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| Performance dates: | 3-8 April 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Venue: | The Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke | ||||||||||||||||||
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'Chess' was written during the Cold War by Tim Rice and Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus (of Abba fame), and deals with much of the political nastiness that was happening behind closed doors during the period. As such, it tends to focus on the dark side of human nature. Whilst the music is beautiful, it is also very difficult. The chorus work is very complex, and there are very few men around who can sing 'Pity the Child'.The show is now somewhat dated following the thaw in East-West relationships, but still has the power to grab if performed properly.
The idea for Chess was conceived by Tim Rice around 1980. It was to be a story about a love triangle tangled up within the World Chess Championships between America and Russia. Tim Rice had an interest in chess, followed the game and occasionally played. In 1972 a new era began in the chess world when the Russian world champion of the time, Boris Spassky, was challenged by an American chess genius, Bobby Fischer, in Iceland. Fischer was an obnoxious, self-centred primadonna who voiced his opinions readily, complaining about everything from the colour of the squares on the board to the noise of childrens' sweet wrappers. These actions dramatically altered peoples ideas of the game as boring - it was East versus West and at the peak of the Cold War the world's attention was grabbed.
The aim of Tim Rice' story was not about the game of chess itself but rather to mirror it such a way that the actual players become pawns in a political game. It has also been hinted by Tim Rice himself that the story of the Russian players double life mirrored his own relationships.
'Chess' begins with a description of the invention, and early history of the
game of Chess (Song: The Story of Chess)
A match for the World Championship has been announced for the Tirolean town of
Merano in Northern Italy. The citizens and mayor of Merano are ready
to greet the arrival of the American champion, Freddie Trumper, in full
civic splendour. Trumper arrives during the celebrations, and snubs the awaiting
reception committee, leaving handshakes and apologies to be made by his
second, Florence Vassy. Other members of his delegation
include Walter de Courcey, the CIA 'Manager' of the team. His behaviour
is a calculated attempt to raise interest and ensure that there is
Standing Room Only (S.R.O.) at the match.(Song: Merano)
We then enter the Russian camp of the challenger Anatoly Sergievsky, where they
have been discussing the latest outburst by Freddie Trumper at a press
conference. The sinister KGB man, Molokov, has explained his ideas for
'off-the-board' tactics, with particular reference to
Florence. Anatoloy prefers to play chess and escape from his
so-called friends. 'They called me their friend, I hardly knew them.'
Song: The Crazy Wheel
The Russian and American delegates meet in the Arbiter's chambers for friendly
discussions - but the undertones of the veneer of
sportsmanship are far from friendly.(Song: The US versus USSR).
The rules of the match are clear: the first man to win six games will be
declared the new world champion; drawn games will not count. Now the Arbiter
asserts his authority. 'From square one, I'll be watching all sixty-four'.(Song: The Arbiters song)
No sooner have the players and officials declared their dedication to the pure
and noble spirit of the game of Chess, than the stage is taken over by the
marketing men determined to make a financial killing by exploiting the
match. 'We are here to tell you, we are here to sell you Chess'.(Song: The Merchandisers)
The match then begins, and Freddie wins two games quickly. The next game,
however, ends in uproar after the players, irritated by each other's disturbing
mannerisms, and even a kick under the table, come to blows and upset the
board. Freddie storms out, leaving Florence, Molokov and the Arbiter to sort out
the mess with Anatoly.(Song: Quartet - A Model of Decorum and Tranquility)
Florence has arranged a meeting with Anatoly in a mountainside inn. Freddie has
also not been idle, but has negotiated improved financial conditions for a
resumption of play. He is annoyed that Florence, a former Hungarian, is
doing business with the Russians. The two row and Freddie leaves Florence alone
to review their relationship.(Song: Nobody's side)
Florence and Anatoly meet at the Inn. For some time they both wait for Freddie,
not speaking to each other. In his continuing absence they finally talk,
admit their attraction for each other, and end in an embrace. The mood is
broken by Freddie's entrance. He accuses Florence of plotting with the very
country which deprived her of her father in Hungary in 1956. 'Where's
Daddy? Dead or in the KGB?'.(Song: Mountainside duet)
The match between Trumper and Sergievsky is resumed, but the American goes
quickly downhill. Five-Two down and with a hopeless position in an
unfinished game, he is on the verge of losing his title. To add to his
troubles, Florence finally deserts him. Left alone, Freddie remembers the
unhappy childhood which led to his present state of
emotional isolation. (Song: Pity the child).
Sergievsky is proclaimed the new champion. The Russians rejoice but their mood
changes to anger when the hero of the moment breaks from their ranks
and runs off with Florence. The news comes that he is
applying for political asylum in Britain. At the consulate, however, the civil
servants sound less impressed than they might be. 'Far too many jokers
cross the border.' (Song: Embassy Lament)
As the formalities for Anatoly's defection go through, Florence anticipates the
problems of her new relationship, and where it will lead. (Song: Heaven help my heart)
Anatoly is surprised to be ambushed by reporters, tipped off by CIA man Walter,
seeking to make political capital from his defection. He denies that he is
leaving anything, and alone tells of the love for his own land.
(Song: Anthem)
The second act begins in Bangkok, one year later, where Sergievsky is now
defending his title against the new Soviet challenger, Leonid Viigand.
Ex-champion Trumper is there again, but this time apparently only as a TV
Reporter.(Song: One night in Bangkok)
The Russian camp are showing signs of worry. Molokov puts them at their ease by
extolling the virtues of their automaton-like champion, Viigand, and
explaining his plans to disconcert Anatoly by arranging a confrontation
with his wife. Cheered by the plotting, they drink themselves into a stupor.(Song: The Soviet Machine)
Svetlana, Anatoly's wife, arrives in Bangkok. She and Florence sing about their
very different impressions of the man they both love, and think they know
so well. (Song: I know him so well)
The pressures mount on Anatoly as his match with Viigand reaches its Climax. He
must win the last game to retain his title, but he is encouraged to throw
in the game in order to ensure the freedom of Florence's father, now
discovered to be alive in the Soviet Union by Walter.
(Song: Endgame)
Anatoly has won the final game brilliantly. Now he realises that the only
solution to his other problems is for him to return to the Soviet Union. He and
Florence sing of the unhappy end to their romance. 'But we go on
pretending, stories like ours have happy endings'.(Song:
You and I)
Once Anatoly has left, Walter comes across Florence at the airport, and in a final act of spite informs her that they will get her father out of Siberia, assuming that he is still alive....... Florence closes off with an emotional song relating to the inhumanity around her. (Song: Epilogue - Using Our Lives for Nothing)
The show plays out to the Song: The Story of Chess