October 15th saw the opening of the first Broadway revival of the musical “Chess” at the Imperial Theatre. Interestingly enough, not only can it be done with a very small or very large cast, but every major production has had a very different book and plot. This revival is no exception, as Danny Strong was brought in to rewrite the book for this production.
The show recounts a fictional story of chess matches between an American and a Russian during the Cold War, complete with CIA and KGB subterfuge. This production stars Aaron Tveit as Freddie Trumper, the American chess player, Nicholas Christopher as Anatoly Sergievsky, the Russian chess player, and Lea Michele as Florence Vassy, the woman who works with both.
“Chess” was originally written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus with lyrics by Tim Rice. The Concept Album doesn’t name either chess player, referring to them only as “The American” and “The Russian,” though each received a name when the show was produced on the West End. Music videos were created, resulting in “One Night in Bangkok” and “I Know Him So Well” leading the music to popularity, soaring high on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK singles charts, respectively.
Chess opened on the West End in 1986, running for about three years. The sets had a daring amount of technology for the time, which worked. The short-lived Broadway production in 1988 had a less flamboyant set and more dialogue than its British counterpart. Over time, other countries did their own take on the production, rearranging the plot and adding/subtracting songs to fit their new narrative.
Chess was saved by its cult following and has had many concert productions around the world, including a 2003 Actors Fund of America Benefit Concert. In true concert fashion, the actors on stage were with the orchestra, with no set or costumes. Tim Rice is reported to have said that the 2009 concert at the Royal Albert Hall was the official version, as it combined points of plot and incorporated music from many different productions. This over-the-top concert was complete with costumes and a giant choir and supporting cast, though it had a minimal set, relying on screens to help provide context for the location. Nonetheless, a CD was released, and it was recorded as a PBS Great Performances production. This 2009 production is a personal favorite.
Kathryn McElfresh
Staff Reporter
