Durango drama students ready for some `Chess'

A stark black-and-white stage set. Characters whose lives are at the mercy of others, living as though they were pawns. It can only be the musical "Chess."

Durango High School drama students will present the show tomorrow, Friday, Saturday and May 10 and 11 in the school's theater, 7100 W. Dewey Drive, 7 p.m. each night.

The musical enjoyed a short-lived run on Broadway in 1987 and had a semi-hit song with the funky "One Night in Bangkok." The show creates a metaphor of two chess players, one Russian, one American. As they battle it out on the chess board, an even larger battle is ensuing between the two powerhouse countries and their delegations. In the midst of it all is a beautiful woman whose future hangs in the balance.

Seventeen-year-old Brian Lee, a senior, plays one of the lead roles. It is his first time in a stage production, but something he wanted to experience before graduating high school. He said the part of the American chess player allows him to become a different person and while on stage, he can forget his own problems and enter that character. His acting ability was apparent when he auditioned.

"He has a definite ability to express feelings and figure out a character's motivation," said Alyson Geary, drama teacher and director of the play. "He's probably the only one in school that can sing that high. The part is musically very demanding."

Although acting comes to him easily, Lee said he will study psychology and architecture and plans to attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas this fall.

Another senior, Ben Ivie, 18, plays the other chess player and had to learn to speak with a Russian accent. He said he was just grateful he didn't have to really speak the language. He admitted to being "really nervous" at the audition but thought he still had a chance of being selected. The hardest part for him, he said, is portraying someone with a background different from his own.

Ivie is considering attending either the University of Nevada, Reno or Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. He wants to be a composer.

Selected for the main female role is 17-year-old Rebekah Kochan, a junior. The veteran of many performances (she's been involved in theater one way or another since age 9), she found her character to be very strong-willed even though "Florence" is in a bad relationship.

"Usually in a musical you don't get to portray 'real' people," she said. "They're more like cartoon characters. But these characters are more true to life and I like that."

She intends to further cultivate her singing and acting talents and be a professional actress.

Forty-two students are participating in the play (nearly 90 auditioned). The action will be accompanied by a live orchestra, a mix of students and local professionals. Rehearsals have been going on for more than two months. The cast admitted to feeling the effects of spring fever, saying it was tough to stay focused, but as the date for opening night approaches, they're settling down.

"This is a difficult play to do," Geary said. "It's usually only done by college or professional organizations because it's so demanding. I selected it because we have a lot of talented kids and I thought it would challenge them to do an advanced play."

Tickets are $7 for adults, $3 for children age 10 or younger. Call 799-5850 Ext. 208 for more information.