(Michaelhouse
students, Menziwokuhle Mbuyazi & Grant Hiscock who appear in “Chess”)
Pupils from Michaelhouse in Balgowan and St
Anne’s Diocesan School in Hilton have teamed up to perform one of musical
theatre’s most interesting and complex works, Chess.
Running from August 13 to 16 at the
Schlesinger Theatre, the musical is based on an idea by Tim Rice, with music by
ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and lyrics by Tim Rice.
The production develops the ancient game of
chess into a metaphor for romantic rivalries and East-West political intrigue.
It is loosely based on the Bobby Fischer, the American Grandmaster with the
crazy demands and terrible manners.
Central to the musical is the love triangle
between American Freddie, serious Russian champion, Anatoly, and
Hungarian-American, Florence.
From Italy to Thailand the players, lovers,
politicians, CIA and KGB make their moves to the pulse of this monumental rock
score.
Chess was a significant and powerful piece of musical theatre for its
time as it reflected the Cold War tensions present in the 1980s, the government
manipulations and paranoia, and the xenophobic attitudes present in the
political climate of the time.
Several numbers, including One Night in Bangkok and I Know Him So Well,
were massive hits, and numbers including Pity
the Child and Heaven Help My Heart
became enduring musical theatre ballads.
Chess is presented by the same team who brought you the Michaelhouse and St
Anne’s musicals Phantom of the Opera and
My Fair Lady. Abri Venter conducts
the music and William le Cordeur directs this challenging theatrical work.
Chess has performances on August 13 at 14h00 and August 14, 15 and 16 at
19h00. Tickets R120 (R80 pupils) booked online at https://www.tickethut.co.za/michaelhouse/events/chess-the-musical/
Complementary tea and eats will be served,
and a cash bar will be available
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