CHESS (2025 Broadway Revival) Reviews- Page 2

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 11:27pm

Daily Beast

‘Chess,’ Theater’s Most Notorious Strange Beast, Finally Returns

CHECKMATE

A chess rivalry, the Cold War, and a love triangle: The quintessentially ‘80s musical is back on Broadway, in all its bombast.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/chess-review-theaters-most-notorious-strange-beast-finally-returns

"rather like a chess match, the show (directed by Michael Mayer, with a new book by Danny Strong), stares down each one of its own structural and narrative flaws, fixes the audience with a challenging glare, then makes a series of moves best known to itself to win our attention.

The show—less about chess, more about the possible end of the world because of Russian-American tensions—works in enough fits and starts to cohere, and in a few sung moments to actually thrill, thanks to the go-for-broke commitment of Christopher, Tveit, and Lea Michele as Florence, Freddie’s lover and chess strategist. The trio are differently excellent performers, who try— ultimately in vain—to make Chess’ characters and story intelligible."

[Mary_Poppins]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 11:37pm

Many of the negative comments focus on the arbiter. Yet I have seen numerous comments by amateur reviewers whom - jokes aside - the arbiter actually helped to follow the story. The problem is: The pro reviewers, just like most commenters on BWW, already know one or more versions of Chess and thus can't really appreciate the guidance.

Updated On: 11/16/25 at 11:37 PM

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 11:39pm

these reviews in any other busy season would be poison but considering the lack of new musical options this Fall it will atleasy get to June before the wheels fall off from word of mouth

[FightTheDragons]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 11:45pm

I'm not sure why these reviews are being read as a bad thing. The consensus seems to mostly be mixed-positive, with almost everyone coming away saying "the leads are great, the score still rocks, and you'll have a good time even if it's kind of nonsense with a bad book." That's about the best they could've hoped for with this show. I'm sure the team is happy.

[Mary_Poppins]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 11:48pm

FightTheDragons said: "I'm not sure why these reviews are being read as a bad thing. The consensus seems to mostly be mixed-positive, with almost everyone coming away saying "the leads are great, the score still rocks, and you'll have a good time even if it's kind of nonsense with a bad book." That's about the best they could've hoped for with this show. I'm sure the team is happy."

I'm sure Danny Strong is not happy, but otherwise you may have a point.

 

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 11:50pm

FightTheDragons said: "I'm not sure why these reviews are being read as a bad thing. The consensus seems to mostly be mixed-positive, with almost everyone coming away saying "the leads are great, the score still rocks, and you'll have a good time even if it's kind of nonsense with a bad book." That's about the best they could've hoped for with this show. I'm sure the team is happy."

Agreed. None of this is really unexpected and I don't think it will effect the box office as most of the "ordinary" people I've seen commenting  (ie not here or Reddit or Broadway obsessives) are saying they had a great time with the occasional quibble. Chess is, and ever will be, thus! 

I find the variation in takes on the performances quite amusing but as I've said about other things, it's all subjective. 

 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 12:00am

DTLI Consensus: Rollicking pop-rock score? Check. Three charismatic leads with immense vocal prowess? Check. Slick, sleek direction? Check. An improved revival of a famously flawed tuner? Not quite checkmate.

9 mixed (including the NYT), 3 positive, 3 negative. 

https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/chess/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 12:03am

EDSOSLO858 said: "DTLI Consensus:Rollicking pop-rock score? Check. Three charismatic leads with immense vocal prowess? Check.Slick, sleek direction? Check. An improved revival of a famously flawed tuner? Not quite checkmate.

9 mixed (including the NYT), 3 positive, 3 negative.

https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/chess/"

I usually find it tiresome to argue over what's been classified positive/mixed/negative...but Holdren's review should clearly be positive, not mixed. 

Updated On: 11/17/25 at 12:03 AM

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 12:10am

Mary_Poppins said: "Many of the negative comments focus on the arbiter. Yet I have seen numerous comments by amateur reviewers whom - jokes aside - the arbiter actually helped to follow the story. The problem is: The pro reviewers, just like most commenters on BWW, already know one or more versions of Chess and thus can't really appreciate the guidance."

