(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Artswest's Production of CHESS; Super Cray Cray!

JEALOUS?      /AWPG

by MK Scott

It was 1986 when I first heard about a HIT Rock musical from London called "Chess" and my High School Drama Department went 'Chess Crazy', similar to the 'Rent' Craze of the 90's and the 'Spring Awakening' Craze of the 2000's. With Chess it had a hit song, Murray Head's 'One Night in Bangkok' playing on the radio and MTV on a regular basis. My classmates were passing Cassette tapes of the soundtrack and My High School Choir performed Selections from Chess during the Winter 1987 concert with staging, lighting, choreography, and black or white T-shirts. Fast Forward 26 Years later as I saw a fully staged production at Seattle's Artswest Playhouse this past Friday.

Anatoly and Fro's secret meeting/AWPG

According to Wikipedia, Chess is a musical with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, formerly of ABBA, and with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story involves a romantic triangle between two top chess players, an American and a Russian, in a world chess championship, and a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other; all in the context of a Cold War struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union, during which both countries wanted to win international chess tournaments for propaganda purposes. Although the protagonists were not intended to represent any specific individuals, the character of the American was loosely based on chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer, while elements of the story may have been inspired by the chess careers of Russian grandmasters Viktor Korchnoi and Anatoly Karpov.

As had been done with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Evita, a highly successful concept album of Chess was released in 1984. The first theatrical production of Chess opened in London's West End in 1986 and played for three years. A much-altered U.S. version premièred on Broadway in 1988, but survived only for two months. Chess is frequently revised for new productions, many of which try to merge elements from both the London and Broadway versions; however, no major revival production of the musical has yet been attempted either on West End or Broadway.

Chess came seventh in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the U.K.'s "Number One Essential Musicals."

Artswest's production was directed by the former Artistic Director, Christopher Zinovitch and the cast was part of the summer apprenticeship program.

The crowd went wild, when Freddy ripped off his shirt!/AWPG

Ryan Floresca was a Rock Star as Freddy and got huge whistles when he performed, 'One Night in Bangkok" shirtless.

Chelsea Gilpin as Florence, totally embraced her role as an 80's new wave fashion plate as well as well with a bleached spikey pixie cut. She brought something new to the role, that I had not known before as a Euro Trash American import from her homeland of Hungary to playing Chess for America to falling in love with her russian opponent, Anatoly.

Sebastian Floyd Hurlburt as Anatoly, played it straight literally and singing 'Anthem' was his crowning achievement as he  wrestled between Love of Florence and the Love for his 2 little boys. The Game of Chess was only the catalyst.

The Cattiness of Flo and Malokov was a Highlight/AWPG

Casting the roles of the Arbiter and Molokov with women was inspired (Realistically men would be in those positions in 1986). But it worked and it created some Cattiness. between them and Florence.

The set, designed by  Zinovitch, was inventive with revolving staircases and the moving stage that was also used as a bed.

As a 'Chess' Fan of 26 plus years, the production did not disappoint. It is a Testament of the 80's and perhaps one of only shows from the 80's about the 80's.

By the way, My High School eventually stage a full production of Chess in 1999 with an

elaborate set and costumes (Portland sensation,  Orianna Herrman lead singer of the band, Oracle, played Florence) and was the Last Musical our director, James N. Erickson staged at the school before he retired.

Chess closed on July 27th. For info on the next Artswest season, click here.