Originally published by L.S. Media. June 12th 2009.

Cast: Paul Kirkbright, Sarah Hardman-Gardner, Samantha Arnold, Tony Clare, Bill Seabury, Mike Ellis, Ray Davies, Lois Holland.

There’s much to be said for a company of players and a director who tackle the seemingly impossible task of putting on Tim Rice’s Chess. A production that famously had teething troubles many years into its run on the West End stage

Thankfully the West Kirby Light Opera Society rose to the challenge and despite some lighting technicalities through the first act you really couldn’t fault the artists on stage for their dedication to the story, nor could you fault the Orchestra, for their playing of some of the more difficult tunes, it was simply breathtaking.

From the very start you could see that the Society hadn’t wasted any time in making sure that this was nothing but the best, certainly this was in evidence with the use of costumes throughout the performance, especially when used at the start of Act 2 when the principal players were in downtown Bangkok to witness the return of reigning chess master Anatoly Sergievsky. The costumes were a perfect visual reference to the tunes Golden Ballet and the incredible One Night in Bangkok. This tune originally sung by Murray Head on the album, was sang with such gusto by Mark Gardner that you could hardly tell the difference.

Much praise must go Paul Kirkbright as the aforementioned Anatoly whose vocal talent was quite amazing, Tony Clare as the Arbiter and Sarah Hardman-Gardner who played the part made famous by Elaine Paige, Florence Vassy. Truth be told Ms. Hardman-Gardner’s voice was on most parts akin to Elaine Paige, especially where she was thrust into the spotlight for I Know Him So Well and the rather beautiful Heaven Help My Heart.

Ian D. Hall