[Slaine]

I don't quite know where to begin.

Last night's performance was quite possibly one of the best all round performances of any show that I've seen.

One of the reasons that I was so keen to go was that the strength in depth of a group where people are looking to do this as their career could only be a good thing and so it proved to be.

The ensemble can't be praised enough. They were slick, enthusiastic, polished and sang quite beautifully. In fact if there was a criticism it is that they drowned out some of the solo singers where in other versions of Chess you'd either have a larger theatre to take the volume or a smaller group of people singing the backing (for example Nobody's side or Where I want to be). Maybe the MD could have reigned them in a bit but I defy anyone to say anything else bad about that group supporting the main parts as they were spectacularly good.

I loved the humour that the mayor injected in to his performance, and in many small ways throughout the show there were some wonderful little cameo sections including the Mrs Overall parody of a tea lady in the Embassy scene and the drunken Thai waiter in Soviet Machine. beautifully done and yet not taking anything away from the scene. Always adding to the show.

The choreography and general movement was superb and I think that the ensemble must have been busier than all the principals apart from maybe Florence as they were in almost every scene in numbers and in different costumes. I didn't spot any late entries and apart from a falling hat and a pencil left on stage after the superb reporters number there were no obvious small mistakes that I could see or hear.

If anything the only one that might have been late on stage was Molokov for Soviet Machine but he was probably resting so that he could pull off such a memorable number including doing the russian dance whilst singing "just in case you feel a trace..." towards the end of the number. Awesome.

In fact Molokov and Walter were probably the most rounded and well acted characters in the production (which is saying something). Walter was particularly good. Oily and smooth in equal measure with a hint of edge when required and a great voice. Very impressive.

Molokov sang very well in the lower ranges though it wouldn't surprise me if he naturally isn't a base as his voice almost got richer as he moved up the range. High baritone maybe? Superb job either way and wonderfully acted.

Svetlana's such a difficult role, being so small but they added (at least I think it was added) a small interaction between Svetlana and Anatoly after the Interview which worked quite nicely. She played it well and made Svetlana live. The duet between her and Florence was lovely and one of the highlights of the show.

The Arbiter is such an awkward part - particularly during the Deal which is always so disjointed and forced as it tries to shoehorn the story ahead. He managed it very well and sang the whole of the Story of Chess as a solo which at the time I didn't like but in hindsight worked very well. It's not how I would have opened the show but with such a huge Merano to follow it's difficult to argue that it didn't work. I've seen the Arbiter played hugely over the top on a few occasions and it doesn't really work. This understated approach fitted the show rather better though unfortunately it doesn't showcase the actor as well as it might but there were some very nice subtelties that he added to the part in terms of facial expression etc that were very good.

Freddie was very solid though I wonder (assuming that they've made a video of this to learn from) if when he sees himself whether he'd act it in the same way again or not. He sang very well and in Pity the Child sang (and hit) every note except the final one which he falsettoed. Very impressive. Maybe the director could have helped him inject a bit more passion and character in to his role...? Maybe I'm being a nitpicking git? He got across the general selfishness of his character very well and the addition of the small boy in Pity the Child was an interesting one. I wonder if more could have been made of it.

Incidentally any and all comments should be treated as nitpicking and are holding the show up to professional standards.

It was a spectacular show and everyone did a great job but as the leads had so much talent behind them these guys almost had to be that much better which I suppose is unfair. Anyway, take any critiques with a pinch of salt as the cast were all very good.

Florence didn't wow me until Heaven Help My Heart and from then onwards. She certainly looked the part and her voice reminds me of Elaine Paige but she didn't seem to hit her stride until the end of act one. Maybe it was beacuse she was being drowned out in Nobody's Side by a very strong chorus? I don't know. Maybe that was a sound thing as it sounded faintly tinny in the first half but very much better in the second. In the second half she was spectacular and finished the show beautifully. Why she didn't get the final bow though is anyone's guess. Surely this is Florence's show not Freddy's? I'm sure that she'll be making her presence felt in the professional ranks.

Anatoly was played in a very understated way - less is more. As a result, in areas where he could have really cut loose he left me wanting more. Anthem was beautifully sung but wasn't quite the showstopper it could have been if there'd been more passion in the singing - it was wonderfully acted though. You and I was particularly well done between him and Florence, and their loss was keenly felt at the end as they were leaving the airport.

All in all I was blown away. You know that feeling when you go to a film and come out and want to do nothing more than go back in and see it again? This was just the same. And if i didn't have a rehearsal myself tonight I'd be trying to beg, borrow or steal a ticket to go and see it again tonight. That would be even more interesting as the principals are different on alternate nights according to the programme.

One other thing was the addition of a scene that i haven't seen before. "Apukad Eros Kezen" or "Your Daddy's Strong Hand" was sung by Florence's father before Nobody's Side and added a poignancy and flow to the story that ordinarily would have been missing.

Favourite bits? End game was out of this world. I just closed my eyes, sat back and enjoyed. Awesome.

Model of Decorum was the best that I've ever seen it done mainly due to the way that it was set and the way that the "conversations" flowed between the actors. Wonderful. And Soviet Machine was a show stealer - so many good bits but I'd love to hear End game again. Thank heavens for iPods.

Congratulations to all that were involved. It was really special.

[Jenko]

[Slaine]

Please feel free to - the people that came with me were blown away too so as I said, take any critiques as if it were for a professional show because that's basically what it could so easily have been.

And let's face it if you went to see a pretty average JCS at Woking or that awful Paul Nicholas version of Jekyll & Hyde then it's easy to see that there is a place in the profession for people that can put on a show like that.

[Salome]

If Florence reminded you of Elaine Paige..of course she sucked.

[Slaine]

It was just something about the tone of her voice rather than anything else. She certainly looked the part being petite and attractive. But she certainly wasn't bad by any means. It's just that she was so much better in Heaven Help My Heart and thereafter that I don't really know what happened before that.

Whatever it was she certainly didn't suck.

[Salome]

well Paige's voice is akin to nails on a chalkboard. and luckily the girl dsidnt look like Paige. why did anyone ever cast ellaine paige as florence...oh oh wait! she was f*cking Tim Rice!!

[Jenko]

[Slaine]

[Salome]

LOL just making point.