US Tour (1990)

The **American tour in 1990** was a production of *Chess* largely based on the Broadway production, but with several changes to the book. It was directed by Des McAnuff and toured from January to May before closing early due to low ticket sales. Tim Rice had originally presented the book which would later be used in Sydney for this production, but this was rejected in favor of a revision of the Broadway book by Robert Coe. Plotlines involving Florence's father were cut and the Americans were made to seem generally more likeable, with Freddie seeming to genuinely care for Florence and Anatoly becoming a known womanizer who cheated on his wife several times.

## Synopsis

### Act 1

The Arbiter opens the show by recollecting "The Story Of Chess". We learn that the World Chess Champion, American Freddie Trumper, is defending his title against Russian Anatoly Sergievsky, and plans to demonstrate his prowess by beating a chess computer in less than 25 moves ("Freddie's Entrance"). Anatoly and his second, Alexander Molokov, are in their suite, watching this, and debating Freddie's ability and sanity, with Anatoly reminding Molokov that Freddie is perfectly sane. They take a particular interest in Freddie's second, Florence Vassy, who is the daughter of a Hungarian grandmaster who died in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, and who Anatoly finds particularly attractive ("The Russian and Molokov"). Molokov leaves Anatoly to himself, and he reflects on his rise to the top ("Where I Want To Be").

The Arbiter introduces the opposing delegations to each other, and after a series of increasingly petty objections, asserts his authority over the match ("The Arbiter"). During the game, Anatoly is served a cup of yogurt, for which Freddie accuses the Soviets of cheating and storms out. In the ensuing argument, Anatoly begins flirting with Florence, who refuses his advances ("Quartet"). Florence, Anatoly, and Molokov eventually agree to meet at a restaurant in the hotel to settle the dispute.

Florence returns to Freddie's suite to find only his marketing agent, Walter DeCourcey, with whom she is rather displeased. Freddie returns, however, and she soon learns that the walkout was a ploy to give him more thinking time. An argument breaks out, in which Freddie uses the death of her father to manipulate her, which she ignores ("The American and Florence"), and on her way to get ready she confirms that she can only really rely on herself ("Nobody's Side").

At the meeting, Florence begins to feel an unintentional attraction to Anatoly, and the two eventually begin to share their feelings for each other, before Freddie arrives and breaks it up ("Terrace Duet"). Florence immediately regrets her feelings, Freddie assumes Anatoly is trying to take Florence away, and Molokov assumes he is trying to take Florence to break down Freddie.

After a game, Anatoly calls Florence and tells her that she has helped him see what he is dissatisfied with. She refuses his advances, regretful about what happened the previous night, but eventually he arrives to speak with her in person, telling her that Freddie is broken and that he knows how Freddie treats her. They kiss, but she is still hesitant and doesn't believe it will work out for them.

The match resumes ("No Contest") and Anatoly begins leading 5-1. Freddie, upset and disheartened, takes his anger out on Florence, accusing her of intentionally throwing him off ("Florence Quits") before breaking down in self-pity ("Pity The Child"). Florence, meanwhile, decides to leave Bangkok entirely. Before she can do so, however, she is approached by Walter, who tells her that Anatoly is defecting. Anatoly and Florence talk, and though Florence is still hesitant, she eventually decides to remain in Bangkok ("Heaven Help My Heart"). However, once Anatoly is at the Embassy, he is accosted by a group of reporters who ask him why he is leaving ("Reporters"). Anatoly responds by telling them that he denounces nothing and that "his lands only borders lie around his heart" ("Anthem").

### Act 2

Florence arrives at Freddie's suite to apologize, but Freddie is not there. Walter finds her and tells her that he is gone and they don't know where he is. Freddie, upset and abandoned, has gone to explore the Bangkok nightlife, but is mugged and left on the ground until Walter finds him ("One Night In Bangkok").

One week later, Florence and Anatoly are at a restaurant, having finished a week's postponement of the matc, when they are met by one of Anatoly's friends, who tells them that his wife, Svetlana, has been brought to Bangkok. This news disturbs Florence and Anatoly, but they confirm their love for each other. Anatoly goes to meet with Svetlana, who is resigned to the situation ("You And I"). Molokov arrives, and tells Anatoly that since his defection, his family has been affected very badly, and that Anatoly has "taken on a most unpleasant enemy."

In light of these events, Florence goes to Freddie to ask him to ask for a postponement, since Anatoly has used his already ("Where I Want To Be/You And I"). Surprisingly, Freddie accepts, and asks the Arbiter for a postponement on the pretense that he has been suffering from debilitating headaches after being mugged ("Freddie Goes Metal"). The Arbiter, however, sees through this lie and denies the postponement ("The Story of Chess (Reprise)"). Meanwhile, the games have reached a tied score of 5 each, and Walter has been approached by Molokov to ask about Anatoly.

Florence and Svetlana end up at the same bar, where they each express their belief that Anatoly needs the other more ("I Know Him So Well"), before noticing each other and discussing this. Anatoly soon returns, and asks Svetlana to call his brother, since he has heard of an accident happening to his nephew. He has been at the American Embassy for hours, waiting in line for an ultimately futile request.

Freddie is at a photo shoot in a Buddhist temple when Anatoly approaches him. Anatoly says that he plans to forfeit the next game, and allows Freddie to keep his title. Freddie, however, says that he doesn't want to get the title by forfeit, and asks Anatoly to at least play the game. But when the game begins, Anatoly is nowhere to be found. As the crowd prepares to congratulate Freddie, Anatoly finally arrives. He and Freddie have a tense game, but though Anatoly is determined, he makes a tactical blunder and Freddie comes out on top ("Endgame").

At the airport, Anatoly and Svetlana are prepared to return to Russia. Svetlana suggests this could be a rekindling of their relationship, but Anatoly says that it can never be what it once was. Svetlana also says that the accident that he heard of was not in fact true, and that his nephew is safe. Florence soon arrives, and she and Anatoly reflect on their short-lived relationship ("You And I (Reprise)"). Molokov offers her an apartment in Moscow, which she refuses. Finally, Walter arrives. He reveals that he and Molokov struck a deal: Walter would make Anatoly's life as an American miserable so that he would go back, and in exchange, Walter would get access to the untapped merchandising market in Russia ("Walter and Florence"). He also suggests that Florence and Freddie return to each other, and once again become a great chess team. Florence refuses, and Freddie brings her her luggage as she reflects on the life she could have had ("Someone Else's Story").