NCC s Chess The Musical touching and rousing
Post on: 2011-11-02 By: admin
The Northampton Community College production of the Broadway musical "Chess" is a touching and enjoyable Cold War romance with a rousing musical score. The cast is enthusiastic. And director Bill Mutimer's staging is both elegant and eye catching. The floor is an oversized polished black and white chess board. The backdrop is an ever changing video display of Cold War images and international cityscapes.The actors, dressed in black and white, present an absorbing human drama which offers a fascinating look into the international and political world of chess, where everyone is playing his own game."Chess," which is set in Bangkok and Budapest, focuses on two international chess champions who have gathered for a highly publicized world championship match. Freddie, as portrayed by Brent Schlosshauer, is an egotistical, childish and unlikable American. Anatoly, who is played with polish and charm by Phil Diaz, is the more mature and measured Russian. Annie Locke plays Florence, the American woman they both love, with a charming independence and idealistic outrage. And while the fierce chess rivalry is the focal point of much of the action, it is the romantic triangle between the three that gives the show its heart.
Locke and Diaz drive the show. They have a very nice on-stage chemistry and also beautiful, strong voices that complement each other. Their songs, written by the founders of the group ABBA, are highlights, particularly Locke's "Someone Else's Story," "Nobody's Side," Diaz's first act finale, "Anthem," and the duo's stirring "You and I."
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Schlosshauer's Freddie is often too petulant and his first act attempts to sing as a rock star are not successful. But he redeems himself with his emotional second act triumph, "Pity the Child," and he is great fun in "A Night in Bangkok," in which he tries valiantly not to be upstaged by the agile acrobatic dancing of ensemble member Tom Kim, who delights with his version of the worm, the sprinkler and the robot.Mutimer's choreography results in many moments of imaginative foot work. The dancing in "One Night in Bangkok"' is a show stopper. And D. Larry Bechtel is a wonder as a one man virtual orchestra•"Chess, the Musical," 7:30 p.m Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, Northampton Community College, Lipkin Theatre, Kopecek Building, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem Township. Admission; free with a donation of canned goods for a local food bank and/or a minimum $5 donation to the Norman R. Roberts Theatre Scholarship Fund. 610-861-5524.Myra Yellin Outwater is a freelance writer.Jodi Duckett, editorjodi.duckett@mcall.com610-820-6704
Copyright © 2011, The Morning Call
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