sept 29, 2016 22:41:00 GMT
I love the score and have seen a number of productions over the years - the most recent at the Union in Southwark probably being my favourite. Agree it is probably better in concert form rather than full-blown production - indeed that's how I first saw it, and loved it, in its first ever live performance at the Barbican back in the 1980s.
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3,057 posts
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Chess
Sept 30, 2016 5:48:37 GMT
Post by ali973 on Sept 30, 2016 5:48:37 GMT
Really happy to hear that it's being revived. I'e never seen it before but love the music and have so many different recordings.
Is Ruthie Henshall suitable for this? I feel that she needs a major return.
Kerry Ellis is boring, but man can she sing. Would love to see her as Florence instead of Svetlana.
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2,702 posts
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Post by viserys on Sept 30, 2016 6:00:06 GMT
I agree that Chess only really works as a concert - the plot is too convoluted, slow-moving and uninteresting and also feels horribly dated. It shouldn't matter that the Cold War is over as it should work as a historical story as well, but it just doesn't really (for me). I guess the big production in Stockholm some years ago, which I saw with Tommy Körberg and Helen Sjöholm, was "as good as it gets" but just not really good either.
Whether I'd buy tickets for the ENO concerts depends on the cast I guess. I now wish I had seen the RAH concert - Josh Groban blew the roof off with his "Anthem" on the DVD and will be a hard act to follow (for me).
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2016 6:32:54 GMT
More good news for a Friday! This'll sound amazing with a big orchestra, just as Sunset did.
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19,790 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 30, 2016 6:35:12 GMT
it will sound fabulous with that huge orchestra.
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19,790 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 30, 2016 6:35:47 GMT
Ooh caiaphas we are as one!
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Sept 30, 2016 6:37:22 GMT
The original album is one of my all-time favourites. Absolutely stunning.
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8,160 posts
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Post by alece10 on Sept 30, 2016 6:40:16 GMT
I'm in.
It will be a stalls ticket for me after sitting in the stalls twice for Sunset and now just cant go back to the cheaper seats.
Love Chess and this will be superb with big orchestra and chorus.
Last saw it for the 25th Anniversary Concert at the RAH and also got to see the original west end production
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4,214 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Sept 30, 2016 8:02:55 GMT
The original album is one of my all-time favourites. Absolutely stunning. I still listen to the concept album even though it doesn't include Someone Else's Story. It's always a bit of a frustration for me that The Argument is always cut whenever this show is performed. |
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Chess
Sept 30, 2016 8:23:10 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2016 8:23:10 GMT
O. M. Gosh.
Someone get Helen Sjöholm on the phone NOW to block out her diary. The Swedish production cast was quite possibly the best I've seen (such a shame that Josefin Nilsson passed away recently).*
* I am, of course, MUCH too young to have seen the original with La Paige.
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