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Chess is a musical with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of the pop group ABBA, lyrics by Ulvaeus and Tim Rice, and book by Rice. The story involves a politically driven, Cold War -era chess tournament between two grandmasters , one American and the other Soviet, and their fight over a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other.
Synopsis. Chess is used as a metaphor for romantic rivalries and the US-Soviet rivalry during the Cold War. The main characters form a love triangle: the ill-mannered American Grandmaster, the intense Russian champion who plans on defecting to the West, and the Hungarian-American female chess second, who arrives at the International Championships with the American but falls in love with the ...
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This highly acclaimed musical develops the ancient and distinguished game of chess into a metaphor for romantic rivalries and East-West political intrigue. The principal pawns form a love triangle: the loutish American Grandmaster, the earnest Russian champion, and the Hungarian-American female chess second, who arrives at the international champio...
Act 1
The president of the International Chess Federation—known as "The Arbiter" for his role as the tournament's referee—speculates on the origins of the game of chess before announcing the location of the upcoming world chess championship: the northern Italian town of Merano. As the townsfolk prepare for the occasion, the current world chess champion, Frederick "Freddie" Trumper of the United States, arrives with his second and implied lover: Hungarian-born, English-raised Florence Vassy. In thei...
Act 2
A year later, Anatoly is set to defend his championship in Bangkok, Thailand. Freddie is already there, chatting up locals and experiencing the Bangkok nightlife because he is now Global TV's special presenter for this year's championship. Florence and Anatoly are now openly lovers, and worry about Freddie's sudden reappearance as well as the impending arrival of Anatoly's estranged wife, Svetlana, from Russia, which Anatoly suspects is part of Molokov's plan to shame him into returning to th...
M5 F2, with chorus playing multiple roles 1. Frederick:arrogant, temperamental, American; 30s. 2. Florence: attractive, clever confident; 30s. 3. Anatoly:quiet, gentle, Russian; 40s. 4. Walter:smarmy, sly, American; middle age. 5. Molokov:cold, Soviet leader; middle age. 6. Arbiter:no-nonsense, authoritative; middle age. 7. Svetlana: domestic, depe...
Act 1
1. “Prologue” — Instrumental 2. “The Story of Chess” — The Arbiter and Ensemble 3. “Merano” † 4. “Merano" — Mayor and Ensemble 5. “What a Scene! What a Joy!" — Freddie and Florence 6. “Merano (Reprise)” — Ensemble 7. “Commie Newspapers” — Freddie and Florence 8. “Press Conference” — Freddie, Florence, and Reporters 9. “Anatoly and Molokov” / “Where I Want to Be” † — Molokov, Anatoly, and Ensemble 10. “Difficult and Dangerous Times” ‡ — Molokov, Walter, and Ensemble 11. “The Arbiter” — The Arb...
Act 2
1. “Golden Bangkok” / “One Night in Bangkok” † — Instrumental / Freddie and Ensemble 2. “One More Opponent” / “You and I” † — Anatoly and Florence 3. “The Soviet Machine” — Molokov and Ensemble 4. “The Interview” — Walter, Freddie, and Anatoly 5. “The Deal” — The Arbiter, Molokov, Svetlana, Walter, Florence, Freddie, Anatoly, and Ensemble 6. “I Know Him So Well” — Florence and Svetlana 7. “Talking Chess” — Anatoly and Freddie 8. “Endgame” — Ensemble, Molokov, Freddie, Florence, Anatoly and Sv...
Jan 4, 2021 · 2- An annoted list of Musical Compositions Related to Chess. Musical Terms that are Used in Chess. The Oxford Companion to Chess is a comprehensive encyclopedia of chess. It contains articles on history, terminology, chess players, and the relationship between chess and other subjects such as music, art, theater, literature and philosophy.
Oct 6, 2019 · Basic Plot Summary of Chess the Musical . While the plot of Chess has changed in the various incarnations of the musical, some of the basic elements have remained the same throughout the life of the show. The musical was inspired by some of the political machinations surrounding the 1972 Fischer-Spassky World Championship match.
The musical brings forth real emotions—fear and uncertainty of the era. The musical mirrored the serious political anxiety of the 1980s, and it shaped how people viewed chess from then on. Where Did the Musical Premiere? When Chess the Musical hit the London musical theater in 1986, it was a massive success.
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Feb 5, 2024 · The musical score of “Chess the Musical” distinguishes itself with an ABBA flair, blending the artistry of musical theatre with the pop charm that defined the iconic Swedish group. This unique combination has birthed iconic songs that remain staples on playlists and stages across the globe, contributing to the show’s robust legacy.
