Total Rating: 
***1/4
Opened: 
August 12, 2006
Ended: 
August 25, 2006
Country: 
USA
State: 
New York
City: 
New York
Company/Producers: 
PP Productions at New York International Fringe Festival
Theater Type: 
off-Broadway
Theater: 
Abrons Arts Center at Henry Street Settlement
Theater Address: 
466 Grand Street
Phone: 
(888) FRINGE-NYC
Genre: 
Drama
Author: 
Dimitri Raitzin
Director: 
Aleksey Burago
Review: 

The French Defense by Dimitri Raitzin is a fascinating look at a chess contest by then World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik (Robert J. D'Amato) and challenger Mikhail Tal (Daniel Hendricks Simon) in 1960. I'm not a chess player, but I was completely drawn into the drama of the contest between a champ and an annoying, insulting gadfly, and by the depth of the characterization by the actors, particularly D'Amato. The dynamic, intense direction by Aleksey Burago increased the drama of the mental swordplay by putting classical music passages during the chess moves that kept the tension building. This is a powerful, moving piece of theater at its best.

Cast: 
Robert J. D'Amato, Daniel Hendricks Simon
Critic: 
Richmond Shepard
Date Reviewed: 
August 2006