Rock meets romance in alumni musical

By Katie Johnson (Contact) | Austin Daily Herald

Published Monday, August 18, 2008

A cult rock musical loosely based on the personalities of famous Grandmaster chess players will debut at Riverland Community College Wednesday.

The 11th Annual Alumni Show “Chess” is set during the 1980s, a time when two chess players, Russian Victor Korchnoi and American Bobby Fischer, were turning the world’s attention to the game.

A tale of romance and politics, “Florence” is involved in a love triangle with two chess players, “The American” and “The Russian.”

Photo by Eric Johnson

Lia Culvert, playing Florence, rehearses a song from the Riverland Alumni presentation of Chess Friday night at Riverland Community College's Frank W. Bridge's Theatre.

“It’s at the end of the Cold War,” explains Jerry Girton, “Chess” director. “There’s the American chess player and the Russian chess player.

“It’s kind of a metaphor for everything in life — life is kind of like a game of chess,” he said.

The “Chess” soundtrack album, which generated hits like “One Night in Bangkok,” “Heaven Help My Heart” and “I Know Him So Well,” was released in 1984, two years before its theatrical debut in London. An altered version premiered on Broadway in 1988.

Tim Rice of “Jesus Christ Superstar” produced the lyrics for “Chess,” and music was provided by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, formerly of Swedish pop group ABBA.

“It’s different than (ABBA musical) ‘Mamma Mia,’” Girton explained. “It’s original music.”

Riverland’s production of “Chess” stars 25 current students and alumni from the surrounding area as well as Blue Earth, Owatonna, Waseca and the Twin Cities.

“Chess” plays at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20 through Saturday, Aug. 23 at Frank W. Bridges Theatre, Riverland Community College, Austin Campus.

Tickets are $15 and available at Coffee House on Main or the Riverland Box Office, 433-0596. Office hours are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

All proceeds from the show benefit Riverland scholarships.