Regarding several comments about it not being included in any professional productions lately: I have not seen the RAH version, but the album does have this ending included... (sadly the entire production is no good).
@LBOcgn Hi, no it just has the spoken dialogue between Walter and Florence on the RAH album, not the melody. This (the melody) has been removed from the show totally.
@woutch I see what you mean... I guess I was too baffled by how they added a massive orchestra and choir to Idina's already squeaky voice at the RAH, instead of giving her a proper big note ending like here... But well, many things about the RAH baffle me (like, almost the entire cast)
@julesmlowe Yes, that was added at the same time as this ending. However, it was played different ways.
It was "playing games..." said with immense sarcasm, or "playing games..." said as a cry of despair, or "playing games.." just said as a sort of whisper.
None really worked, but at least it helped the audience understand the ending.
i think it's quite funny that the danish actor puts on a southern accent for the American...as if all American's speak that way...more than likely, a southerner wouldn't be playing in a chess tournament...
I, too, have seen numerous versions of CHESS, and the London production is still the best. I've seen 6 versions (live on stage or DVD/video) of the show. I saw the Broadway version back in 1988, and I was very disappointed in the new book and set design. A national tour in 1990 was closer to the original. As for recordings, I also have this Danish cast recording on CD and it is, by far, the best and most complete version. I love this ending and believe it should've been kept in.
@woutch I too adored the Nobody's Side finale. Worked a dream in 1990 (not so good in 1996, though). Sadly the lack of the small bit of "Nobody's Side" at the end of The Deal (No deal) in 1990 left that scene end rather cold, though.
@monsieur66 Yes, that's right. In my description of the video I state that they finally "settled" on this ending a few weeks into the show's run. There were lots of different "try outs" of different endings before this one. Apart from a few amateur stagings though, it's not been used since - at least not entirely as seen and heard here. In all professional productions since the London show closed in 1989, there have been different endings in one way or another. But this is one of the best.
@monsieur66 Thank you for the upload! Incidentally, I still find it really funny (this played here just this month - the first time I'd seen the whole production despite listening to recording for 10+ years), that the plot is described as complex. What exactly is complicated about it?!
@oowowaee It's not so much complex as difficult to follow. The character development leaves you having little emotional connection with any of the lead actors. Frankly, nobody really cared about them despite the fact that they were singing their lungs out to some very great tunes. the problem with CHESS is the book, not the score. It's why it's never been a smash hit. The great score means the show survives in some form, but the poor book means that it never became a big hit it could have.
Very nice video and one of the most powerful moments in the show. I'm actually taking part in a production of "Chess" next month where I'm playing Leonid Viigand and we are using this version of the ending in our production of the show. I think it works best at ending the story and it's very emotional.
@DistantCousin Well, considering this ending has not been performed professionally since 1996, it's reasonable to assume that it's been deleted! It wasn't in the official Swedish production in 2002, the UK Albert Hall version in 2008 (which wasn't really a concert version of the show!), and, as you've rightly said so, it's not in the current 2010/11 touring production either.
Beautiful Ending.
Regarding several comments about it not being included in any professional productions lately: I have not seen the RAH version, but the album does have this ending included... (sadly the entire production is no good).
LBOcgn 2 weeks ago
@LBOcgn Hi, no it just has the spoken dialogue between Walter and Florence on the RAH album, not the melody. This (the melody) has been removed from the show totally.
woutch 2 weeks ago
@woutch I see what you mean... I guess I was too baffled by how they added a massive orchestra and choir to Idina's already squeaky voice at the RAH, instead of giving her a proper big note ending like here... But well, many things about the RAH baffle me (like, almost the entire cast)
LBOcgn 1 week ago in playlist Uploaded videos
In one of the original endings, doesn't Florence have a last despairing line -
"Playing games with our lives!"
Does anyone remember?
julesmlowe 3 months ago
@julesmlowe Yes, that was added at the same time as this ending. However, it was played different ways.
It was "playing games..." said with immense sarcasm, or "playing games..." said as a cry of despair, or "playing games.." just said as a sort of whisper.
None really worked, but at least it helped the audience understand the ending.
woutch 2 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
i think it's quite funny that the danish actor puts on a southern accent for the American...as if all American's speak that way...more than likely, a southerner wouldn't be playing in a chess tournament...
LifeintheformofSean 4 months ago
Comment removed
LifeintheformofSean 4 months ago
I, too, have seen numerous versions of CHESS, and the London production is still the best. I've seen 6 versions (live on stage or DVD/video) of the show. I saw the Broadway version back in 1988, and I was very disappointed in the new book and set design. A national tour in 1990 was closer to the original. As for recordings, I also have this Danish cast recording on CD and it is, by far, the best and most complete version. I love this ending and believe it should've been kept in.
otownguy63 4 months ago
@otownguy63 I too hated the new production. The 1990 tour was my favourite. I loved the "Nobody's Side finale.
woutch 2 months ago
@woutch I too adored the Nobody's Side finale. Worked a dream in 1990 (not so good in 1996, though). Sadly the lack of the small bit of "Nobody's Side" at the end of The Deal (No deal) in 1990 left that scene end rather cold, though.
woutch 2 weeks ago
This is the ending I saw on the West End in 1987. Obvoiusly not the same actors but still.
monsieur66 4 months ago
@monsieur66 Yes, that's right. In my description of the video I state that they finally "settled" on this ending a few weeks into the show's run. There were lots of different "try outs" of different endings before this one. Apart from a few amateur stagings though, it's not been used since - at least not entirely as seen and heard here. In all professional productions since the London show closed in 1989, there have been different endings in one way or another. But this is one of the best.
woutch 4 months ago
@monsieur66 Thank you for the upload! Incidentally, I still find it really funny (this played here just this month - the first time I'd seen the whole production despite listening to recording for 10+ years), that the plot is described as complex. What exactly is complicated about it?!
oowowaee 4 months ago
@oowowaee It's not so much complex as difficult to follow. The character development leaves you having little emotional connection with any of the lead actors. Frankly, nobody really cared about them despite the fact that they were singing their lungs out to some very great tunes. the problem with CHESS is the book, not the score. It's why it's never been a smash hit. The great score means the show survives in some form, but the poor book means that it never became a big hit it could have.
woutch 3 months ago
This is the ending I saw on the West End in 1987.
monsieur66 4 months ago
Very nice video and one of the most powerful moments in the show. I'm actually taking part in a production of "Chess" next month where I'm playing Leonid Viigand and we are using this version of the ending in our production of the show. I think it works best at ending the story and it's very emotional.
Thanks for sharing this one. Was good to watch it
Kind Regards
Chris
chrishampton1981 4 months ago
It's not necessarily deleted as there is still no definitive version! It's just the recent UK tour cut it out...(to it's detriment)
DistantCousin 6 months ago
@DistantCousin Well, considering this ending has not been performed professionally since 1996, it's reasonable to assume that it's been deleted! It wasn't in the official Swedish production in 2002, the UK Albert Hall version in 2008 (which wasn't really a concert version of the show!), and, as you've rightly said so, it's not in the current 2010/11 touring production either.
woutch 6 months ago
Cute and imaginative edit. Where did the ' synchrosised' stage version footage come from?
allirafan 6 months ago
@allirafan It came from an amateur staging in my home town from 1994. Neath, Wales, UK.
woutch 6 months ago