Tag Archives: Chess

The Saturday List: Best ‘Memories’ of Elaine Paige

Posted on March 5, 2022 by Tjaart van der Walt

Today we celebrate the birthday of one of the most well known leading ladies of the modern musical theatre era, Elaine Paige. Continue reading →

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The Saturday List: Ten Best Anti-Love Songs

Posted on February 19, 2022 by Tjaart van der Walt

Nobody I know enjoys dating. But experience tells us that there are good dates to be had. And so do musicals. So let’s take a look at ten great musical theatre dates – just in time for Valentine’s Day! Continue reading →

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30 Musicals in 30 Days: Favourite Male Singer

Posted on April 8, 2011 by David Fick

Post a song sung by your favourite male singer in a musical. This was much tougher than yesterday’s challenge. I can think of so many male singers: John Barrowman, Brian Stokes Mitchell, John Raitt, for starters. But there is not … Continue reading →

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Deconstructing Disney: AIDA Part 1

Posted on May 3, 2010 by David Fick

This month’s in-depth look at a particular musical will take a look at the Disney Theatricals musical adaptation of Aida, a show that has always been rather problematic for me but which has a popular following amongst a particular group … Continue reading →

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“I Know Him So Well”, featuring Susan Boyle

Posted on December 14, 2009 by David Fick

Here’s a “treat”: Elaine Paige singing “I Know Him So Well” with Susan Boyle. It’s an absolute feast of poor enunciation, bad timing and absent harmonies!

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More CHESS moves: some notes on characterisation…

Posted on August 9, 2009 by David Fick

One popular criticism of Chess seems to be the lack of focus in terms of characterisation. Who is the protagonist? Is there more than one? Is it Florence all the way through? Freddie in Act I and Florence in Act … Continue reading →

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CHESS: Opening Moves

Posted on August 1, 2009 by David Fick

With the recent release of the Chess in Concert DVD, I find that I am once again thinking about this most problematic of musicals. The main problem with the show (in any of its variations) is that it has a … Continue reading →

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CHESS Question: a Definitive Recording?

Posted on January 22, 2004 by David Fick

There are many recordings of Chess: the 1984 Concept Album, the 1988 Original Broadway Cast Recording, the 1994 Swedish Concert Cast, the released then withdrawn 2001 Danish Tour Cast Recording and the the 2002 Swedish Cast Recording (which is in … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadway, Cast Recording Reviews, Concept Albums, International, Musicals, West End | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME: 2000 OCR Track by Track

Posted on November 27, 2000 by David Fick

The original cast recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton’s new musical The Beautiful Game was released this past weekend. The production opened recently in London to mixed reviews, with many critics saving the most negative comments for Elton’s … Continue reading →

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