Chess – The Musical.

Three games – Chess, The Cold War and a love story are the base upon which the 1984 rock opera Chess The Musical rests; competition in politics, love and sport all in one story, told in true 80’s rock style, with big songs, big hair and big egos. One could say the musical has enjoyed checkered success since its first performance in 1986, yet in the past two or so years Chess has been enjoying a worldwide revival with some success.

Auckland Music Theatre’s Chess is a tribute to all things 80’s, with Director Richard Neame taking as his inspiration the genre of 1980’s pop videos. The production sits very well styled this way, with the minimalism of the set suggesting a TV set of old. The cast handles set dressing seamlessly, with pieces appearing seamlessly from all corners of the room. Played on a raised stage with audience on three sides, it takes on very much a rock opera feel, more than a book musical. The stunning lighting design by Andrew Potvin certainly reinforces that genre, and with hair and makeup designed by The Cut Above Academy and costumes managed by Emma Bishop and her team, the fond tribute to the 80’s is complete.

The ensemble cast, pared down to 27 from the usual 40, has plenty to do, and certainly showed a great sense of fun and energy. The 4 Arbiter Girls are HOT – their dancing superb and they certainly add that Rockglam that the show needs.

Particular acclaim must be given to choreographer Teesh Szabo, who moved it with class, humour and sex in 1980’s abandon.

Very creditable performances were given by Kit Haines (The Arbiter), Nick Brown (Molokov) and Emma Leon (playing a female version of Walter De Courcey as Barbara De Courcey) – a piece of casting that worked particularly well with “Barbara” losing none of the machinations of “Walter”.

The vocals were particularly strong throughout the show, however they were marred by sound that did not allow the words to be clear when more than one or two were singing at once, or there were off-stage singers. This made following the plot difficult at times, particularly in Act Two when it all gets very complicated. Martin Rhodes sang the Chess classic ‘Anthem’ particularly well.

As early as interval, the phrase “’A Star Is Born” was being bandied around the theatre foyer as Florence, played by Gabby Smith, grabbed the audience by the heart from her first entrance and did not release her grip until her curtain call was greeted by a standing ovation. Hers was an outstanding opening performance both in wonderful vocals and storytelling.

This   is exciting, vibrant, fun and passionate –it is definitely a ‘must see’, especially for nostalgia if the 80’s was your era.

Pauline Vella 

Images: The first Chess match and Gabby Smith. Supplied by ShowPics  - Photographer Gordon Rushton