This version of Chess is completely different than any others that have come before.
All of the action is set within 4 days, all in Merano. Consequently,
much of the show has been re-written. There are many very, very nice
things about this production, and the
DVD version of it. My thanks to Karin in advance for her review, which helps me
figure out what’s going on! 🙂 Also, if you’re an English-speaker watching
the DVD,
this site has a great translation of the lyrics.
Act One begins with an overture, which is new right off the bat. This time is used on
the DVD for the credits. The stage looks absolutely huge, with fairly small sets that
seem to add to the wide open space. As the show starts,
a light snow is falling in Moscow in 1986, where Anatoly is preparing to leave for
the World Chess Championship in Italy. He and Svetlana argue about the trip –
Svetlana is furious with her husband that he always leaves her behind when he goes
West, and she claims that he neglects his family.
Before he goes, he sings “The Story of Chess” to his son. “Where I Want to Be” takes
place as he travels to the airport (through the streets and subway of Moscow :-).
The Tyrolean band comes out of the pit to start “Merano”, but the arriving Freddie
is anything but impressed. He disparages the town before throwing his drink on
Anatoly, leaving Florence to apologize. Anatoly and Molokov argue over Freddie’s
mental state, which Florence and Freddie argue about his behaviour. This is
“You Want to Lose Your Only Friend”, although its been re-written so that part-way
into it, the music shifts to an instrumental choral passage, during which we flash
back to the Hungarian uprising. I loved the lighting here, and the tank is incredible!
Not to mention the beautiful music. The adult Florence tries to intervene as her
father is taken away, but Freddie restrains her. Back in the present, the argument
continues and Florence storms out.
The scene shifts to a bar, where “One Night in Bangkok” is playing. 🙂 Freddie dances
with some girls and leaves just as Florence arrives. She lets herself go to forget
about her troubles, singing “Nobody’s Side”, drinking, and dancing on the bar. 🙂
Day Two. The Arbiter’s song has a new techno sound to it – I didn’t recognize it at
first. He is very strict – he wants to see chess and nothing more. The chorus sing
one of the melodies from the London version’s press conference at the end of the
chorus. Freddie can’t even behave for the whole of the song.
The game starts, with an instrumental backing. I loved the camera angle swinging all
the way around and showing the audience. Things start to look bad for Freddie, and
he loses his temper and walks out. Florence tries to do damage control in “The Quartet”.
There is a verse with music from “You want to lose your only friend”, where Florence
makes an attack on Molokov, accusing him of having her father’s blood on his hands.
Florence goes to a bar, where she is berated a bit more by the Arbiter. Anatoly
arrives. Florence tells him she is about to leave, but he doesn’t buy it.
They start to talk, Anatoly obviously a bit curious about her, but with her brushing
him off completely. He brings up Budapest, and sympathizes with her. Then he asks her
about her and Freddie, and suddenly she tells him everything about their arguments
in “Someone Else’s Story”.
Anatoly grabs Florence and they escape his bodyguards and Molokov. Anatoly and Florence start to
search for an embassy as Anatoly has decided
that he wants to change his life and move to the West where he can live in freedom
and follow his long forgotten dreams. Molokov alerts
the secret police, and Svetlana and Anatoly’s son are taken from a church in Moscow,
to be brought to Merano for emotional blackmail. When Anatoly and Florence crash
an embassy party, the press finds out about the intended desertion, and are fascinated with the
“scandal”. Florence and Anatoly sing their
“Mountain Duet”, which surrounded by reporters asking them questions. I love the camera
here too, acting as one of the press.
Freddie is confronted by reports of Florence and Antatoly seen together. He acts
cool in front of the press, but once on his own, he reveals his fear in a short
“Pity the Child”, admitting that
Florence was right when she said she was his only friend.
Florence talks a bit about her memories of her father, to the tune of the Hungarian
lullaby from the London recording. she asks him what he’s feeling. He tries to put
his feelings about leaving his homeland into words with his “Anthem”.
Day Three. The second act begins with Florence picking up her things at Freddie’s.
They have a heated argument – Freddie is very jealous, and terrified that she is
leaving him. Florence accuses Freddie of ruining their relationship by always
bringing up her childhood when he wants to manipulate her. As she runs out, she tells
him to call his mother – I’m not sure if this was meant to be ironic, if she knew
about his childhood, or if she just meant he was being childish. Either way, it leads
into “Pity the Child”, as Svetlana also arrives in Merano.
Anatoly returns to his hotel room to find Svetlana, who flings the article about him
and Florence in his face. Molokov and some others are present to keep an eye on them.
They sing “Endgame”, where Anatoly revolts against all those around him that are
trying to control his life. Meanwhile, Florence comes to terms with exactly what she
feels for Anatoly.
Svetlana has a new song of her own, called “He’s a Man, He’s a Child”.
She tells the audience about how she met Anatoly, and that she now feels neglected,
but that she is still prepared to fight to get him back.
Anatoly and Florence meet in a market. People are thrilled to see them
together, and everyone is happy. That is, until Freddie arrives. This leads into
“The Deal”. Freddie is drunk and tries to convince Anatoly that Florence isn’t
worthwhile, and tries to pick a fight with him. Anatoly doesn’t get worked up though,
and calls Freddie a coward. There is no fight, so Freddie turns to Florence and
accuses her of ruining everything. He reaches out to touch her, but she hits his arm
away, and he leaves quietly.
Florence and Anatoly stand gazing at each other while above them an elaborate trapeze
number takes place. Eventually they sing “You and I”, while the trapeze continues
above them. The melody of the verses has been changed. There is then a small reprise
of the Arbiter’s song.
Florence and Svetlana meet and sing “I Know Him So Well”. It’s more of an argument
between the two – they both want Anatoly and are both prepared to fight for him.
Anatoly comes to Molokov and says that he wants to see his son. Molokov makes clear
that Anatoly has to make a choice – he must forfeit the game due to “illness”, and
go back to Russia, where he will tell the press that the past week has been a mistake.
On the other hand, if he chooses to stay with Florence, Molokov says he will not be
able to say what will happen to Anatoly’s family.
Anatoly is devestated and furious.
He can’t believe that Molokov can
betray him like this. Here Molokov also has been given a song of his own, where he
tells Anatoly that he himself has had to make sacrifices (including giving
up his own true love) for his country, as it is his duty.
Day Four. The final game. Anatoly makes his choice, and loses the game. Freddie is
triumphantly carried out, with admirers and the press trailing after him.
Florence and Anatoly are left alone. They sing a reprise of “You and I”, mingled
with a reprise of the “Story of Chess”.
Anatoly leaves with his son, and Florence is left alone.
The cast is really wonderful, particularly Helen Sjöholm as Florence! I also really
like both Tommy Körberg and Anders Ekborg as well. The only person
that I don’t love is Rolf Skoglund as the Arbiter, but that’s pretty minor overall.
The second disc of the DVD contains a “Making of” special that also looks very interesting.
However, my only real complaint about the whole DVD in general, is that I wish they
would have included an option for English subtitles! Obviously they would have known that
English fans of the show would be interested in seeing it, and it would make it a
lot easier for us to follow what’s going on. But still, the fact that a show is in
another language has never stopped me from enjoying it, and it certainly doesn’t here
either. If you’re a Chess fan, you *must* get this recording!