CHESS (2025 Broadway Revival) Reviews- Page 10

[yyys]

Posted: 2/9/26 at 2:28pm

Yep, I sat in the $58 mezz A seat yesterday.  Good view and the only obstruction is not being able to see the video projection on stage left during one scene.

Lea was in yesterday (Sunday 2/8) but Nicholas was out.  

I still think the show is just way too long...I don't think they did any changes from previews to final.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 2/9/26 at 2:40pm

Saw this Saturday: Lea’s understudy is incredible (and lacked Lea’s affectations 😬).  Incredible performances all around, but my God, this show is ****.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 2/9/26 at 4:28pm

yyys said: "Yep, I sat in the $58 mezz A seat yesterday. Good view and the only obstruction is not being able to seethe video projection on stage left during one scene.

Lea was in yesterday (Sunday 2/8) but Nicholas was out.

I still think the show is just way too long...I don't think they did any changes from previews to final."

 

They took out the ridiculous "ballet" sequence with Casey Garvin and 2 others from Act 2 (thank god)!  

They also toned down a lot of Lorin Latarro's other "overwrought" choreography.  She's usually much better than she was on this show -- but I guess not much to work with -- musically.

 

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 2/9/26 at 4:31pm

yyys said: "Yep, I sat in the $58 mezz A seat yesterday. Good view and the only obstruction is not being able to seethe video projection on stage left during one scene.

Lea was in yesterday (Sunday 2/8) but Nicholas was out.

I still think the show is just way too long...I don't think they did any changes from previews to final."

They did.  I believe they cut about 20 minutes out of the show during previews including a scene with Florence and Anatoly before HHMH ( which while i understand it being cut for time had added much needed character development for Florence) and that dream ballet.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/9/26 at 4:35pm

When I saw it back over the holidays, I thought it clipped along very well. Pacing isn't the show's problem. 

[inception]

Posted: 2/9/26 at 4:51pm

Reading this thread and the Ragtime one it seems like we're at that point in the season where the people who don't really like anything are getting around to seeing newer shows and feel the need to let the rest of us know that we're wrong about liking them.

[Ensemble17701165943]

Posted: 2/9/26 at 8:16pm

Agreed. I really wanted to see Lea since I missed Funny Girl, but I got over it. I just couldn't get past how lost I was in the story and the random plot points. Aaron is incredibly underutilized, but Nicholas was fantastic.  

[Melissa25]

Posted: 2/10/26 at 8:58am

Looks like they turned on the Bway Week twofer pricing for premium center front orchestra for tomorrow’s matinee. Perhaps its a grab a pal and play hooky kind of day.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 2/14/26 at 10:37am

I finally got around to seeing this and have to say I was quite pleased. I actually like that they staged it as a concert and I was very surprised that I liked the narrator role. I had a lot of trepidation about that part but for me it worked. Pinkham was excellent. Actually, I found everyone to be excellent. They are all working so hard. Also loved the set and the placement of the orchestra on stage. Some real thrilling memorable moments. Looking forward to the cast recording.

[always bway]

Posted: 2/16/26 at 8:19am

Agree! I love this production and have seen it three times now. Lea continues to delve deeper into the role in both the songs and scenes. I will forever miss the love triangle dream ballet. it was one of the most beautiful dances I have ever seen and best use of that weird choral music of any production of Chess. And Casey Garvin was GOD-like in it. 

I am anticipating this album with baited breath! WHEN???? Anthem on repeat for me. 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 2/16/26 at 9:45am

JSquared2 said: "

They also toned down a lot of Lorin Latarro's other "overwrought" choreography. She's usually much better than she was on this show -- but I guess not much to work with -- musically.

Latarro's choreography in this show is one of its weakest spots.  It's just not good and detracts.

 

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 2/16/26 at 4:22pm

always bway said: "Agree! I love this production and have seen it three times now. Lea continues to delve deeper into the role in both the songs and scenes. I will forever miss the love triangle dream ballet. it was one of the most beautiful dances I have ever seen and best use of that weird choral music of any production of Chess. And Casey Garvin was GOD-like in it.

I am anticipating this album with baited breath! WHEN???? Anthem on repeat for me."

Ive said it before but the loss of the scene with Anatoly and Florence before HHMH disappoints me even though I understand cutting a 4 minute odd scene for timing but I felt it added much needed background for Florence,  gave us insight into why Chess was so important to them both and Nik and Lea's acting was so good in the scene.  

As for the choreography, yes its a bit awkward in places.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/16/26 at 5:01pm

I enjoyed the choreography itself. I just felt it would have looked much better in a less cramped space. JMO

[pinkthemusical]

Posted: 2/20/26 at 6:34am

Finally saw this a few weeks ago. Nicholas Christopher absolutely deserved better reviews than the show got — his Anatoly is the emotional core holding everything together. And he can SING. Aaron T is charming, as expected. Leah's voice underwhelmed the night we were there, but I saw her rock it in Funny Girl, so I think she had an off night. She could not emote, though. My friends all commented that her performance felt flat.
The book is messy but the score still hits hard. Glad it's finding an audience despite the critics.