Broadway (1988)

The cover to the cast album

The **production on Broadway in 1988** was a major production of *Chess*. It had a new book by Richard Nelson and was directed by Trevor Nunn.

## Synopsis

### Act 1

Budapest, Hungary, 1956. Gregor Vassy is a revolutionary in the Hungarian Revolution. During a lull in the fighting, he teaches his young daughter Florence the game of chess, before sending her away ("Prologue").

Bangkok, Thailand, 1988. The Chess World Champion, Russian Anatoly Sergievsky, is defending his title against a new challenger, American Frederick Trumper, who sometimes seems to only be obsessed with money ("Freddie's Entrance"). During a press conference with the two players, Freddie assaults a reporter who implies a romantic relationship with his second, a grown-up Florence. After storming out, Florence is left to clean up the mess. Anatoly returns to his hotel room with his KGB-employed second, Ivan Molokov, and they discuss Freddie's seeming insanity, and Florence's strange history. When Molokov leaves, Anatoly reflects on his rise to the top ("Where I Want To Be").

Florence arrives at her and Freddie's hotel room to find Freddie's "agent", Walter Anderson, on the phone scheduling a photo shoot for him. Florence, suspicious, kicks Walter out and poses a chess problem to Freddie. While he struggles to solve it, she complains about putting up with Freddie's antics and letting her extensive education go to waste ("Argument").

Before the opening ceremony begins, Walter makes an impressivee display with his team of salesmen ("Merchandisers"). Molokov and Florence meet, and have a small debate, but Molokov eventually turns to the uplifting prospects in the world ("Diplomats"). On opening night, this scene was longer, and also included "Chess Hymn".

During the first game ("Chess #1"), Freddie stops and accuses the Soviets of cheating, and storms out. Florence is left to pick up the consequences of his indefensible behavior with Molokov, Anatoly, and the Arbiter ("Quartet"). Eventually, Florence and Molokov agree to have the two players meet at a bar to reconcile.

Florence returns to the hotel room and finds only Walter is there, negotiating some parts of Freddie's contract. When Freddie returns, he has plans of living up the Bangkok nightlife before returning home. Florence informs him of the meeting, and the two get into an argument, which culminates in Freddie using the death of Florence's father to manipulate her ("The American and Florence"). He leaves angrily, and Florence is left to contemplate their relationship and wonders whether she should leave ("Someone Else's Story").

Freddie, meanwhile, is exploring the Bangkok nightlife ("One Night In Bangkok"). Florence arrives at the bar to find Molokov and Anatoly, but no Freddie. When Molokov leaves, Florence goes out to the terrace, and Anatoly follows her, and the two quickly fall in love. Suddenly, however, Freddie arrives, accusing Florence of siding with the Soviets. Anatoly gives an apology, but Freddie reveals he has been offered $100,000 to continue playing ("Terrace Duet").

After the games in Bangkok are finished ("Chess #2"), Anatoly is up by five games to one. Freddie, distraught, accuses Florence of intentionally making him lose, and the two get into an argument which culminates in Florence quitting ("Florence Quits") and Freddie defending his actions to himself ("A Taste Of Pity"). While Florence is packing her bags, she contemplates her own relationships, and confirms that the only person she can rely on is herself ("Nobody's Side").

Walter assists Anatoly in defecting to America with Florence, evading Molokov and the Russians ("Defection"). However, before they can leave Bangkok, they are accosted by reporters which Walter has assembled, who ask Anatoly why he's leaving Russia ("Reporters"). Anatoly responds by saying that he will never truly leave his homeland ("Anthem").

### Act 2

JFK Airport, New York, eight weeks later. In a prologue cut after opening night, a group of Reporters ask the Arbiter what he plans to do about the politicization of the match. He affirms his ultimate authority over the match ("The Arbiter").

Budapest, Hungary. Florence and Anatoly arrive at a cathedral, where a choir is practicing for the upcoming summit meeting ("Hungarian Folk Song"). They are greeted by Walter, and soon encounter three of Anatoly's old friends. Though Anatoly is excited to see them, he is not sure why the Soviets would allow his friends to come to Budapest, and begins to suspect foul play. When they leave, Florence stays behind, and meets Molokov, who recounts a tale of his wife. Florence reflects on it, and wonders what the future of her relationship with Anatoly will be ("Heaven Help My Heart").