Yes there  is such a divide with him between the "ordinary" person going who has no previous experience of the show and the Chessheads and the critics.  Which is why I don't think these mostly mixed reviews will make much difference, especially when even the mixed ones are praising the singing and the music.  

[Up In One]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 12:39am

EDSOSLO858 said: "DTLI Consensus:Rollicking pop-rock score? Check. Three charismatic leads with immense vocal prowess? Check.Slick, sleek direction? Check. An improved revival of a famously flawed tuner? Not quite checkmate.

9 mixed (including the NYT), 3 positive, 3 negative.

https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/chess/"

The mixed reviews on this one need to be qualified. They are listing reviews that essentially are saying this is pretty awful - book, staging - a very stupid and annoying narrator but … the music and the singing are great.  Dunno about you but that’s not mixed. It’s negative with a possible redeeming feature. 

[bear882]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 2:18am

Everyone on this thread either knows Chess better than I do or reads reviews. My favorite reviewer, Sara Holdren, had a grand time. Even the negative reviews say the score and performances are good to great. I don’t think the reviews will hurt much, especially because they have nice pull quotes to grab and reviews don’t matter anyway, plus it still will get some high-profile nominations in a weak season.

The revival doesn’t interest me, but I’m not a typical tourist. Nicholas Christopher deserves to be a bigger star anyway so good for him.

ETA: My only caveat, despite the revival’s big box office success thus far, has less to do with the reviews than how the revival is perceived by people who aren’t major Chess enthusiasts or fans of the show’s two highest-profile stars, especially Lea Michele.

Even though Chess is less a prestige revival than a star-driven revival of an odd show with a much-loved score, the obvious comp here is the Merrily We Roll Along revival. That also was star-driven but some of the smartest people in Broadway and London had spent decades fixing that show and word of mouth was great.

What will word of mouth be for Chess? Maybe it holds up well on the strength of its score and star power. But I can imagine it fading after a few months as the novelty wears off and more people realize this isn’t Merrily.

Updated On: 11/17/25 at 02:18 AM

[MezzA101]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 5:27am

Unlocked NYT

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/theater/chess-review-lea-michele-broadway.html?unlocked_article_code=1.108.oz9n._2wlhvAv06e5&smid=nytcore-android-share

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 6:13am

In praise of the BWW posters, whose comments during this long-ish preview period track perfectly with this consensus. As a 22-year veteran of this board, this morning I'll toast the savvy discussions that ensued.in an always engaging thread. The flaws noted from the first performance are all amplified in the media critiques, to a point, and for daily visitors to this site, these reviews validate the head scratching, the sighs, the one thumb way up/one down reporting. Those scolded for naysaying (I was targeted; it happens) can find their points argued about Strong's meta apologist spin gratifying. Those insisting the show didn't ever need to work will find pleasure in the Holden take, which is the best this production gets: Chess will never be well-crafted musical theater but for many will always be exciting. I have no idea how these will translate into box office, but I'd guess that invaluable pull quotes are coming, and will form a positive (enough) wall.  

Congratulations, wise posters. Once again, you prove this is a place to savor lively debate.  

Updated On: 11/17/25 at 06:13 AM

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 6:50am

EDSOSLO858 said: "In a more competitive musical season, I'd bet this would get zero Tony nods. (1 or 2 if the nominating committee were feeling kind?)

All three leads, the lighting design, and revival of a musical seems like a solid expectation for 2026."

Depending on how Cats and The Rocky Horror Show are both received in the spring, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one left out for Best Musical Revival.

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 7:28am

Just an opinion from a Chess virgin. This was a concert with a comedian. Sadly very little chemistry or real character development. Bad accents. Great vocals.  Bangkok was not a sexually charged show stopper. Lea should demand more money. "WTF was that" was the refrain as we walked out with strangers. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 7:56am

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "In a more competitive musical season, I'd bet this would get zero Tony nods. (1 or 2 if the nominating committee were feeling kind?)

All three leads, the lighting design, and revival of a musical seems like a solid expectation for 2026."

