Chess

CHESS is a very ambitious musical for any amateur society to take on .As its predominantly sung, with very little relaxing time for script between the music. The show opens with the story of Chess, and where and how the game developed over the centuries into the game we know today.

We are introduced to the main characters, in the Italian Tyrolean town of Merano, which is the venue of the World Chess Championship between arrogant American World Champion Frederick Trumper played by James Manning, and Russian Challenger Anatoly Sergievsky played by James hutchison, along with their seconds and entourage. Hungarian refugee Florence Vassey for Freddie, played by Jenni Hutchinson, and Rosa Molokov, played by Sara Royle head of the Russian Delegation. The other major role is played by Tess Ellison, as the spurned wife of Anatoly, Svetlana. Other parts were played by Steph Bradshaw as the Arbiter, the Chess referee, and Alex Lehninger as Freddie’s publicist Walter De Courcey.

The musical numbers were well sung. I particularly enjoyed the famous duet ‘I Know Him So Well’ sung by Florence and Svetlana. Freddie’s rendering of ‘One Night In Bangkok, was very good , but I felt the company could have been more raunchily dressed.They looked more like trippers to Blackpool than Bangkok.’Anthem’ was superbly sung by James Hutchinson, but I would have liked a little more feeling from him, during the number. He stood very statuesque during the song. All in all and on balance the show was very well performed, but I felt occasionally the dancers encroached a little too much during poignant parts of the plot.

The set was excellent, and I loved the projections, as to where the the specific scenes were being played. Im a great fan of minimal furniture and props to help the show move at a good pace but a prop or two during specific scenes , may have helped the actors.

The orchestra was well led by Colin Brind, and the sound and lighting were excellent throughout. The show was well directed by Chris Briggs, I know how hard he must have worked, the same applies to  the whole company for that matter.

Despite my little winges here and there the show is a great credit to KAOS. I hope they can take my comments, the way they are intended, as constructive criticism.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.