It's still checkmate for 'Chess in Concert'

The fish stinks at the head... the director. But still, a spectacular score!
This concert version was a bit too over orchestrated for my taste. The original had more rock n' roll grit.
Adam Pascal. It took him a while to get there, but vocally, he's still got that rock edge and amazing range.(What moron dressed him all in white? Who cares about the chess symbolism. For theater lighting and television it's just wrong!)
Josh Groban. Great voice! I think that there is nothing the guy can't sing. It all seems so easy for him and therein lies his drawback as a performer. It all looks and sounds so easy for him. The audience is just pleasantly pleased. If he could just pretend once in a while that he is struggling through a bridge or fighting for a note we might all come along for the ride.
Idina Menzel. Fine job for a difficult role, but this role is vocally a bit out of her depth. While she has the belt and a clear vocal tone to her voice, it is too tinny in the duets for my taste. While she may have (sort of) rocked out in the musical "Rent" this type of rock,(an earlier and truer form), asks for a voice with a fuller range and meatier tone.
In the original production Judy Kuhn vocally, made a meal out of this role but suffered the same fate as Mr. Grobin does in his acting.
David Bedella. Good and not so good. Good voice although horribly weak in the lower register (and a lot of acting). In the role of "Molokov", it's having that meat and depth in the lower vocal register that separates this role from the others. Was he miscast? I don't know.
And, in the future, if some choreographer asks you to perform a well known, recognizable step from "Fiddler on the Roof" made famous by Topal or Zero Mostel, tell them "hell no"... unless you plan to put on 30 pounds around your stomach,(because that is the only way that that particular step works) or, commit to your own version of it.
Kerry Ellis. If she could sing like Patti Lupone I might be able to forgive her lousy diction, but she suffers from this same disconcerting trend as many other current theatrical leading ladies.
The musical arrangement and conceptual changes for the "Merchandisers" song was atrocious!
The original arrangement, an almost exotic Italianate anthem, sets up the satire and paradox of the scene and the song's lyrics perfectly. You know, "Modern Marketing" juxtaposed against "Old World Charm.
In this concert's version, the new concept and music arrangement (also by the director) reduces it to a Marching Band number for "Cheerleaders" and a Rah! Rah! Crowd. The lyrics and concept of the original song are rendered meaningless as regards to the location and story. Why not just cut the song if it has nothing to do with advancing the story?(I'll give you a hint, director's vanity).
Like most productions directed by British director/designers this concert version over emphasizes visual concept without regard to story or the people onstage.
British directors in general also have the prevailing attitude that choreographers are only there to provide "steps" while the director provides the "art". So naturally, these types of directors hire the type of choreographer that can only do just that. Sadly, this attitude prevails in this concert version.
While the dancers are strong and competent, the choreography itself is embarrassingly parochial and naive. It lacks in precision (the sign of a choreographer who can't break down complex music). Certain dance styles (ethnic and period) were naively reproduced in almost a juvenile manner (a sign that the choreographer doesn’t have much knowledge outside the modern dance lexicon), and the rest (staging, transitions, entrances and exits) distracting and nearly insulting in their repetition and lack of inventiveness.
I would have much preferred to see it without any staging at all.

So you liked it then?!!!
Was there any redeeming aspect in this production in your eyes J H B? In future I would recommend you steer clear of pop musicals written by ABBA if you are expecting cutting edge avant garde theatre.
Lets address your "issues";-
-The director is very well respected and specialises in staging large scale concert productions at the Royal Albert Hall (so I guess thats why he got the nod) the problems with "chess" as a peice certainly do not begin and end with Mr. Wooldridge.
-So no one can ever wear white in theatre? nonsense.
- Josh Groban is only "pleasing" because he's TOO good, righto.
- Idina is not meaty enough?
- Badella is too thin, wow it's getting personal now.(and no he was not miscast. Use some imagination.)
- Kerry Ellis (who appears to be a favourite among the fans) has bad diction, that's a new one to me.
- The Merchandisers song was atrocious was it? In fact it was not that far from the original score, a couple of lyric improvements (by Tim Rice) but the tone and feel of the song is identical to that of the concept album, maybe you've been listening to the dismal and discredited Broadway version?
- Love your good ol' fashioned "Brit Bashing", obviously we know nothing of theatre and only use big sets and fancy lights? In fact this production of Chess was intended right from the off to tell the story (as no previous production has successfully done), the director was painstaking in his attention to character and detail.
- The choreography is what it is. Minimal, on a small stage, and designed to highten the mood during the (mainly orchestral) chess games. I think it was really rather good.
- Hopefully the next time you see theatre it will be done without any staging so you can smugly tell yourself that you still "got it" regardless, amazingly most people want musicals to be an involving experience- I recommend you stay at home and read a libretto.
ps. I was in it and you are incorrect in most of your opinions- had fun sparring tho.

You're full of crap. It's excellent. If bombastic is too much for you, go see a play.

Crap is a banned word? Give me a break.(I could've used the "s" word.)

Exactly charlie... why did I write so much? you summed it up in one ***.

I completely disagree. I think this revival is amazing. This show WAS the one the got away and now I think it can really propel itself back to the mainstage. I hope to see new productions of this fantastic show. Including this cast would be the best thing for it as well.

JJlondon wrote:

So you liked it then?!!!
Was there any redeeming aspect in this production in your eyes J H B? In future I would recommend you steer clear of pop musicals written by ABBA if you are expecting cutting edge avant garde theatre.
Lets address your "issues";-
-The director is very well respected and specialises in staging large scale concert productions at the Royal Albert Hall (so I guess thats why he got the nod) the problems with "chess" as a peice certainly do not begin and end with Mr. Wooldridge.
-So no one can ever wear white in theatre? nonsense.
- Josh Groban is only "pleasing" because he's TOO good, righto.
- Idina is not meaty enough?
- Badella is too thin, wow it's getting personal now.(and no he was not miscast. Use some imagination.)
- Kerry Ellis (who appears to be a favourite among the fans) has bad diction, that's a new one to me.
- The Merchandisers song was atrocious was it? In fact it was not that far from the original score, a couple of lyric improvements (by Tim Rice) but the tone and feel of the song is identical to that of the concept album, maybe you've been listening to the dismal and discredited Broadway version?
- Love your good ol' fashioned "Brit Bashing", obviously we know nothing of theatre and only use big sets and fancy lights? In fact this production of Chess was intended right from the off to tell the story (as no previous production has successfully done), the director was painstaking in his attention to character and detail.
- The choreography is what it is. Minimal, on a small stage, and designed to highten the mood during the (mainly orchestral) chess games. I think it was really rather good.
- Hopefully the next time you see theatre it will be done without any staging so you can smugly tell yourself that you still "got it" regardless, amazingly most people want musicals to be an involving experience- I recommend you stay at home and read a libretto.
ps. I was in it and you are incorrect in most of your opinions- had fun sparring tho.

JJLondon -- You were IN the production? I SWOON! I never saw any of the original productions, so I'm a neophyte regarding how it "should" be done. I was thrilled to see that it was being produced as a concert and made sure to record it. Since then, I have watched it over and over and over. My negative comments are that I thought the story was quite depressing (justified, perhaps, but still depressing); and that a couple of the leads had voices that nearly sent me screaming into the night...but I still LOVED the production and am totally envious that you got to perform in it.(Some of those cheerleaders were almost TOO adorable -- made me wish I were a Brit). Congrats on having been part of a wonderful concert. Next time I watch it, I'll wave at you (well, I'll just wave in general and trust that you are in there somewhere).