Project 30: First Round Update

The two main Project 30 tournaments are progressing very nicely and there have already been a lot of exciting and highly competitive games.

Here is an update on the scores so far.

Round 1 KO Pairings and Results

Matt Jackman  draw Peter Harker
(Matt won the 5-minute play-off, 2-0)

Paul Weightman 0-1 John Garnett

Graham Edwards 0-1 Kevin Waterman

Richard Harris draw Mike Creaney
(Richard won the replay)

Sean Cassidy v Rayelynn Posadas

David Baillie draw Sean Marsh 
(The Rapidplay play-off was drawn too; I won the 10-minute play-off game)

Mike Pointon 0-1(d) Royce Parker


Round 1 Rapidplay Pairings and Results

David Baillie v Matt Jackman

Paul Weightman v Richard Harris

Graham Edwards 0.5-1.5 Mike Pointon

Mike Creaney 1-1 Sean Cassidy 
(Sean won the Blitz play-off, 1.5-0.5)

John Garnett 1-1 Sean Marsh
(I won the Blitz play-off, 1.5-0.5)

Rayelynn Posadas v Royce Parker

Peter Harker v Kevin Waterman

The games in both sections need to be played by the 31 November 2019

I enjoyed my games but my path to the respective second rounds was far from plain sailing. John won the first Rapidplay game against me when my sacrifice didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. John should have won the first Blitz game too.

David found a brilliant move to save our KO game. The two play-off games could easily have gone either way too, especially the 10-minute game, which was absolutely wild and completely unclear from start to finish.

I will post some of the key positions here soon.

Project 30: Results Update

Here is an update on the progress of both tournaments.

Round 1 KO Pairings and Results

Matt Jackman v Peter Harker

Paul Weightman 0-1 John Garnett

Graham Edwards 0-1 Kevin Waterman

Richard Harris draw Mike Creaney (Replay required)

Sean Cassidy v Rayelynn Posadas

David Baillie v Sean Marsh

Mike Pointon 0-1(d) Royce Parker


Round 1 Rapidplay Pairings and Results

David Baillie v Matt Jackman

Paul Weightman v Richard Harris

Graham Edwards 0.5-1.5 Mike Pointon

Mike Creaney 1-1 Sean Cassidy (Sean won the Blitz play-off)

John Garnett v Sean Marsh

Rayelynn Posadas v Royce Parker

Peter Harker v Kevin Waterman

The games in both sections need to be played by the 31 November 2019

Meanwhile, the final of the 2018-9 Rapidplay event has now concluded and the final score was Sean Marsh 5, Matt Jackman 1 (draws in games three and four). The match was tougher than the score would suggest. Matt had very good chances in games three and four and turned down a probably three-fold repetition in game five in order to play on for more.

OMD at The Sage

OMD

The Sage, Gateshead

30.10.2019

Orchestral Manœuvres in the Dark ('OMD') brought the recent 1980s-themed Sage trilogy to a fitting conclusion, with a barnstorming performance celebrating 40 years with all of their greatest hits.

Andy McCluskey doesn't like to see people sitting down and, leadings by example with his own curious style of dancing, he had everyone on their feet in no time at all.

It was a high-energy evening, augmented by the excellent sue of lights and other effects. The Sage was absolutely packed out once again; it seems the 1980s nostalgia is still appealing to a wide audience, which means we should have many such evenings still to come.

Amid a sea of classic songs - all those one would expect to hear - the most famous, Enola Gay, was saved virtually the end, but the encore was strong too and they finished with Electricity - 'the fastest and oldest thing we've got.'

This was my fourth time seeing OMD and I don't think it will be last.

Gallery

Midge Ure at The Sage

Midge Ure

The Sage, Gateshead

22.10.2019

Midge Ure followed hard on the heels of the Squeeze and Heaven 17 evening, bringing more sounds of the 1980s to another packed hall.

I have seen Midge more times than I can remember. It was certainly five times with Ultravox, once with his current Band Electronica and many other times as a solo act, but this time there were a couple of new twists.

First, it was a showcase of the complete Vienna album, in order. Second, there were going to be some Visage songs on the set list, with some of them played live for the first time. Third, the addition of Rusty Egan to the tour opened up other exciting possibilities.

Rusty was a key member of the original Visage, along with mIdge, but their careers overlapped even before then, as they are both in Rich Kids, the short-lived group formed by a post-Sex Pistols Glen Matlock.

Rusty was also the support act for the main event and his set was unusual, yet very enjoyable. He told little stories from all the way through his career, spoke of the development of music, the Blitz Club and his development as a DJ.

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Following a short interval, Rusty returned with Midge and the Band Electronica and they launched in to Yellow Pearl before heading straight into Visage territory.

