Chess

Saw the dress rehearsal last night. I feel bad for judging it as it was the first time they had run it from start to finish but it was just so meh. It never really took off. The design is good but the shows main issue is the Direction. Last night the sound also proved a problem. Screens are used throughout mostly to good effect but it's just really lacking that something to get it to the level it needs to be at. They have time before Press but I'm not sure it will get there. None of the numbers, including the iconic numbers, landed last night. Where I was sat, the sound was a real issue and overall I just felt very detached from the whole thing.

^ ... because lederhosen and dirndl are considered ‘National Dress’ in the South Tyrol where Merano is situated, and is probably what the locals would have worn for such a Special Occasion held in their town...?

It’s one thing that the role requires no acting, but when the newspaper you’re waving is a better actor, then maybe you should stick to the warbling Alex.

Am I missing something?
You feel sorry for people who paid full price for the show (on its opening night) because there are free seats? The theatre is still
75% + full.
People paid for a great nights theatre which is what they are getting.
A little less catastrophising and a little more reality, please.

The costume designer has a knee fetish?

Presumably you knew that before you went, so that's your own fault in that case!

Remember the last time someone took a comment like this seriously from Parsley?

Nope, me either. Lets wait for some more comments to come in shall we. Like people who stay for the full show and can comment on the full show.

Poor Coliseum

This is what they have to resort to

An opera venue

Forced to scrape the barrel

And star in musicals

It’s quite pathetic really

The Coliseum is starring in a musical?

Is their name above the title??

Yes that goes very well with parsley! Maybe a bit of paprika, on top of some nice vegetable soup!

Good stuff - staging. It’s very bling and lots of stuff moving.

Orchestra - great apart from the self indulgent guitar riffing

Phillip Browne - bit rushed and incoherent but overall a very fair Molokov

Bad stuff - Alexandra who parachutes in between the pros then impersonates the caught in the headlights or the shark look whilst delivering it with gusto but no conviction.

Cassidy - you’re from Chipping Barnet so drop the Beautiful accent then remember to try singing all of it and with some emotion

Tim - Freddie is not well served by your Rod Stewart and the second half was greatly improved by Cellen who very nearly landed Pity the Child and certainly sounded the part

Michael - if you can only sing like Ball then why bother? It’s not suitable for Anatoly and you still can’t do Anthem, even without Alfie.

Cedric - no contest, you lose

I love Chess, I’ve travelled miles to see them but the ones I still like best are the original and the one the Union did. This is a lot of money on stage but woefully miscast.

Not all bad as I stood next to Sir Tim so he had something to rest his arm on.