CHESS (2025 Broadway Revival) Reviews — Page 11

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 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 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

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 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 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 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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

For those who missed it:

The WNYC live stream is archived as a normal Youtube video at https://youtu.be/j7Omk8MaNgg?t=358

You can skip the first 6 minutes, which the link automatically does for you.