Chess - A Review
by John Joseph Fahey
Boston City Paper
The story of a game of chess played out on the world stage against the backdrop of political intrigue with the Cold War factions of the US and USSR, was performed with the musical CHESS at the Turtle Lane Playhouse in Newton, during the month of February.
The Broadway musical, based on an idea by Tim Rice, had a thoroughly entertaining and convincing ensemble, directed by James Tallach. Musical Director Wayne Ward should also be mentioned, as the selections, including the engaging - both visually and musically - One Night in Bangkok (Act I) were performed with good accompaniment.
The story takes places amid a contentious chess tournament between the American Freddie Trumper, and the Soviet Anatoly Sergievsky (both played and sung these roles perfectly); and like any good tale with the underpinnings of American vs. Soviet scheming during the precarious and volatile post World War II era of communist vs. capitalist, this story has two very plausible and believable intelligence agents, working covertly to insure that each side is not compromised. Robert Case played the polished American intelligence agent Walter DeCourcey and Gregory Jon Bonin convincingly played Aleksander Molokov, his USSR counterpart.
Florence Vassy was very well played by Tracy Nygard, Freddie's assistant who suddenly finds herself in a romantic situation with Anatoly, thereby setting the stage for some political maneuvering between the Stage Department and the furtive plethora of Soviet operatives.
Claire McClanahan's performance was also commendable as Anatoly's Soviet wife.
The chess tournament, is of course, tantamount to an amelioration of relations between the two superpowers; however a curve ball is thrown because of the defection of Anatoly and his amorous interlude with Florence, and hence, the real cloak and dagger operations between nations begin.
Tim Abrahamsen, who played the Arbiter, performed some very interesting and enjoyable dance numbers. The choreography was by Linda Sughrue.
©Boston City Paper, February 2008.