Rusty left the stage after a rousing rendition of Fade to Grey and, indeed, this was his last night on this particular tour. It definitely made a difference with him being there and I hope he will work again with Midge another time.

Most if Vienna formed part of the Ultravox touring set list, of course - but it was very good to hear the more obscure songs, such Private Lives and Western Promise. Midge's electronically distorted vocals brought an extra dimension to Mr. X too.

The encore brought a selection of crowd pleasers, starting with Passionate Reply, the B-side to the Vienna single.

Set List

Yellow Pearl
Visage
Blocks on Blocks
The Dancer
Mind of a Toy
In The Year 2525
Glorious
Fade to Grey

Astradyne
New Europeans
Private Lives
Passing Strangers
Sleepwalk
Mr. X
Western Promise
Vienna
All Stood Still

Encore:

Passionate Reply
Dancing With Tears in My Eyes
The Voice
Hymn

Midge just seems to get better with age. His vocals are strong, his guitar-playing excellent and, with the Band Electronica, he seems all set to keep on touring for many more years to come.

Gallery

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Squeeze and Heaven 17 at The Sage

Squeeze and Heaven 17

The Sage, Gateshead

19.10.2019

It is often said that nostalgia isn't what is used to be but three recent shows at The Sage turned back the clock in fine style to deliver three very entertaining shows linked by a 1980s theme.

First up were Squeeze, supported by Heaven 17. This was more of a double-bill than main act and support; Indeed, Heaven 17 were actually billed as 'special guests' rather than the support act.

Heaven 17 played The Sage three years ago for their own headline show. They played a fabulous (shortened) set this time around, with only mis-are being their cover of You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' which I found too frivolous take up one of the eight song slots.

Everyone was on their feet by the time Temptation came their way and I am sure I was not the only one was left wanting more from Heaven 17.

Heaven 17 Set List

Crushed By the Wheels of Industry
(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang
Play to Win
Come Live With Me
You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
Let Me Go
Penthouse and Pavement
Temptation

It was my third time seeing Squeeze (although I have seen Chris Difford (twice) and Glenn Tilbrook solo (many times).

The audience had been more than warmed by Heaven 17 and there was a definite sense of a party atmosphere in the hall. I find the recent Squeeze material to be not as satisfying as the their earlier work (a cliché, I know) and consequently find a lull in the set whenever they play. Perhaps it is merely that the earlier songs have more of a resonance, fuelled by nostalgia.

Squeeze Set List

Footprints
Big Beng
Hourglass
Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)
Up the Junction
King George Street
Mumbo Jumbo
Cradle to the Grave
The Day I Get Home
Someone Else's Heart
Is That Love
Third Rail
Please Be Upstanding
In Quintessence
Slap and Tickle
Labelled With Love
Love's Crashing Waves
Tempted
Cool for Cats
Annie Get Your Gun
Goodbye Girl

Encore:

If I Didn't Love You
Take Me I'm Yours
Black Coffee in Bed

It was, of course, a very entertaining evening, but I was left with the feeling that the bands could have easily swapped places in the schedule.

Gallery

Evita at the Middlesbrough Theatre

Evita

Middlesbrough Theatre

28.10.2019

Little did I know that when I saw Evita for the 11th and 12th times at Regent's Park in the Summer that my next time would be so much closer to home.

I am sure The Middlesbrough Amateur Operatic Society knew they faced an enormous challenge to stage such a famous and popular play. There are so many things that have to be right and so many ways in which to go wrong.

Having seen various productions in numerous theatres - London (six times), Newcastle (three times), York, Hull and Leeds - it was with an open mind that I took my to seat to see how well the play would translate to a much smaller venue with an amateur cast.

Indeed, the word 'amateur' usually has negative connotations but from the opening moments it was quite clear that this production was of a very high quality. The set and the costumes must have used up a lot of preparatory time and resources. This was more in the style of the traditional version, rather the minimalist approach taken in Regent's Park.

One major difference from the West End and touring version I have seen so many times is Neil Harland's more understated version of  Che, which is more in keeping with the 1996 Madonna film. The overt imagery of Che - beret, combat gear - are absent, enabling an altogether more subtle - yet still very effective - performance.

The show featured a large cast, which is always necessary for the big song and dance numbers, especially Peron's Latest Flame, the humorous high-point of the play, which shows the unfavourable reactions to Evita displayed the well-to-do and the military men.

Of course, the play will always stand or fall by the key performance. I have seen numerous people play the part of Eva Peron and some have been more successful than others. Ideally, the actress needs to display a kaleidoscope of emotions covering a very wide spectrum, while retaining a definite air of ambiguity. Certain parts of Evita's personality and motivation must be left to the opinion and imagination of the audience. The life of Eva Peron was complicated and far from black and white. I was therefore very pleased to see what Mollie Shellard was able to bring to the role with her nuanced performance hitting all the required marks.

