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"CHESS" in Estonian |  |
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"CHESS" in Estonian | |
Chess World Cup 1989 took place in the Swedish town Skellefteå. Two concerts of the musical CHESS concluded the event. Eesti Raadio Estraadiorkester (the Light Music Orchestra of the Estonian Radio) was involved to this performance. Estonian Television (ETV) sport journalist Raul Rebane arrange rights for the one time performing of this programm for ETV and first time Estonia saw musical CHESS in concert in 1st January 1990.
CHESS in Vanemuine 2006-2008
Translated
by Kelli
Uustani, Mart Sander, Maian
Kärmas.
Stage
Director Georg
Malvius (Sweden).
Musical
Director and Conductor Tarmo Leinatamm.
Stage
and Costume Designer Ellen Cairns (Scotland).
Choreographer
Jüri Nael.
Actors:
Lauri
Liiv - Anatoly
Koit
Toome - Frederick
Gerli
Padar - Florence
Janika
Sillamaa - Svetlana
Aivar
Tommingas - Arbiter
Taisto
Noor - Molokov
The premier was on 2 June 2006 in the grand Building of the Vanemuine in Estonian with subtitles in English.
"...CHESS
is maybe one of the musicals with several lives. After the first night
in London the material of the productions in New York and Stockholm was
totally different. The New York and Stockholm productions even include
changed text, a totally changed order of songs, newly composed material
and a different story line.
I tried
to find my own approach. For me the love story was the most interesting
part of the material. A lot of questions from my own professional life
inspired me in this production. Life beside the stage and life on stage
are both intriguing and exiting in the theatre world. This time I wanted
to present them both in connection with each other..."
ACT I
Scene
1 (Backstage in the theatre)
5 minutes
before the show begins. Lauri,
playing the character of Russian chess player Anatoly in the musical to
be performed on the stage, is depressed. He is questioning his life as
an actor, the world of theatre and the people he works with. Professional
fame has made him suppress his feelings in real life, denying love.
Song:
Where
I Want to Be
Scene
2 (On the stage)
The
musical CHESS is being performed. The arbiter presents the tow player competing
to be the World Chess champion. As The Hymn of Chess is performed,
the two opponents, Anatoly sergejev, the holder of the titel (representing
the Soviet Union, accompanied here by his wife, svetlana) is challenged
by Frederick Trumper of the USA (accompanied here by his assistant and
girlfriend, Florence.)
Song:
The
Hymn of Chess
The
arbiter is laying down the rules for the Championship and telling the competitors
that he is an impartial judge and will not allow any disturbance.
Song:
The
Arbiter
Scene
3 (Backstage)
Koit,
paying the part of the American Frederick, has just left the stage to have
a drink and he is rather drunk already. In a mood of self-pity, he tells
his life story: as an unhappy child but with great ambition, he was suppressed
and humiliated by his father and rejected by his mother.
Song:
Pity
the Child
Scene
4 (Backstage)
Gerli,
who is paying Koit's girlfriend Florence, tries to stop him from drinking
but he beats her up. Left alone, she tries to explain why she doesn't have
the strength to leave him, though love is just a fantasy.
Song:
Nobody's
Side
Scene
5 (On the stage)
One
the stage the performance is proceeding with a show number, The Merchandisers.
At this chess competition everything is for sale.
Song:
Merchandisers
Scene
6 (On the stage)
Frederick,
the American player, contemplanes the madness of the merchants. At the
world Competition, the Americans and the Soviets are trying to out-sell
one another. he feels everything is a show and that he is trapped in the
middle in the main part.
Song:
Rock
Merano
Scene
7 (Backstage)
As Koit
leaves the stage he passes Gerli without greeting her. In tears,
Gerli feels like she is watching herself in someone else's story. A story
about a girl who understands that her relationship is over and is asking
advice on what to do. Her answer to the girl is: "Leave him!" But that
girl is herself.
Song:
Someone
Else's Story
The performance on the stage continues and we can see part of the show.
