CHESS (2025 Broadway Revival) Reviews- Page 11

[Mary_Poppins]

Posted: 3/14/26 at 8:59pm

The stars of Broadway's CHESS join Alison Stewart live in The Greene Space at WNYC. 

Thursday, March 19, 2026

12:00 PM

44 Charlton Street, New York, NY 10014

Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and Nicholas Christopher perform songs from the show and discuss bringing the beloved musical back to the stage. They’re joined by Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer and Emmy Award-winner Danny Strong, who re-wrote the book for this revival.
This event is part of All Of It's Broadway on the Radio series.

Info/Tickets here:

https://www.wnyc.org/events/events/2026/mar/19/broadway-radio-chess/

There will also be a free live stream.

[Art Isn’t Easy]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 4:12pm

I caught the show this weekend for the second time (I saw it near the beginning of previews) and actually came away really impressed with the production as a whole. Part of it is knowing what I was in for in terms of the new book material, which is just terrible. It actually gets close to being an embarrassment some of the time, not even The Arbiter stuff because at least that lands with the audience, the dialogue is so surface level and vapid I really still cannot believe it.

 

But as for the production I think it's a really sleek and effective staging of an incredibly difficult piece of material - there's so much music and so many scenes and set changes that I can't imagine bringing a more realistic or physical staging to it, we've heard the horror stories from the original Broadway production. The cast has all depend in their portrayals - Stern and Krill are an even tighter comic pair (The Soviet Machine continues to be a sleeper hit), Cruz is nailing the ice queen vibe (her voice is insane, at times I'm like. is this good singing? It's loud at least!), Pinkham has tapped into an almost manic quality that people around me were eating up, and the central trio are bringing an even richer performance both vocally and in terms of characterization. Tveit is loose, Christopher found a way to channel this nerdy, almost Seymour Krelbor-ian element to Anatoly that makes his early scenes with Florence shine and add believability to their dynamic, and I was most impressed actually with Michelle - I thought she was outstanding. She is singing her face off and acting down, I do think there is a case to be made for her winning the Tony perhaps (not an especially competitive year it is though oy).

 

At the end of the day the show is the show but I think this production makes a case for Chess having one of the great scores; it is so thrilling to experience the intricate plotting of The Deal sequence or the balls to the wall breakdown of Endgame, even on just hearing the slap bass on Difficult and Dangerous Times I thought "god they really do not make them like this anymore." 

Updated On: 3/15/26 at 04:12 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 6:38pm

Folks, not every show is - or should be - about everyone having 'agency'. Quite on the contrary, this is about people being pawns in other people's CHESS-like games. And it's not just Florence.

Since this was addressed to my post by Mary T. Poppins, I'll answer it a month later: I'm not using "agency" in any sociopolitical or niche feminist sense, merely dramaturgically. I have no problem with her circumstantial paralysis; I have an issue with her failure to self-reflect and acknowledge the absence of options and a richer life seeking them might give her. If you're the ostensible heroine of a romantic triangle, sing for 2.5 hours about your woe, and it's all tethered to the careers of two men, you might end up with a song or scene about the absence of agency, a number that ruminates on why you're a Pawn and not a Queen in life, Or at least wooable in a new way. (See Doolittle, Eliza, "Show Me.".) Yes, the creatives repurposed "Someone Else's Story" to cover this, but nothing in the Rice lyrics offers gained insight (again, it served Kuhn as an introduction.) The biggest problem with Florence is her emotional stasis. It's an attractive role because her songs are such soaring workouts. But I hold that the character is singularly narrow, and need not have been. I thought the younger Strong might remint her. Clearly, many love her as is, and feel the numbers alone are enough. We'll agree to disagree. .  

Updated On: 3/15/26 at 06:38 PM

[Mary_Poppins]

Posted: 3/16/26 at 2:55am

Auggie27 said: [Mary_Poppins said:] "Folks, not every show is - or should be - about everyone having 'agency'. Quite on the contrary, this is about people being pawns in other people's CHESS-like games. And it's not just Florence.

[...]

