REVIEW
The idea of Chess in a Colorado dinner theatre may
seem strange, but this was an excellent production of the
musical. The dinner was served, eaten and cleared before the
theatre began, as many of the serving staff were also
performers and technicians in the show. Amazingly, they
excelled at both. The facility has a large, thrust stage and
the Chicago script (with some of the formality of the
Concept Album added) was performed with a fluidity and
seamlessness rarely seen. Again the concept of human chess
pieces was used, though with different costuming. But it was
the actors and director who kept this Chess
moving.
Alex Ryer (Florence) had just come from several Off-Broadway
shows and several national tours, but she and the rest of
the cast were mainly local talent. Steven Bogard (The
Russian) was a BDT veteran who had also performed on cruise
ships and in a jazz vocal group. Wayne Kennedy hailed from
Salt Lake City. The show was extended and won six (of 10
nominations) Denver Drama Critics' Circle Awards: Best
Production of a Musical, Direction, Costume Design and
acting awards for Alex Ryer, Wayne Kennedy and Jeff
Cyronek.
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