There is a danger of Evita overpowering the other characters as she breaks the confines of the play (which is, lest we forget, an anti-Eva Peron piece) but the Waltz for Evita and Che towards the end of the second half was on this occasion allowed to develop into something more physical than is usual, with Eva and Che literally waltzing around the stage rather than merely skirting around each other.

The attention to detail was evident too, with Eva's hair turning from brown to blonde once she had started on the path to the top and with the costumes becoming more lavish after each change. Part of the stage lifted to recreate the balcony of the Casa Rosada for one of the most iconic of all scenes, the one leading up to Don't Cry For Me Argentina.

Middlesbrough's Evita definitely surpassed expectations. Very well done, everyone.

The play runs until Saturday 2 November, so catch it if you can.

Meanwhile, Evita will continue to attract attention and audiences as it was announced this week that the Regent's Park version will be relocating to London's Barbican next Summer. I hope to be there to see Evita once - or twice - again.

The Death of a Gentleman

It is unfortunately time to relay the bad news of the death of a gentleman.

Richard Moore was a member of both Redcar Chess Club and the local chess association (under its various guises) for as long as anyone can remember - although 70 years has been mentioned.

Nobody ever had a bad word to say about Richard and I doubt anyone would ever have heard him criticise anybody else.

He was a model gentleman who never let his standards slip below the immaculate mark. He was always highly encouraging and very supportive to me, all the way from our first meeting back in the very early 1980s, when I made my debut for the county team.

At that time I played for Guisborough but attended Redcar Chess Club regularly too and I got know Richard a little more each week. I awkward had great respect for him and his standards. It was clear how much he enjoyed chess and how important it was to him to see everything done correctly.

Some of our openings were the same, such as the English Opening and Saemisch variation against the King’s Indian as White and the French Defence for Black. This gave us some common grounds for conversation, even though in those years Guisborough and Redcar were rivals in he league.

I know he was also very inspirational to Mike Closs, who started his chess life at Redcar Chess Club. In fact he used to take Mike to the county matches and Mike told me Richard always arrived at the end of the small road leading to Mike’s house at exactly the same time and parked in exactly the same place.

We played only four times in serious games. The first three I won but in our final encounter he outplayed me in a sharp middle game and I couldn’t shake off his advantage. I still think of that game as recent and was surprised to find it was fully 20 years ago.

Apart from that, our other games were friendly encounters. One day we played quite a few games. This was when Redcar Library (famous for its extraordinary number of chess books, thanks to the chief librarian there being another regular member of Redcar Chess Club) held a community day and we were two of the people there representing the club. I recall how Richard looked around all of the other groups and then looked at me and said: ‘Some people like to exercise; others like to wear chain mail; we like to play chess. It’s extraordinary, really; everyone likes doing different things.’

I spent three excellent years playing for Redcar when I returned after a decade away from the local scene. Richard took a very keen interest in my games, as did I with his.

Playing the game was, very clearly, much more important than the result, although he did not take defeat lightly within himself. Losing games hurt him just as did for everyone else, even though his competitive side was kept largely hidden.

Away from the chessboard, we were in touch for many years by traditional letter; a tradition which stopped just a few months ago. How quaint that will appear to readers now. He never mentioned to me that he was ill.

Richard was a serious collector of chess books. I visited his home on more than one occasion to view his magnificent library. He left me to browse but returned a number of times with more cups of tea. His collection never stopped growing. I cannot even begin to think just how many hundreds of books he had but I know the collection contained many rare items.

I surprised him once when I asked Yasser Seirawan to personalise a copy of his book, Chess Duels, immediately after I interviewed Yasser at Baker Street. I posted the book to Richard and he was so very grateful. Indeed, when he thanked me he was as excited as I had ever seen him. Yasser's inscription paid tribute to Richard’s many years of chess service.

Richard was 85 when he passed away. We all thought he would be around forever and, in many ways, he certainly will be as we strive to achieve and maintain the high standards he set and from which he never wavered.

Further tributes can be found here, from:

Ron Stather

David Baillie

I was just finishing this post when news reached me regarding the death of another gentleman. John Boyers, former county champion and undoubtedly one of the strongest players Teesside ever produced, had been ill for some time and passed away last night.

I only even played John once but that was enough to understand how strong he was. I didn't know him as well I knew Richard. John was away from the local chess scene for many years but when he returned we did chat between games even though, as with Richard, we played for rival teams (John was a stalwart of Middlesbrough Chess Club.)

Losing both Richard and John in a very short period of time is a heavy blow. We shall not see the like of such gentlemen again.