Seldom seen musical hits Bay Area: Willows' "Chess" makes bold moves - examiner.com

Kevin Thomas

, SF GLBT Arts Examiner

October 10, 2011 - Like this? Subscribe to get instant updates.

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The Willows Theatre Company likes to take chances.

After having the mainstage dark for quite some time, they reopened this past March with “Once on This Island,” a little seen but acclaimed musical. And now they take on the musical “Chess.”

Having only played on Broadway for a mere 68 performances, the Willows is gambling on a little seen show that takes the Cold War and sets it to a game of chess. In many ways, it pays off.

Even if you’re unfamiliar with the show – you know these songs as some of taken on a life of their own. “Chess The Concert” has played to sold out crowds while “Chess” the staged musical has fared less.

The songs are written by Tim Rice (of “Evita,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “The Lion King” fame) and Benny Anderssson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (who were half of the popular band ABBA). So if the story isn’t familiar you might know the songs “I Know Him So Well” recorded in the States by Whitney Houston and Barbra Streisand (not a duet, separate recordings). And a 1980s tribute can’t be complete without hearing “One Night in Bangkok.”

The production values of this production are mostly exceptional – aside from the few times the microphones had feedback or went out completely. But that doesn’t make this a rave.  

“Chess” the show really isn’t that interesting. The long first act has a few good moments and they are enhanced by the keen direction of Eric Inman and the clever choreography of Stacu Arriaga. Song wise, I wasn’t blown away by any of the first act numbers with the exception of the last song, “Anthem.”

Act two is another story. The second act is vibrant, tight and well executed and has the best songs! Acting wise Zachary Franczak is AMAZING! His Russian accent seems real and authentic, he is sincere in his delivery of his lines and his singing is of Broadway caliber. I’ve made a note of his name as I plan to follow his career – you should too.

The other cast members also do well. I was really enjoying Florence Vassy as Lena, the love interest, until Rebecca Pingree came and blew her away. Pingree’s stronger voice is more on the level of Franczak, perhaps making this a more dynamic duo.

It was also nice to see John R. Lewis, who was so memorable earlier this year in a production of “Little Shop of Horrors.” He shows great range as an actor, putting behind him his meek “Shop” character and creating a more ruthless agent much like that of Jeremy Piven in TV’s “Entourage.”

Even though I only like the second act, I still applaud the Willows for bringing shows that we have never seen on the West Coast. Everyone can do “Annie” – but should they? I mean really!!

Looking ahead, I am excited about next season as well with the beautiful “Light in the Piazza” (a show I love despite not liking the songs), “9 to 5” (big undertaking as it had more set changes than any show in Broadway history) and at the Willows Cabaret “Bright Lights, Big City.”

And Willows staff – “Carrie” the musical would fill in great for your “to be announced show” next fall and “My Big Gay Italian Wedding” would do wonderfully at the Cabaret.

To get tickets for “Chess” or to learn more about the Willows, go to www.willowstheatre.org.

Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/glbt-arts-in-san-francisco/seldom-seen-musical-hits-bay-area-willows-chess-makes-bold-moves-review#ixzz1c7Bz1NLs

Willows Theatre makes all the right moves with 'Chess: The Musical' - San Jose Mercury

By Pat Craig
Correspondent

Posted: 10/10/2011 11:46:36 AM PDT

Updated: 10/11/2011 02:10:44 PM PDT

Click photo to enlarge

WILLOWS THEATRE COMPANY American chess player Freddy Trumper (Joseph Brunicardi) squares... ( wtc )

"Chess" isn't the sort of musical that swooning junior high school girls are going to beg their parents to take them to.

Nope, it's an engaging, entertaining and, for a musical, tremendously meaty show that puts the last days of the Cold War into the context of a world champion chess match between an American and Soviet champion.

And it works slicker than an FBI investigation, thanks to a dynamite cast of wildly talented performers and clever direction by Willows Theatre artistic director Eric Inman and stunning choreography by Staci Arriaga. Also, it doesn't hurt that the show's lyrics are by Tim Rice (who had the idea for the story), with music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, the two gentlemen in ABBA.

What they've created is a remarkably clever musical that manages to merge chess and global politics with a US/Soviet love triangle fraught with defections and diplomatic double-dealing (and you thought chess was for people who spent long hours in the library with no sound other than the clicking of game pieces).

It all starts with the U.S. champ Freddie Trumper (Joseph Brunicardi), and his manager, Florence Vassy (Lena Hart).

Florence had come to the United States as an orphaned Hungarian refugee after the 1956 uprising in Budapest. She finds herself attracted to Trumper's opponent, Soviet Champion Anatoly Sergievsky (Zachary Franczak), who is in the midst of splitting with his wife, Svetlana Sergievsky (Rebecca Pingree), and has a mind to defect the USSR, which makes Florence a ripe pawn for the parallel chess game being played between the CIA and KGB.

"Chess" quickly pulls you away from the chess and into the politics, romance and tricky double-dealing of the story. It eventually reaches the point that you don't know if anybody is who they say they are.

The game moves into hotel rooms and hallways, restaurants and secret airport meeting rooms, giving the whole show the feel of a thriller with a number of lives at stake.

Inman has paced the story well and taken full advantage of the two-level set by Laura Berggreen, with video projections by Reid McCann that open up the locations to places beyond the confines of the stage.