Depending on howCatsandThe Rocky Horror Showare both received in the spring, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one left out for Best Musical Revival."

There are only 4 potential nominees for Revival since MAMMA MIA did not submit for consideration and BEETLEJUICE is not eligible because of the less than 3 year turnaround between productions. I don’t think CHESS will win because it needed to be a knockout and had a lot of eyes on the book. 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 8:49am

quizking101 said: "There are only 4 potential nominees for Revival since MAMMA MIA did not submit for consideration and BEETLEJUICE is not eligible because of the less than 3 year turnaround between productions. I don’t think CHESS will win because it needed to be a knockout and had a lot of eyes on the book."

Although since there are (currently) four eligible candidates this year, there will automatically be three nominees. A fourth is possible, but only if there's a close race between two contenders within three votes.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 9:20am

quizking101 said: "Jeffrey Karasarides said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "In a more competitive musical season, I'd bet this would get zero Tony nods. (1 or 2 if the nominating committee were feeling kind?)

All three leads, the lighting design, and revival of a musical seems like a solid expectation for 2026."

Depending on howCatsandThe Rocky Horror Showare both received in the spring, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one left out for Best Musical Revival."

There are only 4 potential nominees for Revival since MAMMA MIA did not submit for consideration and BEETLEJUICE is not eligible because of the less than 3 year turnaround between productions. I don’t think CHESS will win because it needed to be a knockout and had a lot of eyes on the book."

MAMMA MIA! invited Tony voters. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 9:32am

I remember seeing somewhere on this board that they didn’t invite voters because they were already making maximum profits and didn’t feel a need to comp seats for awards they won’t likely get a nod for, especially since they close on 2/1/26

This is pretty much a fundamentally unchanged production from the original other than a slightly modified set. Unless they are banking on a performance nod for Christine Sherrill and/or Carly Sakalove, it will not make it into any other categories, including Revival.

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 9:37am

I think Lea can still get a nomination, especially this season and given the praise the got for many reviews and I think people will want to ''reward'' her career somehow.

[inception]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 10:12am

bear882 said: "
What will word of mouth be forChess? Maybe it holds up well on the strength of its score and star power. But I can imagine it fading after a few months as the novelty wears off and more people realize this isn’tMerrily."

I don't see this until this coming weekend. If you want to compare to Merrily, that had a bigger star in Radcliffe to draw people.  And he was funny & heart breaking in that.  I still don't think Merrily works.  But the story wasn't what was selling tickets.  This also has to lean heavily on its stars to sell.  Once Cats opens it may have trouble.  Though that won't have big names, the show should be more thrilling.  And everyone knows & loves all the songs already.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 1:27pm

MadsonMelo said: "I think Lea can still get a nomination, especially this season and given the praise the got for many reviews and I think people will want to ''reward'' her career somehow."

Although if she doesn't get nominated, it would be another example of how awards voters by and large clearly don't think like that. They're just voting for what they liked most and not judging based on narrative.

[TBFL]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 3:36pm

"The whole production feels like watching an Encores! concert that did a bump of coke and went clubbing"

My favourite quote from the whatsonstage review.

[malcs98]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 3:55pm

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "

Depending on howCatsandThe Rocky Horror Showare both received in the spring, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one left out for Best Musical Revival."

The only real front-runner for Best Musical Revival at this point is still RAGTIME, correct?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 4:12pm

I don't think the critics matter much for this production. Lea and Aaron have huge fan bases, all three leads are incredibly talented and good looking, and the score is brilliant. Lea completely turned around Funny Girl and made it profitable, not to mention she was simply born to be on stage, much like her best friend up the street. Plus the kids have now discovered Glee (God help them), making her even more of a draw. I know Bryce works for half the audience, but I feel like that's enough given how charming yet smarmy he can be. And seeing Nicholas Christopher (The Sweeney that f*cks) become a star reminds me of seeing Jasmine last year in Boop!. And whomever their marketing team is deserve a raise for their new promo

It's a cool and sexy musical with the popular kids. And I think that's enough in 2025.


 

Updated On: 11/17/25 at 04:12 PM