Scene
8 (On-stages and backstage simultaneously)
Song:
The
Arbiter (reprise)
While
the show is continuing, backstage Lauri is trying to comfort Gerli and
they start to feel physically attracted to one another. They confess that
they both have been afraid of this moment but they have been dreaming of
it.
Song:
Mountain
Duet
Scene
9 (On the stage)
The
show has progressed to the point where the relationships of the three characters
in the show and the personal relationships of the actors are merging
into one story. Anatoly's love of Florence is growing. Frederick is very
jelous and would love to have her back. The dividing line between the stage
personas and private individuals has disappeared.
Song:
Chess
Scene
10 (Backstage)
Lauri's
and Gerli's growing intimacy makes Koit very annoyed. There is a confrontation
between Gerli and Koit resulting finally in her decision to leav Koit.
Song:
Florence
Quits
Scene
11 (Backstage)
Alone,
Gerli contemplates her decision to leav Koit and her future with Lauri.
She prays for love.
Song:
Heaven
Help My Heart
Scene
12 (On-stage)
The
world Chess Championship is a very impotant diplomatic game between the
two super powers. It's very impotant for each side that they win.
Song:
Diplomats
Scene
13 (On-stage)
Anatoly
looks at the diplomats' blustering stand-off. He feels that "the little
man" is only a pawn in the hands of the greater political game. Although
he is the former World Champion, that is of no importance to the world
leaders. They only use him.
Song:
Anthem
ACT II
Scene
14 (On-stage)
One
year later. Bangkok, the city where bars are temples, is the place for
the final game of the World Chess Championships. The arbiter is presenting
the audience to Bangkok and making it clear that there must be an eventual
winner as it's the last match of the competition.
Song:
One
Night in Bangkok
Scene
15 (Backstage)
Lauri,
Gerli and Koit are still in the same emotional situation as a year ago.
Song:
You
and I
Scene
16
(The
Story of Love and Hate)
Florence,
Antoly and Frederick are involved in a strong game of love.
Chess
2
Scene
17 (On-stage)
The
last game involves corruption. The arbiter explains how the Americans are
trying to buy Anatoly by bribing Molokov. Molokov is trying to manipulate
Svetlana, Anatoly's wife, but without success. Frederick is offering money
to Anatoly to throw the match and then he tries to manipulate Florence
but both without success.
However
Anatoly's total commitment to win is questioned by Florence. A gap brtween
them has opened.
Song:
The
Deal
Scene
18 (Backstage and On-stage)
The
two woman, Florence and Svetlana, but simultaneously the two actresses,
Gerli ans Janika,
speak about their impossible love of a man obsessed by chess and an actor
obsessed by his profession. Again private lives and stage lives are mirrored.
Song:
I
Know Him So Well
Scene
19 (On the stage)
The
final game! Anatoly rejects love for the reward of becoming World Chess
Champion again.
Song:
Endgame
Scene
20 (Backstage)
Lauri,
Koit, Gerli and Janika are at the end of the show of Chess but they
also now realise that, like the characters they have just played, they
can no longer live together. The reward of winning the game of chess and
the reward the public is giving in the from of applause and fame is all
that is left on stage. The actors and the characters of the show must live
without love though maybe only for the moment. That is the reward for the
winners.
Song:
You
and I (reprise)
Programme :
| 2006
2. Jun
19:00 Big House of Vanemuine (The premier)
15. Aug
19:00 Big House of Vanemuine
6. Oct 19:00 Big House of Vanemuine
|
2007
22. Febr 19:00 Big House of Vanemuine 13. March 19:00 Big House of Vanemuine 31. March 19:00 Big House of Vanemuine 3. Apr 19:00 Big House of Vanemuine 28. Apr 19:00 Big House of Vanemuine 5. May 19:00 Big House of Vanemuine 6. May 16:00 Big House of Vanemuine 2008 03rd Jan. 19:00 Estonian National Opera 04th Jan. 14:00 Estonian National Opera 04th Jan. 19:00 Estonian National Opera 10th Jan. 19:00 Big House of Vanemuine 11th Jan. 19:00 Big House of Vanemuine 15th Jan. 19:00 Big House of Vanemuine
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© 1999 - 2008 Elmar Kivaste
