CHESS The Musical original ending.

The now deleted "Walter and Florence" scene from the musical CHESS, pieced together with the audio from the Danish Cast Recording and imagery from a Welsh amateur staging (along with additional archived footage).




Okay, so the lip-synching is a bit dodgy, but it gives a rough idea on how the legendary stage show finished Act 2 after they'd FINALLY settled on this ending, a few weeks into the run, in 1986.

The ending has been changed dozens of times before and since, but this is probably the most famous and most effective ending at helping explain the rather complex plot.

This song has now been completely removed from the show, and ABBA afficiandoes might recognise that the verse melody was heard on Gemini's "best of" album in 2005 on the song When I Close My Eyes, with the chorus melody from the same song used in the short-lived Broadway version of CHESS.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ABBA
• CHESS

[LBOcgn]

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).

[woutch]

@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.

[julesmlowe]

In one of the original endings, doesn't Florence have a last despairing line -

"Playing games with our lives!"

Does anyone remember?

[woutch]

@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.

[otownguy63]

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]

@otownguy63 I too hated the new production. The 1990 tour was my favourite. I loved the "Nobody's Side finale.

[woutch]

@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.

[LBOcgn]

@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)

[woutch]

@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.

[oowowaee]

@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?!