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.

 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 12/1/25 at 4:12pm

Robbie2 said: "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 12/3https://understudies.org/

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

"

Casey Garvin is no longer showing going on as Anatoly! Ramone Nelson???

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/1/25 at 4:20pm

Ramone is an incredible artist, he is fantastic in the ensemble, and he is much more suited to play his understudy for obvious reasons.

[Ball of Buttah]

Posted: 12/2/25 at 12:17pm

So, that YouTube poster who has the Funny Girl vids (allegedly), also has a couple songs from Chess. This is crazy to me because I've never seen so many ushers going down the aisles telling people to shut their phone off in the 10-15 shows I've seen in the past 3 years. 
 

Heaven Help My Heart and Nobody's Side is up. Waiting for Anthem, Pity the Child, I Know Him So Well, and Emdgame. 👀

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/2/25 at 12:44pm

The ushers have NOT been f*cking around this season. Love to see it.

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/2/25 at 12:57pm

Ball of Buttah said: "So, that YouTube poster who has the Funny Girl vids (allegedly), also has a couple songs from Chess. This is crazy to me because I've never seen so many ushers going down the aisles telling people to shut their phone off in the 10-15 shows I've seen in the past 3 years.


Heaven Help My Heart and Nobody's Side is up. Waiting for Anthem, Pity the Child, I Know Him So Well, and Emdgame. 👀"

I’ve softened on slime tutorials over the years since I know they can sometimes capture lightning in a bottle, but also some performers (on the down low) do appreciate it for their own personal use. I think people are just so brazenly stupid about how they do it. Like, I didn't capture that video of Sherie’s QOV finale because I was holding my phone up full brightness like I was at a TSwift concert…

 

[Ball of Buttah]

Posted: 12/3/25 at 8:59am

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRxsIonEmxU/?igsh=MTR0emVrcm1lNWR5dQ==
 

I don't know why it took this long to create Nick's "star making performance" ad. Then release it the day before he is out 🧐🤔. Anyway, at least they made one. 
 

Apparently, Sean Maclaughlin will be Anatoly tonight. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 12/3/25 at 9:45am

Defector is primarily a sports blog, but they have a Chess review posted today. I'm posting it mainly because some have claimed around here that the only people who hate the narrator are theater snobs and Chess fanatics, and that regular theatergoers love him and find it helpful how he explains the plot. This particular regular theatergoer, who seemed to know nothing about it going in and only went for a free ticket and the promise of Lea Michele, hated him too. (It's a pretty amusing review on the whole, and interesting to see a non-fan's reaction.)

‘Chess: The Musical’ Is Somehow More Of A Musical About Chess Than You Can Imagine

https://defector.com/chess-the-musical-broadway-review

"The worst part of Chess is this character called the Arbiter, essentially a chess judge. This revival doubles his role, as both judge within the show and omniscient narrator, meant to help us understand the musical's plot through a sarcastic, present-day lens. To do this, he treats the audience like we are children, spoonfeeding us painfully unfunny jokes about the worm in RFK Jr.'s brain and Joe Biden. I did not enjoy this character, how he took stage-time away from the sexy chess boys, and how some not insignificant part of the audience lapped up his non-jokes. Ha ha! they libbed out, hee hee! At one point, the Arbiter announced that Ronald Reagan had become president (not a joke, unfortunately), and a member of the audience unironically cheered."

[sassylash3s]

Posted: 12/3/25 at 11:43am

That review is indeed amusing, although the writer loses a lot of points with me when she describes an opening number that does not actually appear in this production.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/3/25 at 12:51pm

the writer loses a lot of points with me when she describes an opening number that does not actually appear in this production.

Exactly. Not a real review, I laughed through most of it. Bryce is awesome, period.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/3/25 at 12:53pm

Cast album when? Have they recorded yet?

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 12/3/25 at 1:23pm

CATSNYrevival said: "Cast album when? Have they recorded yet?"

No sign they have recorded it yet, too busy opening the show and getting through Thanksgiving week i would think. It wouldn't surprise me if they recorded it this month though.

re Nik being scheduled to be out tonight,  its not Ramone going on for him its Sean McLaughlin, which makes sense as the ensemble was posting on IG last week about Sean's put in.

