The Company: Randal Keith, Larry Russo, Robert Winn Austin, James Braet, Patti Davidson-Gorbea, Douglas Graham, Lori Longstreth, Catherine Lord, Harrison McEldowney, Rob Rain, Russell Reneau, Karyn Young-Lowe
Directed and Choreographed by David H. Bell
Set Design by Thomas M. Ryan, U.S.A.A.
Costume Design by Nancy Missimi, U.S.A.A.
Lighting Design by Diane Ferry Williams
Properties by Kathy Klaisner
Sound Design by Randy Allen Johns
Orchestral Reducation by David Siegel
Synthesizer/MIDI Design and Programming by Brett Alan Sommer
Assistant Director Dyanne Earley
Synopsis
ACT ONE
Essentially following the New York scene and song order, the show opens in 1956 Budapest,
Gregor Vassy teaching his tiny daughter to play chess ("The Story of Chess"). The other
refugees hiding with them join Gregor as he sings her to sleep ("Apukad"). When the guns
start, he makes two chess pieces into amulets and vows to his daughter they will find
each other again. Freddie is introduced at the Bangkok press conference and it's clear
he's a good guy, but very, very tough ("What a Scene! What a Joy!/"Smile, You Got Your
First Exclusive Story"). In a dual scene--cinematically intercutting between Anatoly's
suite ("Where I Want to Be") and Florence and Freddie's ("How Many Women")--it's clear
there's trouble in both camps. The "Arbiter's Song" is combined with a verse of "U.S.
vs. U.S.S.R." to lay down the rules and play begins. The "Quartet" draws the battle
lines and introduces the living chess pieces who form around the four, symbolically
reminding them they're there to play chess. Florence tries to force Freddie to behave
("You Want to Lose Your Only Friend"), but he runs out. "One Night in Bangkok" is his
simplistic way of ignoring his problems. Florence meets Anatoly at the restaurant,
and her initial nerves give way to a strong attraction to the Soviet player
("Terrance Duet"/"Who'd Ever Think"), intercut with the American Queen and Russian
King joined in a pas de deux. The match progresses ("So You Got What You Want"/
"Nobody's Side") but Florence and Freddie do not. Anatoly's defection in the parking
garage leads into "Anthem."
ACT TWO
The second act opens in a Budapest church as Florence seeks her roots and her state of
mind ("Heaven Help My Heart"). The dual bedrooms serve again for "You and I" with
Florence and Anatoly's refrain segueing smoothly into the more bittersweet version
for him and Svetlana. Molokov's pressure on Anatoly is more restrained than in New
York, allowing Anatoly to seem stronger, and his acceptance of the situation more
realistic. However, Molokov and Walter are up to their old tricks in "Let's Work
Together." Florence and Svetlana express regret in "I Know Him So Well," while
Freddie wonders what will happen to him in "Pity the Child." "Endgame" begins with
the two chess queens crowning and robing the kings as the chorus intones the anthem
of chess champions' names. Anatoly's decision to lose seems well-thought out and
a strength rather than a weakness. Freddie is completely aware that he's being
allowed to win and the hollowness of this victory is very moving. At the airport,
Anatoly wrenches himself from Florence's arms ("You and I"). After Walter tells
Florence they're really exchanging Anatoly for an American spy and not her father, s
he collapses but then a friend of Anatoly's comes in with a package. He says
Anatoly thought there was dirty work going on and took action of his own. She
opens the parcel to find the companion amulet to hers. The friend brings in her
father, saying "Anatoly believes the players should always be more important than
the game." The chorus hums "Apukad," as Florence and her father embrace, then
segue into the last verse of "Anthem."
Other productions based on the Chicago version:
Sacramento Music Circus
Long Beach Civic Light Opera
Boulder Dinner Theatre
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