This musical comes with a brilliant pedigree with music by the ABBA boys and lyrics crafted by Sir Tim Rice.
A triumph on Broadway and London’s West End you are guaranteed a great night of musical theatre with this clever take on the game of chess, political rivalry and two men battling for the love of a beautiful girl.
Based on the historical contest between the Russian and American chess masters of the seventies when the Cold War was at its height, the scene is set for one-upmanship, dirty tricks and low cunning to save face, (political and personal) and win the girl.
Jam packed with memorable songs - One Night in Bangkok, You and I, Pity the Child and the chart topping classic, I Know Him So Well, sung sublimely by Shona White and Svetlana Sergievsky. All are wonderfully sung and performed with a 101 % committed cast, doubling up as musicians they keep you entertained all evening.
In all my life I have never witnessed a cello player lying flat on her back playing her instrument and singing note perfect!
Big man Steve Varnom playing scheming Molokov sang as well as he acted in a master-class of a performance.
The cast are decked out in bright and witty costumes representing the characters of the board game and clever lightning and imaginative staging take you on a sweeping tale of romance and magic.
I must mention the joyous dancing, brilliantly realised by Craig Revel Horwood of Strictly Dancing fame, which is both sexy and tasteful.
This is an old fashioned show with up to date theatre tricks which will keep you enthralled all evening.
Never mind the ,“How do we solve the problem” that our lives throw up, this is one of those shows that prompts the question.
How do I get to see it again or why didn’t I go and see this in the first place? Next stop London!
As you leave the theatre you will be humming the tunes and bear the broadest of smiles.
This is a tonic for these dull days of Autumn.
Fulll credit to the Theatre Royal’s management for booking it.
This will be the talk of the season.
‘Chess the Musical’ plays Newcastle Theatre Royal until Saturday September 11th. You are advised not to miss it.
Tickets are avaialble from the box office or log on to www.theatreroyal.co.uk.
Star Rating 10/10
