Chess

Having taken part in this musical twice I was delighted to attend your production last week and to be able to enjoy it once again. I was reminded of how little dialogue there is in the show and how challenging the musical numbers are. The details of the story are in the lyrics and so first -rate diction is essential.  From the opening number and throughout the show every word could be heard.

The musicians strongly led by Amy Bryce were excellent, and it worked well their being upstage from the cast. There were only five of them and as Amy says they were ‘small but mighty’.

The opening scene with the oversized chess pieces was visually attractive and the two levels, with stairs on each side, made for interesting settings. The chess championship took place on the upper level leaving space on the stage for the ballets.

The Arbiter is responsible for keeping the audience up to date with the happenings at the chess championship and it was interesting to see a female cast in the part.  I loved the interpretation as it made for a much more attractive character. Lisa was strong, sexy and perfect for the role.

Gareth Alber gave a good performance as the self centred Frederick Trumper and has a notable singing voice. His ‘Pity The Child’ was moving.

As his girlfriend and ‘second’, Florence Vassy, who had to tolerate his temperamental, unpredictable behaviour, Chloe Yates was

first rate. She has an incredibly powerful voice but moderated it beautifully when it was needed, and she acted out every single word she sang. The relationship between her and Anatoly was totally believable – they had great on-stage chemistry.

In that role Toby James was commendable. He was a complete contrast to the narcissistic Trumper, gentle and charming and it was easy to see why Florence would have fallen for him. His singing of ‘The Anthem’ was a highlight of the show.

Paul Bullock gave a good performance as Molokov  - manipulative and underhand - a minder as much as a ‘second’. His ‘Soviet Machine’ was a great number.

In the role of Walter de Courcey, an apparently respectable yet sly marketing agent, Didrick Finne acquitted himself very well.

‘I know Him So Well’ was beautifully sung by the two ladies and in the role of Svetlana, Ellie Skipper gave a convincing performance as the unsophisticated Russian wife. The song stands alone and didn’t need anything more happening on stage whilst they were singing it.

The various other supporting roles and members of the chorus added a great deal to the presentation of the musical, as did the ballets during the silence of the chess games.

Emma Bullock’s choreography was interesting and suitable for the different countries and the cast were well rehearsed in their movements. There was a particularly speedy change from Cheerleaders into ballet costumes!

Costumes were good and represented the various places and nationalities splendidly. The red and black theme worn with sunglasses was very striking.

Furniture was simple and mostly fine but the bed used was rather basic. In the Second Act a throw was over the head end and so it looked a little less stark. Perhaps a false headboard could have been made to soften the clinical look.

Lighting enhanced the different places and moods and the sound was good. The only time it wasn’t possible to hear the dialogue was in the reporting scene when the individual reporter’s lines were mostly spoken upstage.

The stage crew worked quickly and efficiently and the many properties used were all suitable and visually attractive, adding

much to the staging.

I noted that the Embassy Office was a particularly interesting scene and that the opening of Act Two in Bangkok was bustling and colourful.

Zak did a splendid job on the direction and presentation and had clearly put a great deal of thought into how he wanted to stage the show. ‘Chess’ was indeed a praiseworthy debut.

Your programme is well set out and is interesting to read – the two page inclusion of the story of Chess is a brilliant idea, especially considering the small amount of dialogue there is in the show.

Thank you for inviting me to see ‘Chess’. I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening and very much appreciated your kind hospitality.

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