Chess

One of the things I like most about this version is the ending. That is very well done!

Right I am in the land of the living now so can report on last night at Chess.
Honestly this is one of the best things I have seen in a very long time.
5th row of the stalls and a fantastic view and Benny Anderson sitting 6 seats away from me. Quite surreal in a way.
Firstly I have seen Chess twice before, once with the original London cast back in the 80s however my memory wont let me remember too much about it although I know I really did enjoy it, then the ill fated 25th Anniversary concert at the RAH, less said about that the better and now this version which was definitely the best.
I was expecting semi staged but I would call it fully staged with amazing lighting and visuals. Boy those cameras get up very close and what must be in full HD.
Orchestra were wonderful and its so great to be able to hear these big scores with massive orchestras. Great chorus which really gave their numbers power. Yes agree with other comments that it was a bit hard to hear them on occasions but I think that was diction rather then sound issues. I didn't have any issue with the sound at all.
And the leads were on top form. I only really knew Michael Ball, Cassidy Jansen and Alexandra Burke but all the leads were excellent. You cant go wrong with Mr Ball who gives his all and Anthem gave me goose bumps as always. I have to say Alexandra Burke did a stellar performance and sang her heart out.
The use of the screens and cameras was genius and it must play to its full advantage for those in the upper circle and balcony who would not normally be able to see the facial expressions of the cast and Cassidy crying at the end...
Both my friend and I immediately said that we want to go back and see it again so thankfully its pay day.

On a different note we sat next to a really interesting young man from Uzbekistan who told us he was a stage manager and had just done Evita in Moscow and was very excited as he had just spotted Tim Rice in the audience during the interval.

Wow, so great to hear how much everybody's enjoying it.

I was indifferent before but edging towards dreading it, but now I'm actually really looking forward to it.

Do you mean 'One night in Bangkok'?

[b


He was sitting in the aisle seat centre block (left aisle as you look at the stage). Quite a few people recognised him at the interval and one woman asked for his autograph but otherwise people were very discreet and left him alone.
He ovated at the end like the rest of us.

Great to hear all the positive feedback. Am really looking forward to it now , though have to wait another 4 weeks! The RAH Chess concert must come across better on DVD than it did on the night as when I watched it on Saturday I was quite impressed with it.

I was right up in the gods where it was not only swelteringly hot but also impossible to distinguish half of what was sung.

And I was so excited about the cast that I splashed out on some posh seats right down the front only to find cameramen running back and forth in front of us, non-stop, obscuring our view. 

I agree it sound far better on the CD/DVD than it did on the night.


Edit: just seen the above post. We must have posted at the same time! I complained too. No refund! 

That’s frustrating to hear.

The email I received at the time said “ Many thanks for your email. I am sorry that you felt my response was not of a personal nature. I have been rather busy with a number of sound complaints and indeed the positioning of the camera crew, which I do acknowledge in my email. I completely agree with your comments on the crew as I witnessed your discomfort myself as I was seated in the Stalls very close to where you were seated. Although the crew did not impede my view of the stage I found it to be very distracting.

As I mentioned, this is being taken very seriously and we can confirm that Tim Rice and the other promoters are meeting to discuss all the issues raised.”.

I later had an email from somebody else who offer d a full refund including booking fees... for all three tickets.

Having been really disappointed with the ENO’s Sweeney Todd and Carousel over the last few years, I was very impressed with this. The orchestra were sensational, and I was particularly impressed with Tim Howar and Cassidy Janson. However, I wouldn’t have had a clue what was going on for much of it if I hadn’t seen the production at The Union a few years ago. That was the clearest I’ve ever seen the story told. So I loved it, but I wish I could now see The Union one again!

On another note... I’ve just seen pics on the Whatsonstage twitter account of Tim Howar and his wife Jodie at the party with their baby. Now, I’m no doctor, but we all know that baby is about four days old, and babies don’t get their immunisation jabs for 6-8 weeks. I seriously hope the wee thing doesn’t get sick, being passed around and cuddled by all those germ-riddled hands that have touched the Colisseum and the London Underground this evening!

WOS 4 stars: www.whatsonstage.com/west-end-theatre/reviews/chess-london-coliseum-michael-ball-alexandra-burke_46458.html

The show is an incomprehensible screamathon. Can all involved just put it to bed and move on to something else? But Mr Ball does look as if he has been gorging on the blinis, bless him. Tim Howar the saving grace of the evening. Ms Burke sings barely ONE comprehensible syllable. Oh well.