The story, the cast and the band
White and black clad figures emerge out of darkness. Over the musical they form up into a hierarchy - feckless Kings manipulated by scheming Queens, Bishops - "Hellfire" preachers and "flower power" Yogi, Knights who are the media and Rooks in charge of the army. The pawns become unwilling foot soldiers. They play games and fall in love regardless of colour. However, the queens have other plans and argue over supremacy until the White Queen declares war.
Act 2 opens with a futile attempt at "Peace Talks". The knights and rooks gear the pawns up for war and after blessings from the bishops war ensues - a pillow fight. In the midst of the slaughter Pawn 1 (black) meets Pawn 2 (white) and they recall their love for each other before the war in the song "It's Very Hard to Play the Game".
The battle continues until nearly all are dead. The Kings meet and decide on a stalemate. Pawn 3 mourns her loss in "I Hear the Bell Toll" then dies of a broken heart. They all then face St Peter who consigns all to Hell. He offers Pawn 1 and 2 a preview of Hell. It is an exact replica of the beginning of the musical.
White
Queen...............An arrogant cruel schemer.........................................(Ab - E)
King...................Short, pedantic and weak-willed................................(Mainly speaking)
Bishops (2).......Yogi and follower (1 & 2 in the libretto).......................(Bb - Eb)
Knights (2)........20's style, dapper (3 & 4 in the libretto)......................(G - E)
Rooks (2)..........Self important, upper crust.........................................(Mainly speaking)
Pawn 2..............Heroine - female romantic lead, alluring and clever..(G - F)
Pawn 3..............Female comedy lead but also sings saddest song....(A - B)
Pawn 5..............Organising busybody.................................................(C - D)
5 other pawns......................................................................................Individual speaking parts
Black
Queen...............Femme fatale, man-eater and schemer.....................(Ab - F)
King...................Tall, pedantic and weak-willed...................................(Mainly speaking)
Bishops (2).......Hellfire preacher and acolyte (3 & 4 in libretto)...........(Bb - Eb)
Knights (2)........20's style, dapper (1 & 2 in libretto).............................(G - E)
Rooks (2).........2 boys, Colonel Blimps - (Bob & Bertie in libretto).......(Mainly speaking)
Pawn 1.............Hero. Male romantic lead. In love with Pawn 2............(G - F)
Pawn 16...........A bit slow on the uptake. Besotted with Pawn 3..........(Mainly speaking)
6 other pawns........................................................................................Individual speaking parts
St Peter............A suave compere.........................................................(Speaking part)
Semi-chorus...A flexible number of singers who comment on the action in 2 songs in Act 2 but otherwise can join in on stage. (E-G)
The Cast
The Story
The Band
Keyboard (played either from vocal or conductor's score), Bass guitar, Drums, Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone
mp3 Backing tracks are available for free download and can be used with or without band members.
Photos courtesy of Mark Gorman FCT 2011