I'm not using "agency" in any sociopolitical or niche feminist sense, merely dramaturgically. I have no problem with her circumstantial paralysis; I have an issue with her failure to self-reflect and acknowledge the absence of options and a richer life seeking themmight give her.

[...]

We'll agree to disagree. ."

OK, while I still agree to disagree, when you put it like this it makes a lot more sense.

[Ensemble17701165943]

Posted: 3/16/26 at 10:25pm

Has there been an announcement as to when the cast recording will be dropping?

[Mary_Poppins]

Posted: 3/17/26 at 2:06am

Ensemble17701165943 said: "Has there been an announcement as to when the cast recording will be dropping?"

Some recent hints that it will drop soon but nothing specific.

Updated On: 3/17/26 at 02:06 AM

[goodtimes123]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 9:02am

 

https://youtu.be/4eGFWY2LI2c?si=s9M0btg5DstB-0op

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 11:01am

Saw the show at the end of October. Did not care for the orchestrations for this song. (Nobody's Side). They take all of the punch out of it. And she takes the emotional punch out of it for me. I also hoped she would stop singing ahead of the music but I see she is still doing it at times. As mentioned before, it is my favorite song in the show. She doesn't totally ruin it for me but she's got the pipes and I was hoping she would tear the roof off with this song. But Nick took care of that! (Twice!) JMO

Updated On: 3/18/26 at 11:01 AM

[tomorrowBIGLITES]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 11:05am

Fine but not dynamic. She sounded more powerful in Funny Girl. Watch that Julia Murney performance. The song is almost over the top and you have to match the melodrama. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 1:04pm

tomorrowBIGLITES said: "
Fine but not dynamic. She sounded more powerful in Funny Girl. Watch that Julia Murney performance. The song is almost over the top and you have to match the melodrama."

 

Julia Murney's version is probably the best I have heard/seen since the original. Not crazy about the faster tempo and that high note in the middle but she brings it. And she brings the attitude to go with the song.

This is just one of those songs, to me, that will never come close to the original until they at least do the original arrangement/orchestrations. And Elaine just owns this song. Murney's is the closest for me, although the horns were a bit much. And I miss the prominent synth sound during the "long" note that Paige holds. JMO

 

[Ball of Buttah]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 1:33pm

uncageg said: "This is just one of those songs, to me, that will never come close to the original until they at least do the original arrangement/orchestrations. And Elaine just owns this song. Murney'sis the closest for me, although the horns were a bit much. And I miss the prominent synth sound during the "long" note that Paige holds. JMO

I'm fairly new to Chess and saw the new Broadway version in Nov. I listened to the old versions and Elaine's version is probably my least favorite along with Idina's. My favorite rendition is probably Jessica Vosk's (and that's coming from a huge Lea fan). Hers comes a close second. Overall, I think this performance will bring new fans of Chess. Feel bad for the other half of the ensemble that didn't get any camera time because of camera angles. 
 

Anyway, seeing this again end of next month with a friend who's never seen it. If I lived in NYC, I'd probably see this once a week at minimum.

 

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 1:50pm

Ball of Buttah said: "uncageg said: "This is just one of those songs, to me, that will never come close to the original until they at least do the original arrangement/orchestrations. And Elaine just owns this song. Murney'sis the closest for me, although the horns were a bit much. And I miss the prominent synth sound during the "long" note that Paige holds. JMO

I'm fairly new to Chess and saw the new Broadway version in Nov. I listened to the old versions and Elaine's version is probably my least favorite along with Idina's. My favorite rendition is probably Jessica Vosk's (and that's coming from a huge Lea fan). Hers comes a close second. Overall, I think this performance will bring new fans of Chess. Feel bad for the other half of the ensemble that didn't get any camera time because of camera angles.


Anyway, seeing this again end of next month with a friend who's never seen it. If I lived in NYC, I'd probably see this once a week at minimum."

I am with you on Idina's. I was really excited when she was cast to sing the role as I am a fan. Her performance just didn't do it for me either. Vosk's version is good but again, the fast tempo on the recorded version I don't care for. I do like her stripped down version from 54 Below though with her two back-up vocalists pretty much nailing those "ensemble" vocals.

