The Stephen Sondheim Society

The music for Chess is one of my favourite non-Sondheim scores but the book fails to deliver it's ambitious aspirations. I think I'm going to wait for more casting news before I make a decision...

If you are thinking of going dont wait long - I booked last weekend and heavily booked, just checked now and its pratically sold out for both nights.

I would underline this - I bought tickets for Chess and also for Candide a couple of days ago and they were going fast for both events!

Last night cast of Chess INCLUDING Idina Menzel were in Joe Allens restaurant in Covent Garden..........

I have tickets for next Tuesday. Wonder if they will be eating there then!

Even if they are not there its a great post theatre place with Jimmy at the piano! AND they serve till late!

That sounds great! I may check that out.

Do you know where it is? Exeter Street. Opposite stage door of Lyceum - Lion King. Dont be put off by the small entrance with green canopy - its a different world once inside. Relaxed, theatre orientated, Jimmy playing show tunes after 9 pm. Not expensive. If you want a burger they are available but not on menu so just ask. Tel 020 7836 0651. If you are going by bus from RAH get off at Strand Palace Hotel in the Strand. Have my tickets for Chess for Monday and cant wait!

Thanks for the info and recommendation Alfredo.

Well Porcupine?
What did you think? Hope the camera brigade were not out in such force as they were on Monday night! Its the blue rinse brigade with their mobiles and cams who are the worst!

Great performances from Josh, Idina and Kerry especially, but not over impressed with Adam Pascal. I thought the chorus was brilliant - well rehearsed musically and visually (loved their little actions and stuff). I liked the choreography generally (especially the portrayal of chess matches as ballet).
I have never heard any music from Chess before (apart from I Know Him So Well. Benny and Bjorn's score was therefore a revelation (yes I know it came out in the '80s but it just seems to have passed me by!) It's one thing to sustain a coherent musical argument throughout a 3 minute pop song (which they did brilliantly in ABBA), but quite another to achieve this across a time span of over 2 hours. The differing styles (encompassing Bach, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev as well as the pop/rock styles) were expertly done - every note was original even in the pastiches (which is more than can be said for another noted collaborator of Tim Rice's).
The only thing which spoiled it was the appalling sound mix - I was "up in the gods" (in the circle actually) and could not get a single word of what was going on. In fact I was almost as clueless about the story after the show as I was before the show! It clearly wasn't the singers' fault, and I know the RAH is an acoustic nightmare especially in the upper seats, but for me it was the aural equivalent of a "restricted view", and the tickets weren't cheap!
Oh - and yes - the cameras were very noticeable, presumably they were filming it for a DVD or something.

Yeah a DVD is due out at Christmas time

Lots of complaints have been generated about the sound. Check out Whats on Stage for the slagging off ! I guess the sound engineers will try and iron it out for the DVD.

It was rumoured that this concert version was a possible tryout for a full staging. I would dearly love to see this piece as the score is amazing but I hear the book is a real mess and all the different versions over the years have never managed to sort it out … although judging by the current state of the West End I doubt no producer could stage it and do it full justice. Perhaps the NT or ENO are the only way this show could come to life

Sound not a lot better sitting downstairs too! Think Porcupine summed it up well. But overall a VERY exciting night which I would not have missed for the world. Better than the Palladium......... Talking to the TV recording guys outside (as you do!) I gathered that it was also being recorded for showing on American TV as well as for DVD so TV might come first. BBC where are you????? Whats the next exciting thing to look forward to? Wizard of Oz at RFH?!!!!

Yes sound was very bad, I was sitting in the stalls. Fortunately I know the score pretty well but my friend who did not know it at all couldnt follow it at all. Production was superb, especially the chorus and the organ. Judging by the number of people filming it on their phones/cameras you should be able to see most of the show on youtube. As for performances, Josh Groban and Kerry Ellis stole the show for me. Im a big Idina Menzel fan but she was not on top form and if the dress circle forum is anything to go by most people felt the same. But wouldnt have missed it for the world and made up for the Jerry Herman fiasco. Liza Minnelli at the end of the month so hope thats going to be wonderful.