Hart, Franczak and Brunicardi make an attractive romantic triangle, with Hart getting all the heavy lifting as the woman sought then scorned, and confused by the whole turn of events. Pingree has a wonderful turn as the Soviet wife who is devastated by her husband's twin defections, and is used as bait by the KGB to try to lure him back behind the Iron Curtain.

A host of supporting actors, clad in black and white and occasionally red (by costume designer Sharon Bell) who serve as chess officials and undercover agents, do a fine job of fooling the audience (identities are withheld to preserve the mystery -- just don't trust anybody).

The ensemble is terrific, moving in and out of numerous chorus roles to tunes performed by an orchestra conducted by Rachel Robinson. And the Andersson and Ulvaeus music serves the show well and reminds us of why ABBA was such a pop music juggernaut -- you hear the occasional riff that has you thinking a quartet in disco togs will bound onto the stage and break into familiar song.

'CHESS' 

Book by Richard Nelson, lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus; presented by Willows Theatre Company 

Through: Oct. 30
Where: Willows Theatre, 1975 Diamond Blvd. (in Willows Shopping Center), Concord
Running time: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Tickets: $28-$34; 925-798-1300, www.willowstheatre.org

http://www.mercurynews.com/theater-dance/ci_19081598

Willows Theatre Co. brings ‘Chess the Musical’ to life - The Benicia Herald

Theater review by Elizabeth Warnimont
Special to The Herald

The Willows just keeps getting better.

Last spring, Willows Theatre Company artistic director Eric Inman had a hit on his hands with “Chicago,” performed at the company’s cabaret theater in downtown Martinez. Then came “King O’ the Moon,” an endearing drama set in 1969 Buffalo, N.Y., that boasted a top-notch cast and production crew, performed at the main stage theater in Concord. Most recently, the troupe reprised their rendition of the popular horror-film spoof, “Evil Dead: The Musical” to rave reviews this summer.

This month, Inman has taken on Tim Rice’s intellectual “Chess the Musical,” loosely based on the Cold War-era world championship chess match between American Bobby Fischer and defending world champion Boris Spassky of Russia. “Chess” involves some intricate choreography and a slew of fast-paced songs (32 in all), and it requires some quick set changes and, at times, equally quick costume changes.

In other words, a difficult piece of theater — and Willows proved up to the task, its cast giving a great perfomance and the accompanying six-piece orchestra, led by music director Rachel Robinson, commendably following along with accuracy and feeling and never overwhelming the actors.

The musical starts off with an overture performed by the entire ensemble. Right away, the audience is treated to a surprisingly powerful scene, with detailed costume design (Sharon Bell), sharp choreography (Staci Arriaga) and strong and well-balanced singing. The lyrics describe the scene: American chess master Freddie Trumper (Joseph Brunicardi) vies for the world championship against title holder Anatoly Sergievsky (Actors’ Equity Association member Zachary Franczak) of Russia. It is 1972, the thick of the Cold War, and the stakes couldn’t be much higher.

ANATOLY breaks the bad news to his wife (Rebecca Pingree as Svetlana).
Judy Potter photo

For Freddie, it seems to be all about his own fragile ego. For Anatoly, it seems to be nothing more than a great personal and intellectual challenge. For the government agents assigned to them, on the other hand, the chess masters are themselves pawns in a much bigger political contest between two world superpowers.

After the overture, Ruben Rivera further expounds on the story as “The Arbiter,” a role that sounds more central than it is. The intrigue surrounding the climactic chess match lies almost entirely in the scheming of the government agents assigned to the players, namely Walter Anderson (John R. Lewis) and Ivan Molokov (Equity actor Jesse Caldwell).

Inman chooses to emphasize the role of Florence Vassy (Equity actor Lena Hart), the woman who finds herself directly in the middle of the conflict. She is Freddie’s manager and second, but finds herself falling in love with his opponent, thus unwittingly throwing herself directly into the political fire.

Hart manages the highly challenging part with power and effectively subtle emotion. She has a whole lot of singing to do, and a voice that handles it all with little hint of strain.

Brunicardi is the tabloid composite of his real-life counterpart, American chess master Bobby Fischer: spoiled, egomaniacal and volatile. The tension between him, Hart and Lewis is keenly felt as all three embody the complex personalities of their characters. Franczak is also strong as the romantic but chess-obsessed Sergievsky, about whom we are left to wonder just how much he knew about the way things would turn out in the end.

Franczak may be a bit quiet it the lowest registers, but his commanding, operatic quality becomes apparent beginning with “Anthem,” at the end of the first act.

Rebecca Pingree gives a compelling performance as Svetlana Sergievsky, the woman who is apparently separated from Anatoly. Pingree appears collected, demonstrating a restrained passion for her husband. Devastated at the prospect of losing him permanently to the American interloper, she nevertheless appears cool and accepting in her conversations with both of them.

All three do well in “You and I,” and Pingree and Hart are at their vocal best in “I Know Him So Well,” in the middle of Act Two.

The Willows troupe’s creative staging, thoughtful costuming and love-story focus are exactly the right ingredients to bring this difficult play to life. The gifted cast fills out a very entertaining and interesting production.

Inman took quite a chance with this large-scale and under-appreciated work. The investment paid off.

If You Go
“Chess the Musical” continues at the Willows Theatre in Concord through Oct. 30. Tickets are $22 to $32 and are available by calling 925-798-1300 or online at www.willowstheatre.org. 

Elizabeth Warnimont holds a BA in Germanic language and literature from the University of California-Santa Barbara. She is currently a substitute teacher for the Benicia Unified School District.

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