 

[suzcap]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 3:01pm

Overall, I think this performance will bring new fans of Chess. Feel bad for the other half of the ensemble that didn't get any camera time because of camera angles.
"

They showed all the ensemble members who were there at 1:25 and 1:35 mark.

[Ball of Buttah]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 3:32pm

suzcap said: "They showed all the ensemble members who were there at 1:25 and 1:35 mark."

D'oh! You right. I've only watched a 100 times today so...

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 3:52pm

For me, Judy Kuhn is unmatched, with exquisite vocals and a perfect example of acting through song, which she does quite effortlessly.

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 4:06pm

TaffyDavenport said: "

 

For me, Judy Kuhn is unmatched, with exquisite vocals and a perfect example of acting through song, which she does quite effortlessly."

well unlike all the nitpickers i loved Lea's performance and i am also a fan of Elaine and Judy's performances.  I like the variations in their performances.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 4:37pm

I have never seen that Judy Kuhn clip. Saw another. I like the one Taffy posted and stumbled on a Jodi Benson clip.

Kind of chuckling. This is a bit like when everyone was comparing the "Defying Gravity" performances! 

GirlFromOz68,  really not nit-picking. Just preferences. 

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 8:38pm

Lots of injuries at the imperial right now. Casey still out for months with his back and since last week Katie is out with a hip injury for at least 3 weeks, Alijah just out from today with a neck issue and Emma posting a photo of her on crutches today.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 8:40pm

GirlFromOz68 said: "Lots of injuries at the imperial right now. Casey still out for months with his back and since last week Katie is out with a hip injury for at least 3 weeks, Alijah just out from today with a neck issue and Emma posting a photo of her on crutches today."

[Mary_Poppins]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 4:51am

 

tomorrowBIGLITES said: "
Fine but not dynamic. She sounded more powerful in Funny Girl. Watch that Julia Murney performance. The song is almost over the top and you have to match the melodrama."

This is TV with no context and no acting. "Matching the melodrama" would be confusing at best.

Lea is almost too good at melodrama. Just watch Glee. If she doesn't do it, it's because she (or Michael Mayer) decided not to.

[Mary_Poppins]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 5:00am

Lea announced an announcement coming today (Thursday). Probably after the show. I could be wrong but this has album vibes for me.

[Mary_Poppins]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 6:18am

suzcap said: "Overall, I think this performance will bring new fans of Chess. Feel bad for the other half of the ensemble that didn't get any camera time because of camera angles.
"

They showed all the ensemble members who were there at 1:25 and 1:35 mark."

Also at 3:02 and 3:12 . It would still be nice to quickly zoom in on their individual faces, so they would have something to show their grandchildren later in life. At least the show and Lea gave them a special shout out on social media.

[Mary_Poppins]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 6:54am

Regarding the preferences for different versions of Nobody's Side, I suspect it's the Imprinting Effect again, i.e. people often prefer the version they heard first or grew up with. When someone prefers the Elaine Paige version, that leaves scratching my head because i just don't understand the appeal of it. Julia Murney's feels more real and expressive, but in musicals the 'rawness' can become a distraction. There are like a dozen other versions out there but the ones I listened to weren't really outstanding.

So for me it's a draw between Lea and Judy. Quite different but equally good.

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 7:24am

Mary_Poppins said: "Lea announced an announcement coming today (Thursday). Probably after the show. I could be wrong but this has album vibes for me."

they have that live radio event at midday today so it might happen then if its album related.

[Mary_Poppins]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 7:57am

GirlFromOz68 said: "Mary_Poppins said: "Lea announced an announcement coming today (Thursday). Probably after the show. I could be wrong but this has album vibes for me."

they have that live radio event at midday today so it might happen then if its album related."

Thx for reminding me. Makes sense. Ironically, I was the one who posted about the WNYC event here, then I totally forgot about it. Deets in post #250.

Also, there's a stub for their live stream at their Youtube site:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7Omk8MaNgg