Signature (Max) Theatre, Arlington, VA Previews: 10 Aug 2010 Opened: 29 Aug 2010 Closed: 3 Oct 2010
This production was heralded as a new reworking of the show, using elements of both the London and Broadway versions. Billed as the first major revival of the piece in America since 1993 and the first professional production to be staged in Washington. Signature had a reputation for their work on reviving neglected or unsuccessful musicals in addition to world premieres and reinventing classics. In reworking Chess they tried to refocus the core of the story on the original love triangle.
Eric Schaeffer: We've been working for three years on producing Chess and it's thrilling that all the stars have aligned to bring this musical to Washington. With Euan, Jill, and Jeremy leading the cast, it promises to be the exciting production that we've all dreamed about!
David Holcenberg: The issue has been that it's a hard story to make clear, and to get the audience emotionally committed to it.
They tried to tighten the plot and make it seem more plausible, by developing the motivation of each character and the choices they made. There seems to have been little of London incorporated into the production (though perhaps they were thinking of the visual style) and the structure was more or less the same as the 1990 US productions. Richard Nelson visited during previews and apparently altered the ending to act one but approved all the other changes that had been made.
The time location was 1986, with act one in Bangkok and act two in Budapest. The positions of Someone Else's Story and Nobody's Side were switched, so that Someone Else's Story came close to the end of act one. Story of Chess, US v USSR and Merchandisers were all cut.
Signature's Max theatre had a capacity of 276, so it was always going to be intimate, but with a budget of $750,000 the intention was to make it dazzling. The stage was on two levels, with a spiral stair case on one side and traditional stairs on the other. Lined with strip lighting and with four video screens, it had the look of a mid 80s night club. The screens were used to show snippets of Ronald Reagan's "evil empire" speech, historic footage of Russian tanks invading Budapest and close ups of the cast.
The orchestra was a 10-piece ensemble, located on a corner perch to the side and above the stage. On stage there was a chorus of ten, plus the seven leads. The chorus were clad in black leather, semi combat style gear. The choreography used elements of pop video dance styles of the MTV video age and many scenes were given a pop video feel.
The production was generally very well received and did such good business that it was extended by an extra week.
Eric Schaeffer: It’s wonderful to see packed houses rocking out to this amazing score and breathtaking performances night after night. We’ve been breaking box office records and wanted to give more people the opportunity to experience this special theatrical event.
Song / Scene List
Setting - Bangkok 1986 and Budapest a few months later
PROLOGUE MUSIC {CUT} The Story of Chess APUKAD Ronald Reagan Speech - Focas of evil.... on video screens WHAT A SCENE Press questions, Freddie attacks reporter... Anatoly and Molokov WHERE I WANT TO BE Walter & Freddie, Florence - advertising etc Anatoly and Molokov & delegate - re Florence and Freddie Freddie and Florence - Florence tries to rein in Freddie's excess, shows chess move HOW MANY WOMEN? {CUT} The Merchandisers {CUT} US v USSR THE ARBITER (Arrangements more like Stockholm...) Molokov & Florence - re the chairs... THE ARBITER (Continued) {CUT} CHESS 1 Yoghurt QUARTET Molokov & Florence arranging the reconciliation meeting Walter, Flo and Freddie - Discuss press coverage, the proposed meeting and Freddie's yoghurt issue YOU WANT TO LOSE YOU ONLY FRIEND NOBODY'S SIDE ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK Restaurant Dialogue TERRACE DUET WHO'D EVER THINK IT CHESS 2 FLORENCE QUITS TASTE OF PITY SOMEONE ELSE'S STORY Underground Car Park: Walter, Flo and Anatoly - defection Reporters ANTHEM
HUNGARIAN FOLK SONG Florence, Anatoly & Walter in a church HEAVEN HELP MY HEART Freddie and Reporter, then Walter NO CONTEST Reporter - the opening of the Budapest portion of the tournament Anatoly and Florence, Anatoly's friends and news of Svetlana in Budapest YOU AND I YOU KNEW BETTER / YOU AND I - Svetalan Molokov and Anatoly Reporter - Anatoly holding lead 5 to 3, but Freddie has won two in a row FREDDIE GOES METAL Report - 5/4 to Anatoly Walter & Molokov - Florence's father... LET'S WORK TOGETHER Florence and Walter re her father... Svetlana passes by with Molokov... Anatoly re his nephew's accident I KNOW HIM SO WELL Anatoly and Florence - re her father and the need for a week long postponement Freddie being interviewed, Florence asks for the postponement PITY THE CHILD Walter & Anatoly re no postponement, he has to play or forfeit ENDGAME Anatoly throws the game Airport: Anatoly and Svetlana then Anatoly and Florence YOU AND I Molokov, Walter & Florence Gregor & Florence APUKAD Music only, no singing and fading out rather than ending on a crescendo Nobody's Side (Reprise) used as curtain call piece
Videos
The Cast
Florence: Jill Paice Freddie: Jeremy Kushnier Anatoly: Euan Morton Svetlana: Elasha Gamble Molokov: Christopher Bloch Walter: Russell Sunday The Arbiter: Chris Sizemore
The Chorus: Michael Kramer (Gregor) Gregory Maheu (Nikolai) Jonathan Atkinson, Jamie Eacker, James Gardiner, Gregory Maheu, Katie McManus, Christopher Mueller, Bayla Whitten, Rachel Zampelli
The Creative Team
Director: Eric Schaeffer Choreography: Karma Camp Scenic Design: Daniel Conway Costume Design: Kathleen Geldard Lighting Design: Chris Lee Sound Design: Matt Rowe Projection Design: Aaron Fisher Music Supervision and Orchestrations: David Holcenberg