The musical Chess premiered in London in 1986 and then on Broadway two years later. Despite its gorgeous score with music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (of ABBA) and Tim Rice, audiences weren’t enamored of the story. They didn't flock to the theater, and the show closed after only two months.

Yet the musical continued to gain fans for its incredible music.

There have been several attempts to revive the musical. The latest iteration has a new book by Danny Strong and a powerhouse cast and is directed by Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening and Thoroughly Modern Millie).

The show is worth the visit for the singing alone. At the center of the story of an international chess championship is a love triangle: the American player, the temperamental Freddie Trumper (Aaron Tveit,) Florence Vassy, his second and his lover (Lea Michele) and the suicidal Russian player Anatoly Sergievsky (Nicholas Christopher).

Behind the scenes are the CIA agent Walter de Coursey (Sean Allan Krill) vs Alexander Molov (Bradley Dean) political maneuvering, trying to manipulate the outcome of the game and threatening the safety of the world. (It was reminiscent of the Mad Magazine cartoon Spy vs. Spy.) Molov wants de Courcey to get Trumper to throw the game, so Russia will have the prestige of the championship.

On the surface, the story is about the ‘game’ of Chess’ and the competitiveness between two men and how chess has dominated and shaped their entire lives. What gives it a darker, dangerous sense is the sub plot. There’s a board game on but behind the scenes the KGB and the CIA making deals. The last Russian chess player who lost, disappeared and was assumed murdered by his own government.

In an attempt to make the story more relevant, the Arbiter (wonderful Bryce Pinkham) often breaks the fourth wall reminding the audience that this is a cold war musical. (After a comment about Freddie Trumper’s name, he reminds us that the original show was written in the ‘80s. Another comment is about the worm in RFK’s brain.)

Tveit (Moulin Rouge) as the dramatic Trumper is dynamic, turbulent and still engaging. Michele (Funny Girl, Glee) sounds wonderful but her part is a two note role. She’s either doleful or passionate. The talented Christopher (Hamilton, Sweeney Todd) is impressive as the depressed Anatoly. His version of “Anthem” is worth the price of the ticket. He may not have the visibility of the other two but this performance will undoubtedly change that.

There are some dramatic musical moments, some rousing numbers, soul-wrenching ballads. At times the show felt more like a concert than a musical. Songs include “Nobody’s Side,” “Anthem,” “One Night in Bangkok.” and “I Know Him So Well,”sung by Michele and the wonderful Hannah Cruz as Anatoly's wife.

The staging seems simple at first with the large cast sitting around the stage on chairs. The US representatives wear blue flowers and the USSR have red flowers in their lapels. Some of the choreography (Lorin Latarro ) is deceptively simple with synchronized movement or sensual and frenetic motions. Other times, the dancers are on stage but do little.

Like many recent musicals, this one runs a little too long.
Chess has so much going for it with especially powerful, impressive performers, yet the musical still doesn’t entirely work. The storyline is not compelling, not even with the threat of war and the attraction between Florence and Anatoly. But there’s still the glorious music which makes up for it.

All around me I heard people talking about how much they had always loved the music. So glad to say they weren’t disappointed.