Walter walks in on Freddie, who has an interview going on. Walter kicks the interviewer out, and the two have a short debate about Freddie's situation in the match. Freddie insists that he can win, not because he has practiced more, but because he wants to win more ("Winning").

Anatoly's friends leave and Florence and Anatoly are left alone. Florence learns that Anatoly's wife, Svetlana, is in Budapest, and the two, though somewhat hopeless, affirm their love for each other despite any setbacks. Anatoly then goes to meet with Svetlana, who is upset about his leaving but admits he has been happier with Florence ("You And I"). Molokov is also there, and tells Anatoly about the consequences his friends and family are feeling back home, and begins threatening his family.

Freddie suddenly has a new wave of inspiration, and begins winning ("Freddie Goes Metal"). Molokov and Walter meet, and Molokov proposes a deal to get Anatoly back, in exchange for the release of Florence's father. Walter agrees. In the meantime, Freddie has won enough games that the score is now tied five-all ("Let's Work Together").

Florence, Anatoly, and Walter have dinner at a restaurant, when Molokov and Svetlana walk in. Anatoly tells Florence about the threats he has been receiving, and Florence goes out to the terrace to get some air. There, she is joined by Svetlana. The two talk about their various relationships with Anatoly, and each believe he needs the other more ("I Know Him So Well"). When Florence returns, Anatoly has received another threat, and Florence has found that her father may be alive. Anatoly begins breaking down even further, and has Florence ask Freddie for a week's postponement of the match, so that he can get himself together again. Florence meets Freddie, who has resumed his interview. Florence interrupts him to ask for the postponement, but Freddie angrily refuses. When asked by the interviewer about his childhood, Freddie breaks down in a self-pitious recounting of his life ("Pity The Child").

Florence is approached by Nikolai, one of Molokov's agents, to bring her to her father. Florence follows him, and meets an old man, who shows her a picture of her when she was younger. He begins to sing her a lullaby, which Florence recognizes, and begins to sing along to ("Lullaby").

Florence returns to the arena to find Anatoly slept in his dressing room and is still uncertain if he will play. The match is about to begin, and Anatoly has not shown up. The spectators wonder why he could throw away such an important game, but eventually Anatoly arrives. He and Freddie are both distracted, but eventually Anatoly makes a tactical error, which Freddie takes advantage of and wins ("Endgame").

Anatoly and Florence reunite one last time as Anatoly is about to return to Moscow. The two reflect on their relationship and wish they could see each other again, no matter how doomed it may have been ("You And I (Reprise)"). After Anatoly leaves, Walter comes up to Florence, and tells her that the man she met was probably not her father, and that instead they will be releasing an American agent. Florence angrily tells Walter to leave, and sadly repeats Anatoly's earlier words about her homeland ("Finale")

## Song List

### Act 1

1. Prologue
2. Freddie's Entrance†
3. Press Conference†
4. Where I Want To Be
5. Argument
6. Merchandisers†
7. Diplomats†
8. Opening 1st Game†
9. Chess #1†
10. Quartet
11. The American and Florence
12. Someone Else's Story
13. Golden Bangkok
14. One Night In Bangkok
15. Terrace Duet
16. Chess #2†
17. Florence Quits†
18. A Taste Of Pity†
19. Nobody's Side
20. Defection†
21. Reporters†
22. Anthem

### Act 2

1. The Arbiter†
2. Hungarian Folk Song
3. Heaven Help My Heart
4. Winning
5. You And I
6. Freddie Goes Metal†
7. Let's Work Together†
8. I Know Him So Well
9. Pity The Child
10. Budapest Streets
11. Lullaby
12. Endgame
13. You And I (Reprise)
14. Finale†

†: Not included on the cast album.

#### Notes

1. ↑ Includes "The Story of Chess"
2. ↑ On the cast album, referred to as "How Many Women"
3. ↑ On the cast album, referred to as "You Want To Lose Your Only Friend?"
4. ↑ Sometimes called "So You Got What You Want"
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Underscoring
6. ↑ On the cast album, referred to as "No Contest"
7. ↑ Sometimes called "A Whole New Board Game"