The Green Room - Chess in Concert on PBS

Jun 13^th, 2009 at 8:00pm

Stretch Armstrong Offline
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Check your local PBS listings, but they're broadcasting "Chess in Concert" with Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, and Josh Groban on Great Performances a few times starting next week.

« Last Edit: Jun 14^th, 2009 at 6:08pm by Stretch Armstrong »

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Reply #1 - Jun 15^th, 2009 at 5:57pm

Cheeky Monkey Offline
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I've had this marked in my day-planner for weeks. Ghee!

Here's a little sneak peek:

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/06/chess-in-concert-finally-going-to-air.ht...

Could Josh Groban's voice BE any more perfect for the Russian?

"Depends. Did you feel anything for the pumpkin? The midgets?" -Wildcard&&&&If Mary Matalin and James Carville can make it work, ANYONE can. The end.

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Reply #2 - Jun 17^th, 2009 at 10:49pm

kitchensinger Offline
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Well that was freakin' amaz-z-zing!

Loved Adam Pascal, Kerry Ellis, �and Josh Groban. �LOVED Josh. �His voice gets even better every time I hear him, if that's even possible. �It was nice to finally see him engaged for once. �And I think Adam Pascal is SO unique; I was totally into his performance. �I loved Idina Menzel's acting, but I don't care for her singing very much. �Some GREAT things in the ensemble...and a few weird things, too.

I LOVE that music. �Holy cow. �Chess is awesome.

« Last Edit: Jun 18^th, 2009 at 1:48am by kitchensinger »

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Reply #3 - Jun 18^th, 2009 at 8:52am

The Heathenist Offline
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kitchensinger wrote on Jun 17^th, 2009 at 10:49pm:

Well that was freakin' amaz-z-zing!

Loved Adam Pascal, Kerry Ellis, �and Josh Groban. �LOVED Josh. �His voice gets even better every time I hear him, if that's even possible. �It was nice to finally see him engaged for once. �And I think Adam Pascal is SO unique; I was totally into his performance. �I loved Idina Menzel's acting, but I don't care for her singing very much. �Some GREAT things in the ensemble...and a few weird things, too.

I LOVE that music. �Holy cow. �Chess is awesome.

kitchen...we have similar tastes in our fav pixar films, but our sentiments about chess in concert are almost EXACT opposite.

I thought Kerri Ellis, while having a beautiful voice, showed NO drive in that role. I thought she was boring, self indulgent in her singing, and totally out of the moment. There was no acting when she sang it was just "look at me, i'm a star and listen to how well i can hit this belty note now...ah i am just drowning in my own amazingness..."...she drove me crazy. Josh Groban i felt couldn't act to save his life. His voice is PERFECT for the role. PPEERRFFEECCTT!!!! But I just can't watch him. You can tell he has NO training when it comes to acting. Adam Pascal, who I generally love, was doing all sorts of funky things with his voice. He sounded great in parts though...his rappy stuff in bangkok was a little embarrassing for me, and his version of pity the child didn't get me going til the end. It was too staccato...Idina Menzel for me was the only saving grace for an otherwise bland and poorly staged concert. She always manages to lighten things up. Her singing was spot on, and her stage presence makes Kerri and Josh look like amatuers. The ensemble was boring and forgettable.

Over all if you can't tell, I was extremely dissapointed. Too bad. It could have been great.

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Reply #4 - Jun 18^th, 2009 at 11:06am

Cheeky Monkey Offline
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I don't quite remember how all the singing was because I was too busy singing along...

"Depends. Did you feel anything for the pumpkin? The midgets?" -Wildcard&&&&If Mary Matalin and James Carville can make it work, ANYONE can. The end.

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Reply #5 - Jun 20^th, 2009 at 6:26am

Toddy Offline
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I've said it once, I'll say it again. As a score, incredible. As a show, horrible! CHESS should always remain an album. The script is flimsy and this version was just as confusing and self-indulgent!

Crazy world, full of crazy contradictions like a child; first you drive me wild, and then you win my heart with your wicked art; one minute tender, gentle; then tempramental as a summer storm; just when I believe your heart's getting warmer. Your cold and your cruel, and I like a fool try to cope. Try to hang on to hope. Crazy world, everyday the same old roller coaster ride, but I've got my pride, I won't give in; even though I know I'll never win. Oh how I love this, crazy world! -- Henry Mancini

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Reply #6 - Jun 22^nd, 2009 at 4:32pm

The Heathenist Offline
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Toddy wrote on Jun 20^th, 2009 at 6:26am:

I've said it once, I'll say it again. As a score, incredible. As a show, horrible! CHESS should always remain an album. The script is flimsy and this version was just as confusing and self-indulgent!

amen.

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Reply #7 - Jun 23^rd, 2009 at 1:07pm

SN Offline
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Worst nap ever. Remind me never to watch another 2 1/2 hour concert version of a musical with only 6 songs.

Did anyone think the concert sounded like there was a lot of electronic pitch correction? Half the time I was convinced Adam Pascal was singing into a comb covered with wax paper.

If you shined a flashlight in my butt, you'd see I'm dying inside.

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Reply #8 - Jun 23^rd, 2009 at 2:18pm

The Heathenist Offline
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SN wrote on Jun 23^rd, 2009 at 1:07pm:

Worst nap ever. �Remind me never to watch another 2 1/2 hour concert version of a musical with only 6 songs. �

Did anyone think the concert sounded like there was a lot of electronic pitch correction? �Half the time I was convinced Adam Pascal was singing into a comb covered with wax paper.

BA HA HA HA HA HA

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