First Concerts: 26 - 29 January 2012 Second Concerts: 12 - 15 Dec, Tokyo and 20 - 22 Dec 2013 Osaka Staged Version: 27 Sep - 12 Oct, Tokyo and 19 - 25 Oct 2015 Osaka
The history of this production begins in 2012, when it was first staged as a concert. There was a further set of concerts in 2013 and then a more staged version in 2015.
The main leads remained the same for all three outings, with the exception of the Arbiter, which had a different performer for each production.
The basic song order for the concerts was exactly the same as in the London original, but with Someone Else's Story added to just before The Deal. Pity the Child 2 (A Taste of Pity) came between The Deal and I Know Him So Well. The 2015 staged version introduced a few repositions. Most interestingly, Someone Else's Story was sung by Freddie and positioned in Act Two just after The Deal. I Know Him So Well came after Endgame.
2012/13 Concerts Song List
Prologue The Story Of Chess Merano/What A Scene! What A Joy! Commie Newspapers Press Conference Molokov And Anatoly Where I Want To Be Difficult And Dangerous Times The Arbiter Hymn To Chess The Merchandisers Global TV Fanfare Chess Game 1 The Arbiter (Reprise) Quartet Florence And Molokov 1956 – Budapest Is Rising Nobody’s Side Mountain Duet Chess Game 2 Florence Quits Pity The Child 1 Embassy Lament Heaven Help My Heart Anatoly and the Press Anthem
Golden Bangkok One Night In Bangkok One More Opponent You And I The Soviet Machine The Interview Someone Else’s Story The Deal (No Deal) Pity The Child 2 I Know Him So Well Talking Chess Endgame You And I (Reprise) Walter And Florence Anthem (Reprise)
2015 Staged Version Song List
1956 - Budapest is Rising Prologue The Story of Chess Diplomats and Dangerous Times The Merchandisers Commie Newspapers Press Conference Anatoly and Molokov Where I Want to Be Merano The Arbiter Hymn to Chess Pity the Child Chess Game Florence and Molokov Quartet 1956 - Budapest is Rising Nobody's Side Mountain Duet Florence Quits Embassy Lament Heaven Help My Heart Anatoly and the Press Anthem
The Golden Bangkok One Night in Bangkok One More Opponent You and I The Soviet Machine Interview The Deal Someone Else's Story (Sung by Freddie) Endgame I Know Him So Well You and I (Reprise) Walter and Florence Epilogue
Someone Else's Story - Sung by Freddie
Thanks to George Bourdaniotis,here is a translation of the Japanese lyrics to Freddie's version of...
Someone Else's Story Long ago, there was someone with my name One day, he fell in love, whispering a pact of love to each other As time went on he couldn't keep the promises But he didn't necessarily forget the love Completely 'it's someone else's story'* Like it's someone else's story** Yesterday even when the time to part comes, it goes unnoticed It's sad, but both drifted away from love If only both had held out
Should he have yelled and made a fuss Hard to know, he wants to make up If it was someone else's story Why do my arms hurt? Can we not meet again?
I want to turn back the hand of time and grab my own arm on that day And stop myself If this was my story
* lyrics in English ** explains the English used in the line above in Japanese
2012 Concerts
2013 Concerts
The Musical 2015
Merchandice
There does not seem to have been very much merchandise, but there was a set of plastic folders for the 2013 concerts and a different set for 2015. No T-shirts were for sale, but a very nice one was designed for cast and crew, a picture of which is shown below. (Thanks George Bourdaniotis for 3rd Pic)