CHESS (2025 Broadway Revival) Reviews- Page 4

[Lot666]

Posted: 11/25/25 at 12:38pm

We attended the 3:00 p.m. performance on 11/23/25, and I feel this production is about a four out of five stars. My random thoughts (YMMV):

His sloppy accent notwithstanding, Nicholas Christopher is the reason to buy a ticket. I completely lost it during "Anthem". I need a musical in which this man stars alongside Jordan Donica (I don't know what musical that would be, but I need it).

I found Lea Michele to be adequate, but probably wouldn't miss her if she was replaced. Her vocals sometimes sounded squeaky. She wasn't bad, but she also wasn't the reason to see the show for me.

I didn't care much for Aaron Tveit in Moulin Rouge, and this role didn't change my feelings about him. His vocals during "One Night in Bangkok" were quite weak; he was consistently buried in the audio mix, his enunciation was poor (if I didn't know the lyrics already, I would've been lost), and his physical performance was amateurish and cringe-worthy. That said, I did find his Act 2 performance of "Pity the Child" to be surprisingly affecting; his vocals during this scene were quite good.

Bradley Dean is one of the most underrated and underutilized men in musical theatre. He is a much better actor, singer, and dancer than Tviet, and he is the only person in the show who can deliver an accent.

There are three eye-popping guys in the ensemble, but the extent of their assets doesn't become clear until "One Night in Bangkok".

I found the set and lighting to be largely uninspired, with "Endgame" being the only exciting scene from a physical production perspective.

Finally, it bears repeating that Nicholas Christopher is the reason to buy a ticket. If he's still in the show in May, I will likely go back just to see/hear him again.

Updated On: 11/25/25 at 12:38 PM

[GirlFromOz68]

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

inception said: "Don't trust news from Facebook people. They're going to transfer to Broadway? Really? The show isalreadyon Broadway.

I should be sleeping, but does anyone else ever get an earworm in your head so much that you even dream it? I don't why but that part of "Florence quits" when he's sings "Woman woman" keeps repeating in my head.

Something I didn't mention in my comment Sunday night was I didn't try to rush out of the theatre even though I had only about an hour from whenChess got out until I had to get down to the Public forSeat of Our Pants, and I wanted to eat in that time as well. But there were some ladies also just waiting for the crowd to disperse and we got talking. They really liked Bryce Pinkham a lot. At intermission I also heard similar comments. So the stuff that people here might not go for, perhaps plays better with a more general audience. The jokes about RFK & Biden were pretty lousy, but they still got a huge response at my showing Sunday. Those ladies also asked me if I knew what happenedin real life to Freddie and Anatoly and Florence, and I had to break it to them that it isn't based on real people,that it's all madeup fictional characters. That's how well the stuff about the Able Archer exercises etc works in upping the stakes -it makes it feel like it's based on a true story. But at the time Chess was originally written the Able Archer events would have all been highly classified information, and all that plot is new to this version. Also it's interesting how readily audiences can accept today that the CIA agent is such a creep ready to sacrifice the American team for his goals.

GirlFromOz68 said: "
In other news someone on Facebook who saw the show said they spoke to a co producer on opening night who claimed it was going so well they were planning a two year run and a transfer to Broadway.

That sounds like one of those excitable "co producers" who put money in a show and think it will run for ever. ive never thought it would run beyond the current stars contracts."

"

haha.  it was late, I was tired after a 12 hour work day, obviously I meant the West End and have now corrected. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 11/29/25 at 2:59pm

Sutton Ross said: "Aaron Tveit will not perform on January 27, February 24, March 17 - 19 and April 28.

Lea Michele will not perform on December 14, December 16, January 23, February 18 - 22, April 1 - 5, and April 11.

Nicholas Christopher will not perform on December 3 - evening."

 

 

Nicholas Christopher's performance is not to be missed as he's giving a TONY worthy performace but...........

------>>>>>>>>>> Calling all Casey Garvin fans on Wed 12/3 https://understudies.org/

This evening at Chess, Casey Garvin will make their debut in the role of Anatoly.