[joevitus]

Posted: 12/4/25 at 11:04am

MickeyJo's harsh review (very unusal for him) was pretty funny, but my main takeaway from it, looking at the program he held, was that Lea Michelle must be performing the role as if she's Morticia Addams.

[Huss417]

Posted: 12/4/25 at 11:56am

joevitus said: "MickeyJo's harsh review (very unusal for him) was pretty funny, but my main takeaway from it, looking at the program he held, was that Lea Michelle must beperforming the role as if she'sMorticia Addams."

Do people base anything on a review by MickeyJo? 

[Ball of Buttah]

Posted: 12/4/25 at 12:01pm

Huss417 said: "joevitus said: "MickeyJo's harsh review (very unusal for him) was pretty funny, but my main takeaway from it, looking at the program he held, was that Lea Michelle must beperforming the role as if she'sMorticia Addams."

Do people base anything on a review by MickeyJo?"

Probably folks who don't actually see Broadway shows, but prattle on here anyway...

So, Pity the Child is up on YT.

[MysteriousLady]

Posted: 12/4/25 at 12:55pm

Huss417 said: "joevitus said: "MickeyJo's harsh review (very unusal for him) was pretty funny, but my main takeaway from it, looking at the program he held, was that Lea Michelle must beperforming the role as if she'sMorticia Addams."

Do people base anything on a review by MickeyJo?"

Micky is a very good critic who explains the way he feels in a clear and reasoned manner, which has earned him a large following. Almost every criticism he makes has been made on this board or by a print critic. That being said, he's not keeping me from seeing this because Nick Christopher is enough to get me in the door.

[inception]

Posted: 12/4/25 at 6:44pm

Here's a plot for the writers of Elsbeth, free of charge:

A super annoying British YouTube vlogger is found dead in Shubert Alley with multiple wounds just after the parade had passed them by on Thanksgiving.  It's fiction, & absolutely in this reality the parade goes right by Shubert Alley. But there seem to be no witnessses.  In a stunning denouement,  Elsbeth reveals

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

That just like in Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, the crime was committed by EVERYONE.  The entire population of New York conspired to eliminate the awful YouTuber.

 

[joevitus]

Posted: 12/4/25 at 9:41pm

Huss417 said: "joevitus said: "MickeyJo's harsh review (very unusal for him) was pretty funny, but my main takeaway from it, looking at the program he held, was that Lea Michelle must beperforming the role as if she'sMorticia Addams."

Do people base anything on a review by MickeyJo?"

Considering his large following, he certainly has people's ear, and he's invited as a critic to shows on both sides of the Atlantic. I enjoy a fair amount of his content. But I'm not sure any critic today is someone audiences "base anything on." People read the reviews but mostly decide for themselves or on the basis of general word-of-mouth.

[MysteriousLady]

Posted: 12/4/25 at 10:03pm

Imagine being bothered enough by a YouTuber that you fantasize about them being killed. Ignoring him is the easiest thing in the world. But you are clearly one of several disturbed weirdos this site attracts like moths to a flame. 

[inception]

Posted: 12/5/25 at 5:32am

You must be fun at parties.

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/5/25 at 8:04am

Anywho…

Casey Garvin just posted on his Insta story yesterday that he has injured himself and will be out of the show until at least December 22nd. It appears Michael Milkanin will be covering his track at least for the remainder of this week.

[shomeika]

Posted: 12/6/25 at 1:42pm

joevitus said: "MickeyJo's harsh review (very unusal for him) was pretty funny, but my main takeaway from it, looking at the program he held, was that Lea Michelle must beperforming the role as if she'sMorticia Addams."

MickeyJo is sooooooooooooooooooo dramatic, and goes on forever. Often what he says is on point, but it's like gurl, wrap this up in 10 mins or less, por favor.

Updated On: 12/6/25 at 01:42 PM

[shomeika]

Posted: 12/6/25 at 1:44pm

quizking101 said: "Anywho…

Casey Garvin just posted on his Insta story yesterday that he has injured himself and will be out of the show until at least December 22nd. It appears Michael Milkanin will be covering his track at least for the remainder of this week."

Hopefully he feels better soon.

Updated On: 12/7/25 at 01:44 PM