Hi everyone, yes I know I've still got to post my blog on The Duck House but I've only got two months at uni left so bear with me :) Anyway, it's the end of March so that means it's time for Musical of the Month. I thought I was going to struggle this month to pick something as, although I'd been listening to musicals, nothing had really stood out to me as being exceptional. That is until just over a week ago when I was copying out some notes for uni and thought it would make it more exciting to listen to something. Now I didn't want anything to lively as I would concentrate but I wanted something new-ish that would keep my interest (by new I mean something I hadn't given much time to before). The musical I went to was Chess and since then I've been hooked.
I'd always liked the song 'I Know Him So Well' so when they released the concert CD and DVD in 2009 I bought them both, however, I'd never really got into either of them. I did watch the DVD once but found it really confusing and had to keep reading up what was coming next; let's just say it wasn't the most enjoyable experience.
I decided to give it a second chance and fell in love completely from the first note to the last. I think the thing that really got me about the music was the mixture of styles that were used; one minute you're listening to a slow, soothing ballad the next an unbeat pop song, then it's a piece akin to the classical era and the next thing you know it's your listening to a song that would fit into a Bollywood movie! If we're comparing it to musicals I'd say there's elements of Wicked (though I don't know whether that's the composers doing or the fact Idina Menzel plays Florence), The King and I, Miss Saigon, Les Miserables and Sister Act...an odd combination I know but that's the main reason I love the music; it keeps you on your toes. Another thing I like about the music is how meaningful all of the lyrics are; there isn't a wasted lyric insight. The best example of this is 'One Night in Bangkok' which is so thought through it's amazing. It references Yul Brynner who, as many of you will know, is famous for playing the King of Siam in The King and I (with Siam being the previous name for Thailand where Bangkok is the capital of). It, also, mentions the Tyrolean Spa which is a direct reference to Merano, where the first act is set (in the UK version). The other main interesting point is the fact the song mentions Iceland, The Philippines and Hastings which are the places where chess is most popular. The song, also, contrasts Bollywood style music (at least I think that's what it is) with your more tradition musical theatre style so as to show the difference between the culture of Thailand and the sophistication of chess as a game. This could sound quite negative to Thailand (and was thought that by officials in Thiland as it was banned there in 1985 for it's disrespect to Thai culture, in addition to Buddism), however, in my opinion it seems to be making a point that things aren't always as they seem as the sophisticated chess game that is suggested is not what is shown during the plot of the musical.
So what is the plot, well I won't go to much into it so if you want to buy the 2008 Concert Version on DVD and find out about it yourself you can. Firstly, it is necessary to say that not only is the storyline complex itself, pinning down what the official story is as it has seen many changes and adaptions over the years. Nevertheless, in the booklet that comes with the DVD, Time Rice (part of the original Chess team) says that this it what he would call the official version, which is why my brief plot discription is based on the 2008 Concert (in addition to the fact that it's the version I've watched). So in brief then, the show I know, centres around the world chess championships over two years, firstly in Merano, Italy, and then in Bangkok, Thailand. The theme of chess is greatly overshadowed by a deeper and darker world of politics. The show is set in 1979 and 1980 so falls within the boundaries of the Cold War (1947-1991 approximately), which is at the heart of the show. The main characters are either Russian or American (to some degree) meaning that the majority of play goes on inside the world of politics rather than the world of chess. To me the meaning of the plot is that the Cold War is a big chess game with America and Russia (the Soviet Union) trying to psychologically outplay each other and not caring who got caught up in the cross fire.
Linked in with this, the song "Nobody's Side" really embodies the depth of the play because, as my mum pointed out, at first it sound grammatically incorrect as the line "Nobody's on nobody's side." would technically mean that everyone was on everyone's side. This got me thinking about the plot and in actual fact I think the grammar is correct for all the characters have their own agenda and dislike the majority of the other characters, however, the majority of them all end up working together to achieve their personal goal. This, therefore, means that everyone is on the same side yet no one really is, a.k.a. Nobody's on nobody's side. The only character who ends up going against this idea is Anatoly who decides that the only way to win is by staying true to himself and not getting involved in anyone else's schemes; he sees this as the only way that he can grant himself self peace and give his lover, Florence, the one thing she wants, her father.
Florence's father is another interesting political concept as Florence and her family originally came from Hungary but in 1956 the Hungarians revolted against Russian control and Florence's family were either captured or killed (she doesn't know). This theme interlinks with the song "1956 - Budapest is Rising" (Budapest being the capital of Hungary), which sings of the Hungarian revolt and briefly what happened during it.
The other song of importance is "Anthem" (a great song in itself) but within the show, where it is sung at the end of both acts, it demonstrates that people know where they are from; there is no escaping your nationality and not many people want to entirely. The song comments on how people may not be entirely happy with the politics of the country of where your from but it will always be your country just the same; "...my land's only boarders lie around my heart."
Before I move onto cast I do need to say that my favourite songs, in addition to the ones mentioned, are "Where I Want To Be", "Someone Else's Story" and "I Know Him So Well"...just so you know.
The cast for the concert version were, in my opinion, fantastic...but then my two favourite leading ladies do star in it. The main cast list is as follows:
Josh Groban - Anatoly Sergievsky - Russian (plays for Russia in Act 1 but seeks British citizenship at the end of Act 1 so is playing for Britain in Act 2).
Idina Menzel - Florence - Hungarian (Freddie's second and lover in Act 1 and Anatoly's second and lover in Act 2).
Adam Pascal - Frederick "Freddie" Trumper - American (defending world champion in Act 1 and presenter for Global, the TV company, in Act 2).
David Bedella - Alexander Molokov - Russian (it is quite clear that he works for the Russian government but it is suggested he's working for the KGB, which is the Russian Secret Police).
Kerry Ellis - Svetlana - Russian (Anatoly's wife who Molokov brings over to distract him in Act 2).
Clarke Peters - Walter de Courcy - American (Freddie's commercial agent in Act 1 and a presenter for Global TV Company in Act 2).
Marti Pellow - The Arbiter - neutral.
So there you go, a stella cast if ever there was one who have made this special show truly astounding.
Well, I hope you've enjoyed this month's Musical of the Month about Chess, sorry if it's been a little deep but I hope you've inspired you to listen to the CD and buy the DVD and give it a chance so you can fall in love with it as I have.
And I hope you have a great April.
Love you all
Kat
Xx
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