Chess (Gallery Players) NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (44)
See it if Great how the story line parallels the chess game. Also happy to support small local theaters.
Don't see it if You're not a fan of musicals
See it if You like impressive ensemble musicals, political/Cold War theater, love triangles, or just want a good night out.
Don't see it if You are looking for a tightly run production, or aren’t into the topics. The sound EQ made it hard to hear the actors at times.
See it if the staggering level of singing and extraordinary music.
Don't see it if the story is a bit of a slog and too much going on.
See it if IF you love great lyrics and music, one of my all time favorite musicals.
Don't see it if Not a fan of musicals, or period pieces that deal with pop culture and politics.
See it if you like political and romantic conflicts delivered as a metaphor. Fantastic score, and this group had some talented singers.
Don't see it if you can't handle long shows that maybe need to be cut down a little bit.
See it if You want to support a great community theater and see a musical that is not produced very often.
Don't see it if You don't like long plays; it was almost three hours long. Read more
See it if you want to enjoy a musical with some historical background.
Don't see it if you don't like a show that lasts more than 2.5h
See it if you want to experience this concept album in an intimate staging
Don't see it if you need big broadway productions to appreciate a book/music/lyrics
Critic Reviews (3)
"Thrilling music and beautiful melodies...A dud of a book...Napier and Chitel both have warm, appealing presences and good voices...Donnelly works hard to enliven the story, and has the pipes...for the role's challenging vocal demands. That his big revelatory number comes so late that we've long since lost interest is only one of the show's innumerable flaws...Worth seeing for the music alone...Despite the balance problems this production puts it across well."
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"I have identified the problem with the musical 'Chess.' It's bad...The entire show can be lifted by a really good production, with performers filling in the blanks left by the writing...Sad to say, the Gallery Players production does not raise up the show. In fact, it helps to sink it...Harborth's direction is the three-dimensional manifestation of 'full of sound and fury, signifying nothing'...He slathers on noise and movement, hoping that energy will cover up the weak structure underneath. It doesn't."
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“When you play chess, you must be careful to select only the most strategically advantageous moves. This play highlights the fact this is also true in matters of the heart and regarding issues of statecraft. For those who are fans of the musical, you will not be disappointed with this 30th anniversary revival. Producing and directing this complicated musical is not an easy task but The Gallery Players are to be congratulated for pulling it all together in a manner that will please most people.”
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