The Unforgettable Line

The lead character of the new musical The Opening is Newton Anderson, a nerdy, sweet 17 year old. When he’s not compulsively playing chess, he’s daydreaming about his classmate Jenny or doing the homework of Jim, his best friend since 2nd grade.  His school class is the type that has a “Hot Josh” and a “Medium Josh.”  Entering a professional chess tournament presents the high schooler with an opportunity to increase his “cool” factor, a goal that feels within reach after he’s crowned as runner up.  Newton’s desire for social status and prize money begins to crowd out his genuine respect for the game.  That’s when Jim’s puerile observation concerning the shape of the bishop spawns a wild plan to beat the long reigning world champion, Carson Marlsen.  Suddenly, Newton finds his black and white world turning an unfamiliar and alarming grey. 

The events depicted in The Opening are based on a very real — though unproven — scandal between American Grandmaster Hans Niemann and Norwegian Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen that rocked the chess world in 2022 and led to new security measures at live tournaments.  True fans will recognize the names of actual players mixed in with fictionalized counterparts.  Inspired by a meme of the controversy, book writer Brooke Di Spirito and her composer collaborator Mateo Chavez Lewis initially pitched their musical concept as a joke to their writers group.  But the reactions from their creative circle were so buoyant, they moved ahead to complete what is billed as “The Second Most Famous Musical About Chess” with punny lyrics by the pair. In the script’s current form, Di Spirito takes two plot turns that defy logic, but it still provides an enjoyable journey.

A vivacious ensemble of thirteen — many making their Off-Broadway debut — is anchored by a fresh-faced, amiable Ryan Jacobs as Newton.  Dominating the stage like a brunette Thor is Harrison O’Callaghan as the man who suffers from too much excellence, Carson Marlsen.  O’Callaghan also performs the brilliant “My Queen” at Newton’s prom as crooner Marx Clarkson. Rylee Carpenter radiates such stage presence that she attracts attention in the underdeveloped role of love interest Jenny and also just participating in the ensemble.  Jake Faragalli makes the fro-yo obsessed Jim endearing even when he’s leading his friend astray.  Ed Horan and Mitchell Bruce help steer the audience through the layered chess lingo as Commentators Johnny and John.  

According to the Chess Federation, $31,561 was raised on Kickstarter to produce the show and place ads in Playbill.  Given the obvious budget constraints and the compact size of the stage, director Nick Flatto has still gone all out to bring on the splash one hopes to see at a musical.  The rapid paced dialogue, physical humor, and R-Rated double entendres (including the clever pseudonym of a mysterious new challenger on the chess scene) get a boost from Ms. Di Spirito’s choreography which ranges from Gene-Kellylike toppling of furniture to Balanchine-adjacent entrechat.  The sound design by Brian Wedeking is inspired.  A live pit band — keyboard, guitar, drums and bass — performs directly in front of audience left.  (I was not unhappy to have foam earplugs with me.)  Lyrics contain many mentions of chess moves including, naturally, traditional openings.  Although the anthem to “Sixty-Four Squares” is reprized at least three times too often, several of the songs are catchy.  Three days later, the bouncy “If I Cheated” is still on a loop in my head. 

While the humor is juvenile and the storyline ultimately tumbles into the absurd, there is a great time to be had at The Opening.  And though this spirited work is not primarily a morality play, it does have meaningful things to say about the impact cheating can have on the cheater and on the people and things they hold dear.  The production is having its Off-Broadway Premiere through February 8 at The Players Theater, where it won the Self-Producing Residency Award.  The venue is located at 115 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street and Minetta Lane in Greenwich Village.  It is not wheelchair accessible and restrooms are one flight down.  Running time is approximately 100 minutes without an intermission.  Tickets are $53 to $75 and can be purchased at https://theopeningoffbway.mypixieset.com/.