I've just got back from London. As Jo has said, what a great night on Monday - we had some fabulous seats - I had geared myself up for the 8th row thinking that was going to be a great view -but when I got in and saw Row 8 was Row 2 - wow.
The whole cast were on top form - simply amazing amazing voices. Marti of course, playing the Arbiter - was the first one on to set the story of Chess and sing - if I had a criticism of anything on the Monday - the sound was just a tad 'off' at first, but that could have been my ears adjusting to the change in style, i.e. huge orchestra good venue etc. However, it didn't detract from Marti's performance, and on the way out afterwards I heard only good comments about his performance from those around me.
In the end, as I haven't got a job to rush back for - (but should have been job hunting) - I had decided at the last minute to stay down another night - I never quite did get my priorities right (or did I) - I managed to get myself a ticket for the Tuesday - which again turned out to be an amazing seat. In my opinion the Tuesday night was the best of the two, the whole cast seemed to have settled down, and where Marti pulled those notes from, and held them, well, there really is no end to his talent, or his voice. Amazing performance - and he kept the proceedings in order - as that's the Arbiters job.
All in all - one hell of a couple of days. It was a lot different to what I had expected - I thought Chess in concert meant artists just singing the songs from the show - but no - there were the moves there - and in fact it was like a full performance of what I remembered from when I saw it way back when, but with a huge magnificent cast lasting about 2.5 hours excluding the interval - therefore - I got a lot more than I expected - and Marti was on the stage for quite a lot of the time as the Arbiter has to oversee the proceedings - the arbiter has the opening scene to introduce the show - 2 specific songs to sing with the soloists and several songs in which he plays a large part, so he must have worked his socks (and gloves) off to not only learn the songs, but to learn the whole part as well, when to enter the proceedings, where to stand, which door to come from, the lines he had to say etc etc, and all while he's been carrying on his own solo tour - I should imagine a really difficult thing to do - but clearly - done to perfection.
I didn't take any pictures on the Monday due to how close to the proceedings we actually were, so as not to detract from anyone elses pleasure. There were really strict 'no camera' rules on the Tuesday - possibly because of the filming - but I did rattle a few pictures off during the bow at the end, and I'll upload them and post them shortly, I've amazed myself at how well they have turned out.
Great to see a few familiar faces there as well.
Marti I admire your discipline and dedication to your profession - and take my hat off to you. Absolutely brilliant.
Come tell me all about it!